Hotel threatening to sue us for bad review

[Itsalongwayto]

Unashamedly posting in AIBU for traffic. We stayed in a truly dreadful place over the August BH weekend. I wrote to the owner afterwards expressing our displeasure and with a long list of complaints including unsecure blind pulls, a trampoline with no safety net, water features with no warning, general filth and 1980s decor (I expect more at £300/night). Additionally one of the curtain poles fell down on my head. He wrote back ignoring most of my points but stating that he was disappointed that I hadn’t said thank you to them for fixing the curtain pole so quickly . I submitted a review on reevoo and Tripadvisor, neither of which have been published yet......but he has emailed threatening to sue us if we don’t take our review down (I’m assuming he has been sent a preview). We have photographs of everything except the awful smell.
I’m assuming it’s safe to just ignore and block? I’m not taking my review down.

Definitely post another review, naming and quoting the owner’s threat to sue you. You might want to see if the local press are interested to hear about the threat, too.

That's the first time I've heard of a river being described as a "water feature" .

I've been told that google reviews are not reviewed by the owner prior to publication. Make sure it is fair comment though.

Wasn't Tintagel was it? I've heard ever such interesting things about a famous hotel there...

@Livelovebehappy

How big were the water features and what warnings did you think they should have had on them? Also I’ve yet to see safety blind pulls. I know they’re recommended due to safety precautions for children, but tbh it’s not something I would complain about. And 80’s decor you would have noticed on the online pictures? Definitely wouldn’t have been happy about the dirt though.

Can I ask why you wouldn’t complain about safety blind pulls? As a mother who lost her child last year to a tragic accident with a blind cord all blinds under the new regulations have too be secured for child safety. Children are dieing off blind cords they need to be secured..

OP can you please PM the name off the hotel or the chain if it is one so I can take this matter up my self. I am working on getting more blind awareness raised

@BLKS7 So sorry.

He will almost certainly not sue. People throw the threat around like confetti.. until they get up against the reality of paying for legal advice and the risk of losing never mind the initial court cost of filing the claim.

As pp's have said you'd plead truth and honest opinion and you'd probably win ( then he'd have to pay your costs too.)

If he gets as far as sending an actual solicitors letter you can consider it further but I wouldn't hold your breath.

He won’t sue and any decent solicitor will tell him so.

@BLKS7

How completely awful and tragic. I'm so sorry for your loss.

@ShebaShimmyShake I know what you mean but it’s that justification is an absolute defence while fair comment is not absolute.

I was once contacted by a business owner I had left a review for on TrustPilot.

He rang me up to discuss my complaint. I explained each of the issues to him which had occurred (and which I had previously discussed on the phone with the call centre manager) and then he offered me £50 in compensation for the issues. I said that was very kind. He then said he assumed Inwoukd take down my bad review. I told him that the account wasn't Tillman actuall you courage and A I was happy to add to it th 50 had been offered in compensation but basic point so Tilly elders. Ex ask furious. Pointed out that the idea of a review site is for honest reviews. Everything

Agree with the suggestion about contacting the local Tourist board. If the hotel has social media accounts such as Twitter and Facebook, perhaps add comments there too.

Unsafe trampoline- contact the council environmental health.

I don't get any notification of a tripadvisor review until it has been posted?

I’m another wondering if it’s a hotel in Pembrokeshire. Place marking

When I’m looking for somewhere to stay with my children, I discount anywhere that has water around, especially a river.
I need to be able to let them play outside without worrying about them drowning.
I’d be cross if we ended up somewhere where they hadn’t mentioned water on the property.

BLKS7 I’m so sorry. for your precious angel. X

You have the email if him threatening to sue you?

Tell him you are going to add that to your review

I'm wondering Pembrokshire as well!

Massive rambling dated decor house by a river. Ran by a man. Not the cleanest, and quite £££.

Not Pembrokeshire. North devon.

I bet the review sites’ rules forbid this. They’re trying to bully you into removing. Let reevoo and tripadvisor know!

Mould, overflowing bins and cramped equipment in the gym

Partially collapsed ceiling in the swimming pool, someone’s forgotten to clear the rubbish and filthy indoor fountain by the swimming pool

Add to the review that he is now threatening to sue you. What an arse.

Flaming paint and damp were standard decor

Window view is apparently a view off the hills’ rather than the car park.
Picnic anyone?
Game of tennis?