DH has been slandered on local FB page

[Westerntravel]

Posting for traffic. DH is a tradesman, has done the job for years with no issues and a great reputation with positive reviews etc.

He has been working in a local ladies house for the past week or so and the job finished on Wednesday afternoon.

Last night, without warning, she put a post up on our local FB community group and accused DH of going through her belongings. The reason she knows this, is that she always positions one of her drawers in a particular way and stuff had been moved.

DH is mortified and completely denies this. Thankfully, a lot of the replies are from people who have used him before without issue and they are singing his praises. There are some embarrassing comments from random people calling him a pervert etc which are really hurtful.

She is refusing to take it down despite polite requests from DH. Does anyone know where we stand on this?

Excellent advice.

Remind the admin that they are accountable for what is posted on their page. I would also report directly to Facebook to see if that has the post removed sooner.

I also agree with nipping this in the bud with a solicitors letter. Even if you don’t pursue it further it may just be enough to make this woman think twice before posting liable comments on social media.

Facebook Dont like any post that gets a lot of reports - so getting as many friends on the case as possible may help

I would also be writing on her post that legal steps are being taken. Let people see that he is taking action.

I would resist the temptation to post replies etc on FB. One person mouthing off isn't going to drown out all the other customers who are sticking up for him and giving their positive experiences. These community groups always seem to attract the odd weirdo who loves the chance to call someone a perve or a paedo without even bothering to fire up their brain cell and consider the consequences.

These situations always seem worse in the immediate aftermath. I've had the odd person leave crappy untrue reviews about our business before. Sometimes it's even had the opposite effect and customers have come in to make purchases and offer their support.

Often a sharp letter from a solicitor can stop this. People are not keen on the thought of losing their house through a spiteful and untrue statement, which could ruin someone's livelihood/life

Even if you decide not to take a legal route right through to court action, post clearly on the Facebook page that you are seeking legal advice because her claims are untrue and slanderous / libellous. Tell her you will be pursuing this. Defend yourself rigorously and point out that making public baseless accusations do not reflect well on her.
It shows you are completely certain her claims are unfounded and you have nothing to hide. Gives you the upper hand in people’s minds.

Get a solicitor involved. It's libel.

Does he have public liability insurance? If there’s legal cover included he could (and should) go after her legally for slander.

DH is adamant. Also, and I say this with the greatest respect - having seen what she looks like, I think a pair of size 20 knickers are hardly going to be top of any blokes wish list.

Oh OP, you about to get slammed.

Oh dear…

Oh dear, I’ll get my hard hat. I genuinely didn’t mean any offence!

Report it to the administrator, it's libel.

I would reply to it, stating it's untrue and they'll be hearing from your solicitor.

Maybe put that on the facebook post. Should ruffle a few feathers but if you can't stand the heat then don't make accusations.

“my husband couldn’t possibly have rummaged in her knicker drawer your honour, because with the greatest respect, she’s so fat and ugly”.

Not the best defence tbh…

Remind them as admins of the group, they may well be seen as publishers in the eyes of the law, and would therefore be jointly liable in the event of any defamation claim.

People are very quick to jump to conclusions, and simply believe a post on FB. The woman hasn't exactly got concrete evidence that your husband has done anything wrong, and therefore shouldn't be making public statements on FB. It's written down, so it's slander. I'm assuming this woman hasn't yet paid your husband??! I'm wondering if this is a ploy not to pay him??!! I would be contacting a solicitor asap, especially if your husband hasn't been paid, and asking for advice. It's disgusting that none of the Admins on the FB groups have taken down the post - this woman has zero evidence your husband has been routing through her belongings, and they shouldn't entertain such posts. I would make it publicly known that you will be taking legal action, as there's no evidence at all, and such posts destroy people's livelihoods and reputations, without any justification.

Have you looked at other posts / reviews by her? Yu might find that she has said this sort of thing before

Make sure you take a screenshot of the post and all the replies incase it gets taken down, if you do go down the solicitor route

Nothing similar we can find, I did think that.

What a thoroughly foul thing to say. Fat people are worthy of desire and respect- and despite the lie of “with the greatest respect” there is fuck all respect to size 20 women in saying that they are so undesirable as to be the bottom of any blokes wish list. Sort your misogyny out op.

However in regard to the libel- that is serious and warrants contact from a solicitor and follow up action if they refuse to retract and apologise. It’s awful that she has done this. DH should take it straight to a solicitor as his reputation does not deserved to be tarnished this way.

She paid without delay (before the post went up), it’s very strange.

You might also find she has a reputation for bilking her suppliers.

Crossed post - ignore me!