Blackmail threat

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Prohairtrainingacademy

  • #1
    I fitted hair extensions on Friday for a client , who wanted them for her daughters Christening on the Sunday , in Sunday morning she went to a salon at 7.45 am I received txts photos , telling me my work unacceptable etc , the photo I received is nothing like the work I fitted , it’s obviously been coloured , tampered with , yesterday the client txt me asking for a full refund , I offered to fix although I have not seen the hair , I offered to remove and refund , get someone else to remove , the client refused all offers , stating she wants to keep the hair and get full refund !!
    I have been threatened if I don’t pay she will ruin me over social media , accusing me of blackmail ,

    This stylist who on Sunday did her hair for rthe Christening is a make up artist not a hairdresser and certainly not a hair extensions specialist,
    i Have reported to citizens advice was told the client needs to prove she isn’t in a position of betterment, the client is refusing everything except to destroy my reputation, I have worked long and hard for my reputation,

    Lastly the client left a fabulous review , comments from friends , if unhappy why did she not contact me on the Saturday?

    Any advice is truly grateful

    Diane
     
    Nico Albrecht

    Nico Albrecht

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  • #2
    Do not give a refund. If you are known to give refunds under threats than others will pull the same stuff on you. If you have a good reputation I wouldn't care too much about it. All you can do is reply to her comments on social media in a professional manner and explain your side. Do not get in any keyboard warrior fights. Also you could become pro active and post on your social media explaining the situation to all your followers and let them decide and explain the situation and reassure all of them that you are willing to work on problems. In regards to blackmailing you might wanna post that in the legal section what you can do about that.
     
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    fisicx

    fisicx

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  • #3
    Prohairtrainingacademy said:
    I have been threatened if I don’t pay she will ruin me over social media , accusing me of blackmail ,
    Click to expand...
    She won't ruin you. She might post on her own feeds an maybe post something on yours but you can respond to all of her rants (which is what they will be).

    Stand your ground, just tell her you will give a refund if she returns the extensions. Do not respond with any other message than this.
     
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    Prohairtrainingacademy

  • #5
    I have an issue with a client wanting a full refund but won’t return the product,
    Telling me if I don’t refund they will ruin me all over social media ,
    Accusing me of blackmail because I said I will refund if you guarantee you won’t slander me , I merely stated this after approximately 50 msgs bullying me into offering a refund , what is my legal rights over this accusation?
     
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    fisicx

    fisicx

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  • #7
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    Mr D

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  • #8
    Prohairtrainingacademy said:
    I have an issue with a client wanting a full refund but won’t return the product,
    Telling me if I don’t refund they will ruin me all over social media ,
    Accusing me of blackmail because I said I will refund if you guarantee you won’t slander me , I merely stated this after approximately 50 msgs bullying me into offering a refund , what is my legal rights over this accusation?
    Click to expand...

    You cannot enforce a guarantee not to tell people about you.
     
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    Nico Albrecht

    Nico Albrecht

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  • #10
    Also you can get reviews removed. First option is to send a note defamation to the website company, they may remove it or a better way is to get the post flagged / reported by as many people as you can find. Google reviews on pages 10+ reports and they normally remove it. Also you can always sue. When establishing a defamation claim it is generally immaterial whether a defendant has launched a deliberate attack on your reputation, fired off a post in anger or innocently repeated a defamatory statement made by a third party. If the post is read and reputational damage has been suffered then you may be able to pursue a claim for libel. But in all fairness it will all cost money and a lot of time. Also what I would do is send one more message and keep it brief and advise what you can do. Thats it. Tell here that you have no problem getting a review from here but it must reflect the truth. If false content is being posted you may have to pursue this matter further be fair but not threatening. Also get all you clients ready to leave positive reviews as soon as she posted it. The danger is if you refund she will tell friends and they pull the same trick on you. Deal with it like it is a bully fight back but be fair and professional. Do not get in fights over it.
     
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    deniser

    deniser

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  • #14
    Stand your ground, block her from your phone and say if she puts her complaint in writing you will refer it to your legal adviser for reply.

    Don't worry about her leaving a bad review as you can always respond, get it deleted or bury it with 50 good reviews which your loyal customers will only be happy to provide for you.
     
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    Nico Albrecht

    Nico Albrecht

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  • #16
    Harassment is both a criminal offence and a civil action under the Protection from Harassment Act but I doubt the policy would have any interest in 50 messages in a business transaction to do something about it and advise to make it a civil matter. You really need to stalk somebody and makes physical threats to get the police out to do something about it.
     
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    Prohairtrainingacademy

  • #17
    deniser said:
    Stand your ground, block her from your phone and say if she puts her complaint in writing you will refer it to your legal adviser for reply.

    Don't worry about her leaving a bad review as you can always respond, get it deleted or bury it with 50 good reviews which your loyal customers will only be happy to provide for you.
    Click to expand...
    Thank you that helps
     
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    Ian J

    Ian J

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  • #18
    deniser said:
    Don't worry about her leaving a bad review as you can always respond, get it deleted or bury it with 50 good reviews which your loyal customers will only be happy to provide for you.
    Click to expand...

    I gave a bad review to a factoring company that I deal with and he did just what you suggested and got loads of his mates to post five star reviews so that mine was very quickly buried
     
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    Mr D

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  • #20
    Nico Albrecht said:
    Harassment is both a criminal offence and a civil action under the Protection from Harassment Act but I doubt the policy would have any interest in 50 messages in a business transaction to do something about it and advise to make it a civil matter. You really need to stalk somebody and makes physical threats to get the police out to do something about it.
    Click to expand...

    Even then it can take months and multiple calls to police before they do anything.
     
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    Nochexman

  • #22
    Mr D said:
    Even then it can take months and multiple calls to police before they do anything.
    Click to expand...

    Just going on my recent experience it was nothing like that. The hardest bit was registering via the 101 number; had to stay on the line for half an hour. But after that they dealt with the complaint promptly and I was pleased with the outcome. To be honest the main benefit was my report is now police record so if anything further comes of it there is a record. Anyone being cyber bullied - as Diane clearly is - should do this, not just for their own benefit, but for everyone else's.
     
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    Prohairtrainingacademy

  • #23
    Nochexman said:
    Just going on my recent experience it was nothing like that. The hardest bit was registering via the 101 number; had to stay on the line for half an hour. But after that they dealt with the complaint promptly and I was pleased with the outcome. To be honest the main benefit was my report is now police record so if anything further comes of it there is a record. Anyone being cyber bullied - as Diane clearly is - should do this, not just for their own benefit, but for everyone else's.
    Click to expand...
    Thank you
     
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    Mr D

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  • #24
    Nochexman said:
    Just going on my recent experience it was nothing like that. The hardest bit was registering via the 101 number; had to stay on the line for half an hour. But after that they dealt with the complaint promptly and I was pleased with the outcome. To be honest the main benefit was my report is now police record so if anything further comes of it there is a record. Anyone being cyber bullied - as Diane clearly is - should do this, not just for their own benefit, but for everyone else's.
    Click to expand...

    Going on my sister's ongoing multiple year problems it is very much as I said.
    Days at a time before police come round, weeks of uncertainty and so far having to leave rented accommodation suddenly for own protection twice to the annoyance of the landlords.
     
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