ULPT Request- Threatened by slander over a 1 star Google review

Posted by YouWillBeFine@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 62 comments

My father had some simple work done at a local specialized shop- they did a terrible job and shrugged off correcting it, he left a review explaining the situation.

Owner of shop blew up his phone with serious threats to ruin his reputation and slander his name etc. etc. and to remove the review.

(He removed the review, as he is self employed and the owner knows his brand)

The only thing I can think of is a bunch of anonymous 1-star reviews...help!

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TecN9ne@reddit

Crazy how your dad was able to reproduce without balls.

What kinda guy gets bulled into removing his review. You take screenshots of the threats and post those in another review.

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YouWillBeFine@reddit (OP)

Funny! Details of threats were left out, but they were quite aggressive. Backed by a gang. Screenshot and a post would only lead to worse things, as its easily recognizable

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laxidasical@reddit

Gangs in a small town? Do you live in Jasper, Missouri?

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cjw7x@reddit

I don't think anyone got this reference lol

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laxidasical@reddit

Genius is lonely, my friend. Just the two of us!

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It's a thing. Every small town has a gang, and it's usually one or two poorly educated families causing problems for everyone, or someone's older sibling gets into a real gang in the city so they start one at home to be like them.

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Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit

Keep screenshots for your own records at least. But frankly those should be enough to lay charges. Your cops suck. Sorry you're dealing with this.

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BigBoyBoulevard6@reddit

You initially said he was "potentially" backed by a gang. So is he or isn't he? If it's such a small town, do you know any of the people in this "gang"? Are they hardened ex-cons, or just wannabe losers?

Your dad should have gone straight to the local police after old-mate went off at him, then he would be suspect number one the second anything actually went down.

That loser had no power over the situation, until your dad chickened out... next time, stand your ground and cover your bases. If he's halfway smart, your dad will already have cameras facing all sides of his business, ones for home will have him fully covered. Unless these people don't give a fuck about going to jail for this loser and his business, they aren't going to fuck with a local business owner (who I'm assuming has a better social standing than the loser) in a small town that they live in.

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YouWillBeFine@reddit (OP)

Indeed, he/I don't know the facts on that- but to err on the side of caution its very possible and likely. It would be a branch of a larger one that is here. But have no personal connections to cross reference with (that I can think of).

Documenting and submitting transcripts/chats is a great idea, just incase

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CMWalsh88@reddit

This happened in my town. Someone left a bad review. Then they called and threatened them. Then the voicemail was posted on the internet. Which lead to this huge blowup. It was picked up by the local news paper.

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WaxiestBobcat@reddit

Reach out to a bunch of marketing companies with the phone number for the business and request quotes for marketing materials for said business. The more the merrier.

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-Schadenfreudegasm-@reddit

Is selling copier toner still a thing? Back in the day, the cold callers were like locusts swarming.

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YouWillBeFine@reddit (OP)

Cooperate version of pizza doxxing. Good play!

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schwelvis@reddit

It's not slander if it's true

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jueidu@reddit

I’ll help! Name and shame :) We all have Google accounts, so.

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JTEL918@reddit

Dad should have doubled down and added to his review the owners meltdown hissy fit.

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YouWillBeFine@reddit (OP)

I want to agree, but am afraid it would only escalate things. The threats and their potential gang backing is of concern. But a business should not get away with this behavior

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viral-architect@reddit

PISTOL POPPIN' POPPY STREET!

Let it escalate. What are they gonna do? Out themselves as having a documented motive?

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ReallyNiceDonkey@reddit

I mean if it's a small town and they know they're both business owners.. your dad could have addressed him in person about the issue and see how he replied. Not ewfe sing the other guy because he's totally out of line but coming from a small town, I can see how this could turn into some small town vandetta swuable typical bs

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MorgainofAvalon@reddit

What do ewfe sing, and swuable mean?

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OverTheDump@reddit

I had the same thing happen to me. 1 star review a realtor, denied and threatened me, emails poured in, then the random calls started with verbal threats from someone of a similar origin/language, and then people start showing up around my home. Police didn’t help because they couldn’t prove they had anything to do with eachother. Don’t fuck around with crazy. Just let this go.

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Better-Lunch670@reddit

It would be a shame if the phone number and address of this business ended up in the hands of some persistent and annoying characters.

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YouWillBeFine@reddit (OP)

Tell me more....

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ZealousidealMango114@reddit

Classified ads with really good prices. My go to has been a kitchen aid for $60.

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Empty__Jay@reddit

anonymous redditors

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YouWillBeFine@reddit (OP)

After enough time that its not obvious, screenshots and business name will go live for the revenge 😎

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deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

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AutoModerator@reddit

No remind me or update me nonsense.

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Outrageous_Act585@reddit

Happy cake day!

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I_Want_A_Ribeye@reddit

Scientology

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floofienewfie@reddit

Insurance salespeople, JW’s, Mormons

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Pomegranate_1328@reddit

Name and shame them on Reddit maybe wait a month or so. The business won't connect to your family. Reddit can leave reviews on google etc

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Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit

Yup. Come back in a month or two and DM ever volunteer with the deets.

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Busy-Conversation-24@reddit

Wait six months and the do it.

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Pomegranate_1328@reddit

You have a point…

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Big-Engineering-5323@reddit

It’s only slander if it’s not true. If he wants to sue, a discovery process will take place, uncovering everything.

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YouWillBeFine@reddit (OP)

Sure, but it would have to be escalated for them to post slanderous things as of now. Would rather just share the experience anonymously/troll/put him in his place without that headache.

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Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit

n.b. If they're posting lies as text or pictures, it's libel. Audio is slander.

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The_best_is_yet@reddit

exactly!

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ThatsHotHeiress@reddit

Retaliation right after is never the way, always play the well thought out long game.

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YouWillBeFine@reddit (OP)

Agreed, and being fairly small rural town it needs to be not obvious. Something sudden would make it too easy to connect dots

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TheCuriosity@reddit

Plan ahead and start google accounts now and start having them give reviews at random businesses in the area so they are 'legit', then start 1 star reviews from those accounts

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realdappermuis@reddit

Check back in 6 months - if you and your dad still feel salty about it. I would say check reviews but they probably threatened those people too

Mechanic once seriously scammed me and when I called him out he shouted, threatened, and hung up on me. It's given me mechanic ptsd to the point my car is suffering...so intermittently I still fantasize about retaliation (also; a real estate agent that deserves the worst, but, I'm not good at being bad if you know what I mean...so I just hope they have very bad things happen that don't involve me putting myself in peril)

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YouWillBeFine@reddit (OP)

Of course, imo though its not worth the stress and short term backlash of egging them on to go ahead with it.

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tangent1001@reddit

I was mostly making a jj jameson reference and nobodys getting it. Best of luck

https://youtu.be/XscaGDxuQqE?si=ozSTCZ_BGQ_7PYqT

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JackassWhisperer@reddit

Change the address of the business on Google.