Horse and Hound, Above the Law ?

You asked for opinions, you've been given them, although they clearly weren't the ones you were hoping for. How is that an over-reaction?
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
The point that Im putting across here, is not one that I think no one should be allowed to voice their opinions.
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That is exactly what you're saying though.

I originally asked for peoples 'opinions' on the matter, so I'm unsure how it could seem that I want to silence people.
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My opinion is that if you offer a service, expect it to be commented on - for good or bad service.
 
You asked for the thread, whatever it was, to be removed and are seeking legal action i gather. That threat is enough to silence anyone. I've left many sites now because of the constant "im seeking legal action for slander" threats. It gets very tiring and worrisome!
 
So there's no issue of people voicing their opinions as long as they're not negative ones?
You can't ever please everyone. It'd make my job a hell of a lot easier if "one size could fit all" but it doesn't. One persons lovely quiet evening meal is anothers' being ignored by staff. Even had one customer complain it was too busy. What can you do about that?
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
The point that Im putting across here, is not one that I think no one should be allowed to voice their opinions.
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It's exactly what you're saying.

Like I said earlier people on this forum do over react to posts, you can gather this just by reading this thread. I originally asked for peoples 'opinions' on the matter, so I'm unsure how it could seem that I want to silence people.
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My opinion is that if you're offering a service expect it to be commented on. Good or bad.
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
This has escalated quickly. I can confirm that my company is not that mentioned in any of the above posts however I have read their particular threads and they seem to be experiencing a similar problem.

It is not that I believe in gagging public speech, however I do believe that the threads should not be allowed to turn into an argument as said previously eventually it gets personal and that should not be left to continue.

The matter is just up for discussion to hear peoples opinions on the matter if the shoe was on the other foot how would you feel ?
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AFPMSL

DressageDiva123 said:
I ordered from (Mystery Company) at the end of December 2013. I waited patiently for months for my items... still nothing. I have recently been trying to message the owner on both her business page and personal page on facebook. 9 times out of 10 I am ignored. I have commented on the (Mystery Company) Page asking for an update on my order on a few occasions - and my comments just get deleted. I am now blocked from posting and commenting on the page, and also blocked from messaging. I cannot believe this, so unfair!! I have emailed also - guess what, it was ignored. So was a text I sent to the mobile number supplied on the website. I have been fobbed off the few times that I have received a reply from facebook message - excuses such as problems with supplier, my goods are already posted, my goods must be lost so now they have re ordered them. The excuses are never ending. I can't believe how many other people are also having this trouble! I have never had any such problems with any other company. I can't believe (Mystery Company) feel its acceptable to [content removed] give such bad customer service!!!
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If people would just like to click on the symbol next to DressageDiva's name to see the source of that quote, and then look at Admin's edit notes at the bottom of it . . .


"Oh what a tangled web we weave when once we practice to deceive" :D
 
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gemstoneflyer13 said:
Im not entirely bother what the opinions that were voiced on this thread were, just wanted to see what people thought.
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You're contradicting yourself though. Either you want peoples opinions (suck it up, move on) and thoughts (same thing btw), or you don't.

Or you're fact finding.

And I think hoping you will be able to present your case/do your own suing.
 
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gemstoneflyer13 said:
The point that Im putting across here, is not one that I think no one should be allowed to voice their opinions.

Like I said earlier people on this forum do over react to posts, you can gather this just by reading this thread. I originally asked for peoples 'opinions' on the matter, so I'm unsure how it could seem that I want to silence people.
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I don't think anyone has over reacted to your post. If you post something like this anonymously you can hardly blame people for speculating!
On the whole, I think more products receive positive promotion than negative from HHO. As previous posters have said, forums like this provide companies with an excellent opportunity to address any problems that arise and with far more speed than was possible before internet use.
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
It is not that I believe in gagging public speech, however I do believe that the threads should not be allowed to turn into an argument as said previously eventually it gets personal and that should not be left to continue.
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Ill ignore the obvious oxymoron here....

This is a PUBLIC. FORUM. It is not school, there is no teacher to stop people arguing, it is what it is.
If you don't like it, don't engage.

JFTD said:
You asked for opinions, you've been given them, although they clearly weren't the ones you were hoping for. How is that an over-reaction?
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True dat! :D
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
This has escalated quickly. I can confirm that my company is not that mentioned in any of the above posts however I have read their particular threads and they seem to be experiencing a similar problem.
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jemima*askin said:
AFPMSL



If people would just like to click on the symbol next to DressageDiva's name to see the source of that quote, and then look at Admin's edit notes at the bottom of it . . .
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Hmmm. Thought my hunch was right.
 
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Hmmm, If I were to open a new business, and I saw that someone had, a bad experience due to my company, details in black and white for all the world to see, my focus would be on ensuring my customer/client was contacted and what ever the problem was, rectified, and compensated, so that the next post on said thread is a happy one, explaining how the horrible experience had been turned around and all was sorted, not posting pointless posts and creating 'legal battles'.
Not everything runs smoothly, things do go wrong, the number one in any company should be to ensure that wrong is put right, If your not willing or able to take it on the chin and sort it, then you should be in any business at all!
 
If people would just like to click on the symbol next to DressageDiva's name to see the source of that quote, and then look at Admin's edit notes at the bottom of it . . .


"Oh what a tangled web we weave when once we practice to deceive" :D[/QUOTE]


Ooooh.... :D
 
Gemstoneflyer13 I think your protests that you aren't a company that has been discussed on here have been shown to be lies so I would drop that pretence.

Secondly I have seen HHO admin step in to prevent defaming of a company actually. There was a time when 2 very prolific posters who were anti air jackets got into hot water regarding claims made about the company Point 2 & their treatment of an event rider following an accident.
Why did HHO step in? Because what was being posted was untrue & risked tarnishing the reputation of the company. (For the record I don't think these posters made up the stories but were relaying a story that was 'doing the rounds') this could've left individuals open to legal action.
We've still been able to discuss Point 2 - we can give our opinion whether it be good or bad so it's not like the forum has been silenced!

I'm guessing that as the individual post was edited by HHO admin yet they felt the content was still safe enough to keep on the forum they aren't too bothered about your legal action.

I'm sorry you feel hard done by. TBH I hadn't even seen the previous thread about your company....but now I'm aware of it I wouldn't shop from you.

So if nothing else your want to discuss the legal action situation has lost you a potential customer. Well done :)
 
Having studied and worked in marketing many moons ago, one of the key points i will always remember is the open mouthed complainer whom the company should listen to to improve their product, customer relations, than the quiet one who just takes their business elsewhere. Maybe times have changed. I did like the old days.
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
This has escalated quickly. I can confirm that my company is not that mentioned in any of the above posts however I have read their particular threads and they seem to be experiencing a similar problem.

It is not that I believe in gagging public speech, however I do believe that the threads should not be allowed to turn into an argument as said previously eventually it gets personal and that should not be left to continue.

The matter is just up for discussion to hear peoples opinions on the matter if the shoe was on the other foot how would you feel ?
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The forum has a process in place for such concerns - simply notify 'TFC' and request a review of the thread in question and removal if necessary. If you are saying you did this and your concerns were dismissed then perhaps you do have a case to take up with IPC, although i suspect they have a pretty good idea of how the law works in this area. This would seem even more reason to avoid dredging it up on here though!
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
Im not entirely bothered what the opinions that were voiced on this thread were, just wanted to see what people thought.
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Erm . . . I'm confused. You poked an ants nest with a stick just to get a reaction and now you're surprised by said reaction? You asked a question, you got answers, but you're not "entirely bothered what the opinions . . . voiced on this thread" . . . ?

P
 
It is a recognised and well documented phenomenon that the most powerful advocate of any company is a customer who has received poor service which has been rapidly and generously corrected.

Complaints are therefore an opportunity to get the best feedback and the best publicity a company could wish for. You should be grateful, not complaining and threatening to sue.

Let me give you an example. Ten years ago I flew BA to Glasgow on business. I was sat next to a man so fat he took half my seat as well as his own. On arrival at the airport I went to the BA desk to tell them that the man was a safety hazard who would have made it impossible for me to get out of that plane in a hurry. They listened, apologised, made a note, and when I got home that evening there was an enormous basket of flowers on my doorstep.

I flew BA on that trip instead of other carriers for the rest of the job, and I've lost count of how many people I've told of that exceptional service when it was not even their fault that they did not know how gross the passenger was going to be.

THAT'S how you deal with complaints, not grousing about free speech on a forum!
 
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I made a new account as I did not want what was said to reflect the thoughts of my company however was meant to reflect what peoples opinions on Horse and Hound allowing small business's names to get thrown in the dirt.

I have asked for the forum about my company to be taken down on many occasions as I do not believe it is fair or just to have, for all i know a bunch of complete random people posting slander about my company. It has happened to many other companies and Im sure they would love to see some sort of action being taken to stop this in its tracks.

It was not the criticism I was bothered about on the thread, however was the amount of people who felt they need to contribute after what i thought was, professionally trying to solve the problem.
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
This has escalated quickly. I can confirm that my company is not that mentioned in any of the above posts however I have read their particular threads and they seem to be experiencing a similar problem.

It is not that I believe in gagging public speech, however I do believe that the threads should not be allowed to turn into an argument as said previously eventually it gets personal and that should not be left to continue.


The matter is just up for discussion to hear peoples opinions on the matter if the shoe was on the other foot how would you feel ?
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strange?
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
I made a new account as I did not want what was said to reflect the thoughts of my company however was meant to reflect what peoples opinions on Horse and Hound allowing small business's names to get thrown in the dirt.

I have asked for the forum about my company to be taken down on many occasions as I do not believe it is fair or just to have, for all i know a bunch of complete random people posting slander about my company. It has happened to many other companies and Im sure they would love to see some sort of action being taken to stop this in its tracks.

It was not the criticism I was bothered about on the thread, however was the amount of people who felt they need to contribute after what i thought was, professionally trying to solve the problem.
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But if you had solved the problem those people would have had nothing to say.
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
I made a new account as I did not want what was said to reflect the thoughts of my company however was meant to reflect what peoples opinions on Horse and Hound allowing small business's names to get thrown in the dirt.

I have asked for the forum about my company to be taken down on many occasions as I do not believe it is fair or just to have, for all i know a bunch of complete random people posting slander about my company. It has happened to many other companies and Im sure they would love to see some sort of action being taken to stop this in its tracks.

It was not the criticism I was bothered about on the thread, however was the amount of people who felt they need to contribute after what i thought was, professionally trying to solve the problem.
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You've just been outed as a liar on a public forum. Unfortunately that does not reflect well on you or your company. :D:D
 
gemstoneflyer13 said:
I made a new account as I did not want what was said to reflect the thoughts of my company however was meant to reflect what peoples opinions on Horse and Hound allowing small business's names to get thrown in the dirt.

I have asked for the forum about my company to be taken down on many occasions as I do not believe it is fair or just to have, for all i know a bunch of complete random people posting slander about my company. It has happened to many other companies and Im sure they would love to see some sort of action being taken to stop this in its tracks.

It was not the criticism I was bothered about on the thread, however was the amount of people who felt they need to contribute after what i thought was, professionally trying to solve the problem.
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this was the one I meant to quote!
 
_GG_ said:
All companies make mistakes and get the occasional bad review. It is a drop in the ocean and a good company will resolve any disputes and save their reputation swiftly.

We enjoy freedom of speech. That does not mean we are allowed to lie and that is clearly what you are getting at with your current action. Unfortunately, that brings with it what can be some very unpleasant proceedings unless you and your company are absolutely above reproach.

In order for you to prove that the words printed within the pages of theses forums are lies, you have to allow full access to all communications in and out of your company. That means that everything will be reviewed. You can't simply delete the ones you think might get you in trouble and only leave the ones where you have behaved impeccably. They will know. Every part of your business will be picked apart by the opposing legal team. They will also contact everyone they can find who has written a bad review or posted negative comments about your company anywhere and they will either gather evidence in support of their clients or, if you're unlucky, they may begin to gather additional clients and start a counter suit action against your company.

All of this will be in the public domain. Anyone will be able to walk into the court, if it got that far and follow the proceedings. That includes the media, so you need to think long and hard about how perfect your conduct has been in every communication, how fantastic your products have been, how wonderful your customer service has been and how diligently you have refunded any monies owed, dispatched items and dealt with genuine complaints.

Let me also say...the law does not like to be used. It is a tool that is available to those who have been wronged. It is not a tool for people to use when they are angry and wish to seek some sort of vengeance, especially not a company seeking to claim against individuals.

It's a very slippery slope when you decide to take this path. Your legal advisors will of course tell you that you have a strong case and you are more than likely going to come away the victor. They are always going to say this, for many reasons...the most common being that their clients don't usually tell them the whole truth, I know, the hypocracy!

By all means, if you feel you have a strong case and you have never failed in any way to provide excellent customer service, go ahead with the action.

Just remember...when you have opened a door like this, you can never close it behind you.
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Wonderful sense spoken by _GG_ as usual . . . particularly the last sentence.

P
 
I have not lied ... I never mentioned my company name or my own name, I don't see that as a problem. Many people who post on this forum don't mention their names...
 
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