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How to deal with Harassment?
I am seeking advice from the collective genius that is the UK signboards.
I had an issue last month with a company that tried to blame me for damage to chapter 8 graphics that I fitted to their vans. I have done many of these type of vehicles before and since without any issues yet they claimed the three vans I did for them were faulty. I examined one vehicle and it was quite clear to me the damage had been caused by abrasion most likely caused by a high pressure gun or steam cleaner. I asked that a vehicle be made available for inspection by my supplier of the chapter 8 kits and this was met with a torrent of verbal abuse. Consequently I refused any refund. Later I received an abusive phonecall telling me I was going to cause my self “a lot of grief”.
Since then I have had three negative reviews posted on Google by three members of the same family. Each review worded to look like they were unconnected with the intention of giving the impression I had many dissatisfied customers.
I have reported the reviews to google but to no avail. I am considering reporting this to the police as I believe this amounts to a campaign of harassment.
What would you do?
(The company in question is called M-Tech 24:7 for the benefit of any other sign makers in my locality to be aware)
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8 Replies
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I was actually going to post on here about a similar thing. I have a customer wanting a change made to their vans at no extra cost or they said they will use social media against my business. this is nothing but blackmail and yes you are being harassed.
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I had similar with a disgruntled customer, I attach their one sentence 1* review.
Go back with the facts, in a polite yet firm response.
You really can use these clowns to your advantage, by showing them as the idiots they are, and showing the customers you want to attract you know what you’re talking about.
Don’t worry about the rubbish reviews, most customers will see through it, read your reply and see that it’s a hoax.
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This is why I don’t read or trust reviews, negative ones could be left by the competition and positive ones by friends/family of the business owner.
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I would report it to the police just for some peace of mind.
This is terrible. I am just starting out and working on a new website and Facebook and this type of thing just puts me off.
I have a friend that this happened to on Facebook so much that she just closed the page and had around 2000 followers. it is so unfair. 😟 -
And I’m expected to believe their lies when they claim to never use high pressure washers on their vehicles?
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Not a bit funny when a client is threatening to damage your reputation over this kind of thing Phill, I’m assuming this outfit does plenty of motorway miles in these vehicles, & your picture looks like it’s being cleaned with snow foam. This isn’t a great idea even with bare paint if you don’t know how to use it. My guess would be that they covered a dirty vehicle in snow foam without cleaning the rough stuff off first with the pressure washer. Just found this online, could be the reason. Incidentally, do you take photos of your installations when finished? Had one instance a couple of years ago when a client returned with his van a day after his install. He was claiming that a scratch was down to us as it definitely wasn’t there before. I design my liveries using actual pictures of the van rather than vehicle outline libraries.
I called up the original layout & hey presto. There was the scratch on the door & he was actually in the picture with it. He apologised for the misunderstanding but he & I both knew there was no misunderstanding.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by Kevin Mahoney.
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This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by
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2 can play that game if you like 😉
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I feel your pain Phill, this type of thing is all too common these days.
I have had the same, one just recently! “an existing customer”.
Their complaint was…
They called us on a Wednesday, saying they have “just picked up a new van”, and have a new employee starting on Monday. Can they have their existing design put on their new van, printed, laminated, contour cut, laid up, taped and fitted for Friday afternoon, or the weekend will do?!
We are rammed with work and have two weeks of work backed up waiting to be done. we told him this and he said well keep me posted on a cancellation. called back on the Monday to complain he wasn’t happy and he would use social media to complain further. but wait for it… he told us “he loves the quality of our work and has been using us for many years, but not happy about how quickly we return our calls because he had waited two hours on being told we could not fit him in?!”
I will add, the guy had got another van three weeks prior (squeezed into our workload) and has not yet paid the invoice for that one. this didn’t worry us, we know he is good for the money, but here we are being lenient with him, but he wants to hammer us for not being able to accommodate him at short notice. it’s pathetic!anyway…
I think you should cover your back Phill.I would report it. just file a complaint that you feel your business is being harassed and would like it logged as a precautionary measure.
I would respond to each online post.
Respond to the person involved by outlining nothing other than the graphics have not failed but are a result of pressure washer damage. but you have offered to try and address the issue by bringing in your supplier to take pictures and get a second opinion. but they have not allowed you to do this, therefore there isn’t much else you can do to resolve the problem because you are using top quality products, ex amount of years experience, blah blah blah.as for the other two. i would simply respond by saying, we have zero knowledge of what job you are referring to or what company you represent. but you will be more than happy to address any issues if they contact you by email and include their full details blah blah.
there isn’t a lot more you can do, and they sound like the type the more you try to address this. the more they will try and be petty about it. hopefully, they will get bored and disappear.
I know this does not help with regards to the google negative posts. but as has been said, I think people are wise enough to see past the fake amongst the genuine.
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