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+--- Thread: Is it illegal to publically humiliate or belittle a company? (/thread-99464.html)
Is it illegal to publically humiliate or belittle a company? - Ratta - 02-19-2014 12:40 PM
Recently I ordered a product from a company that is suppose to be reputable, it has gained alot of media attention recently.
However I ordered my products over a month ago, have sent several messages and did not receive a reply from them.
Its only when I complained on their facebook page like 100's of other people have done that they responded(I threatened to write articles on them and get the others involved)
They still have not sent out individual messages of apologies and said that they have not even sent the orders out yet due to all of the media attention they have been getting.
I want to know before I do anything if its illegal to speak the truth? would it be illegal of me to complain about them more publicly. Would it be illegal of me to state that i'm unemployed looking for work and would gladly go and work for them if they are struggling.
As it stands, in my eyes I have had money stolen from me as it was only by chance that I saw that they had a facebook page. I wonder how many others don't know they are on facebook and have not had a response for a month/months.
I questioned whether the media groups have anything to do with the facade, I didn't accuse them but pointed out that it was bizarre that such big media organizations would advertise a product from such a company.
- Orobias - 02-19-2014 12:50 PM
You are perfectly OK as long as you speak only facts based on your experience.
- Sans Deity - 02-19-2014 12:52 PM
You're ok as long as you don't make any factually untrue statements.
- The Great Quizoo - 02-19-2014 12:53 PM
It is legal to tell the truth. However, how many thousands of dollars worth of legal fees are YOU ready to pay? If you engage in a series of attacks on the company, INTENDED to cause harm to them, you cn expect to be sued, and it is unlikely that the courts will award you legal fees. In short, you could spend tens of thousands to defend yourself, even IF you win.
- Grumpier Old Woman - 02-19-2014 01:01 PM
It is not against the law to state anything that is truthful, but you must be careful not to say or write or otherwise record anything about them which is not or you will break the laws of libel or slander. So don't exaggerate your claims about them. Just tell it like it is.
- Andi - 02-19-2014 01:06 PM
The fact - fine
explicitly rubbishing the company with your opinion and causing them losses - is libel (if written).
The problem is,
When most people write things, they cannot completely seperate their opinion and anger from the 'facts', and colour the comments with libelous statements.
But simple statements or better, questions such as
'what is happening with your delivery service - 30 days to not deliver'
and/or
'I thought this was a a reputable company - 30 days and no apology for all your errors'
On the positive side, it could be argued that facebook is an 'opinion' and 'comment' site, not a formal commercial system for customer care, - an additional means of communicating - not an only one !
and if (like twitter accounts) they 'choose' to, both have a presence, and worse, use it as their only (and very public) means of communicating with their customers, they deserve all the vitriol and (if deserved) compliments, they get
[ and that would be one of your defences ]Personally, any company that uses only facebook - is 'not' a reputable company.
and the
' like 100's of other people have done'
comments would suggest that also !