True LocalReviews 90

Our business has been targeted by anonymous defamatory reviews that aren't true. Small business are being forced to defend reviews with no name, no proof of purchase. They treat Australian businesses like they are criminals - Guilty before innocent. Time for class action and ACCC to get involved.

I have been bullied by true local, I had been given a fake review on my business which I had to wear as guilty for years and now the business is changing from manufacturing to baking but we cannot change the details and contact or business name or simply cancel the listing. True local has taken the right to decide what should be on my old listing. I never realized that true local could take such decision for my business and its future. I understand today world is about corporation and big company controlling your daily life with fake news, fake reviews and fake jobs.

True Local put their reviews on Google Search engine which is seen by users first, the information shown is incorrect and misrepresents businesses. In my case Google shows a star rating of. 5 with 2 reviews. It is only when you click on True local via google it opens up to show the supposedly more accurate rating and reviews this is also incorrect. Yesterday when I checked through Google I had 6 reviews and a 3.5 star rating, today they removed 2 positive reviews and a comment I made to one client and dropped star rating to 3. True Local will not respond see email I sent this evening below
Sent from Platinum Limousines *******@platinumlimos.net.au

Begin forwarded message:
From: Platinumlimos <*******@platinumlimos.net.au>
Date: 8 March 2017 at 10:21:07 pm AEST
To: *******@truelocal.com.au
Subject: Fwd: [True Local Support] Re: I would like my listing page to be deleted, there... TicketID: *******
I note you have removed 2 reviews one from caravan man and another from Vic. A please replace both reviews you have no right removing reviews from Platinum Limousines. Google search engine which comes up when Platinum Limousines is searched for is still incorrect, misrepresenting Platinum Limousines rectify immediately you are damaging my company causing financial loss. I will be seeking legal advice pursuant to your misrepresentation and loss of business and income should this not be rectified immediately.
I also will contact the Office of Fair Trading along with the Ombudsman.
I find your lack of understanding and communication appalling, I would of thought someone from True Local would have the decency to address this situation to avoid the legal ramifications.

Over 6 years ago we received a one star rating and aggressive negative comments from a customer who had a substantial outstanding account with us. The customer claimed that we had caused damage to their property and slandered our product. Some months later we took the customer to the small claims court which ruled in our favour and ordered the customer to pay the outstanding debt. However, True Local refuse to remove the defamatory comments and they still remain on our review page over 6 YEARS LATER.

True Local is a biased and defamatory website which attracts anyone who has an axe to grind. Review content is not verified, nor are the bonafides of the reviewer who may not even be a customer of the business under review. To this end, many True Local reviews are actually slanderous posts generated by competitors of the business.

The review content of True Local is heavily biased towards negativity and should be ignored. The content is grossly inaccurate and damaging to business. It is far more likely that the 0.1% attention seeking, unreasonable customer will post a poor review than the 99.9% of satisfied customers who have no motivation to post a good review.

Shame on True Local who are nothing more than opportunistic gossip mongers.

My clients informed me of negative comments on True Local, this is how I find out they listing my business. It has been 2 years since I contact True Local and requested to be remove without success. The worst bit is True Local become a trash board where people that do not like my business can come and post non-genuine review. Some of them not even my clients. Very terrible and irresponsible on True Local behalf. I contact them about the bad review, they told me to communicate with the reviewer, how can I when I do not even know them. Now I notice Google doing the same.

Businesses that pay Truelocal can manage the reviews. I saw one sponsor had deleted ~10 good 4 star reviews, leaving only the ~50 excellent 5 star reviews. That's not only bad for consumers, but bad for all the businesses. People's bad reviews get deleted, the good reviews get deleted = worthless reviews. Similar to the ACCC case where Meriton 'misled and deceived' by blocking customers' bad reviews. Wouldn't want to be a business relying on Truelocal when it hits the fan.