Skip to main content
Hotels Against Tripadvisor, the dangers of anonymous reviews

Hotels Against Tripadvisor, the dangers of anonymous reviews

232 signatures 18 to reach 250
A
Andrei C. signed
C
Charlotte signed
T
Telly signed
T
Tan G. signed
P
Pamela signed
C
corina v. signed
A
Anna B. signed
S
Someone signed
O
Oliver B. signed
E
Eniko M. signed
Started by Anonymous 16 years, 5 months ago
The often unjustifiable damage being done to small businesses’ reputations and viability is increasing dramatically with the proliferation of review websites, where literally anyone can post subjective user generated content (UGC) anonymously, whether it be true false or just plain malicious. Those affected have little or no redress in that the web site owners are often outside UK jurisdiction, too large for the small man to challenge legally, and any existing avenues available to challenge them are beyond the the victims financial means. The abuse of these sites includes false negative reviews from business rivals, false positive reviews made to dishonestly misrepresent a company and gain market advantage. Indeed a new industry euphemistically called “Reputation Management” is growing on the back of the review web site phenomenon. Customers are also becoming wise to the fact that the promise of a negative review on sites like Tripadvisor can often produce a substantial discount. A viscious circle exists whereby dubious negative reviews are countered by a wave of equally dubious positive reviews. The only defence available to victims. Now Tripadvisor is charging hotels for ”Business Listings”, a clear challenge to its claims to be unbiased, while Yelp is fighting a class action law suit for extortion over allegations that its salesmen were offering the removal of negative reviews in exchange for advertising revenue. The web site operators have a dilemma. If they moderate the postings they can become legally liable for their content, so they claim not to, and licence reigns. They shelter behind principally the US First Ammendment, because the malicious and slanderous reviews lend credibility to the positive reviews whether faked or genuine, and add substantially to profits. Whatever the demands of Freedom of Speech or Public Interest, the issue of web review sites must be addressed by effective legislation to curb these abuses. Comment that is true and fair Does not diminish anyones rights or civil liberties, while unrestrained libel and slander does. Please support us in our efforts to change legislation by signing our petition. Do not hesitate if you are not a UK citizen. This issue affects the whole world.

Updates

Reached 100 supporters

August 20, 2011

22 Comments

B
Béatrice ELEGIDO
11 years ago Featured

My restaurant has been aggressed by some messages untrue coming from people who had nothing to do else. Our establishment exists since 1996 and we never have problems like that. Sorry for my english, but Iam French.

L
Lina
12 years ago Featured

Yes, agree, TripAdvisor became a punishment tool used not only by business rivals. The employee used same false reviews as a revenge. Why TripAdvisor avoid sending links for making reviews only for people how can prove their honesty with booking no and exact date/room no/etc...?...

J
Jody Turner
12 years ago Featured

I am all for reviews from reliable sources. However, it seems that TripAdvisor allows anonymous malicious lies to be posted about businesses without any evidence the reviewer has even been a customer. How they can justify such slander is beyond me.

T
Telly
8 years ago

Is this actually going anywhere?

J
Janet
11 years ago

I fucking hate trip advisor! I've had so many negative reviews from ex employees or hateful ppl who have never EVEN eaten At my restaurant ! BAN TRIP ADVISOR!!

J
Janet
11 years ago

I fucking hate trip advisor! I've had so many negative reviews from ex employees or hateful ppl who have never EVEN eaten At my restaurant ! BAN TRIP ADVISOR!!

Sarah Nicholson

The people most likely to use this forum are those with negative comments, thus giving a one-sided view of establishments. It should be stopped or regulated

Matthew

I hate trip advisor, just tried to tell them my pub is not a restaurant, and I was told "you do not understand sir." No I do understand you prick. Its a pub not a restaurant.

Anonymous

Completely agree that TripAdvisor should be banned. Its a double edged sword that has affected job security and reputations of establishments. I'm completely against it.

Roshan

It's totally Abused by the competitors and it's a job insecuritiy for the staff any one can complain about them having a personal issue .not a good idea at all competitors give negative feedback which reflects in ranking

Nicholas muthoka

It is wrong to put employees in staged problems which never happened .,this demoralizes people especially junior employees who are in first contact with the guests

farid

We are not an hotel but a new opening restaurant and since we are open we have so many troubles with our competitors. We worked so hard and invest all our money to make a nice and quality place for customers and since it work well, our competitors used tripadvisor to kill us. We already sent to this fake website all evidence to remove the fake reviews, but nothing happen. We heard that some of our competitor pay a huge amount of money to T.A to do what ever they need on the website...money talk and this website is just a competitors playground and no more an objective customers information platform. Now, after 3 months opening I decided to sell my business and loose everything because even we requested to remove our T.A account from this fake website it is impossible and my wife and myself are in depression.. Please if you can help to quit this nightmare we thank you 1000 times...

rich wyatt

Having been Hosts of our Lodge for nearly ten years, we have seen the good and bad side of people. Sadly, TripAdvisor condones and encourages the very things that their Review Policies prohibit. They have no conscience at all and regard everything that a 'reviewer' submits as "proprietary" hence no comment or sharing of reviewers details. I regard my Lodge and Business as proprietary and consider their website to be a sham......they continue to harass me to join their organisation and advertise but I see this as virtual ransom! A new piece of fantasy has appeared, been removed (after substantiating it as a Fake), and reappeared to stay because it is deemed OK. This review is pure fantasy albeit well concocted but is considered by TA to be fine even though it is libelous both professionally and personally. An old Fake review was also considered fine by them even though it was disproved in civil Court as extortion and dishonest. It seems we can't win with this organisation and they refuse to return any correspondence now to their "Content Integrity" unit (what a joke) or their Legal department. We need help. Rich from New Zealand

Eniko Marton

I would like to bring up another perspective and that is of the employees. As an employee in the tourism and hospitality for years not once I have been questioned by superiors about low supervisor ratings or malicious and unfair comments. As someone who is personally present and trying to deliver the best possible customer service within circumstances I have little control over, I find it offensive to be rated and judged in every minute of my shift, in every single shift. Because there are people for whom simply nothing is enough due to differences in personal tastes or expectations about what a good service is or what services a business aims/should/is able to provide at all. I have seen different malicious and unfair reviews regarding to dress codes, incidents caused by customers under influence, assumed 'attitudes' of staff members, hygiene and so on. People who write these reviews should really start realising what power this means for them over people who are there to help them and make their experiences as close to perfect as possible on a daily basis. No wonder that many of the employees in the hospitality industry simply 'can't wait to get out' or just loses all the enthusiasm due to comments based on over reaction, miscommunication or reviews which are completely fake.

Anonymous

Dangerous organisation for a business if the business is not dancing the steps they want !!

B
Béatrice ELEGIDO
11 years ago

My restaurant has been aggressed by some messages untrue coming from people who had nothing to do else. Our establishment exists since 1996 and we never have problems like that. Sorry for my english, but Iam French.

K
kayas uddin
11 years ago

lets people post fraudulent reviews without removal on request has hijacked my business profiting from sites such as open table justeat hungry house takeaway.com parasites! (nosh slapper)

Help this petition grow

Share it with friends to help reach 250 signatures.

Your share link

Share directly