Further to recent general warnings and advice from KwikChex about increased activities by scammers, we are now receiving specific reports of attempts at defrauding timeshare owners. The latest attempts at scamming timeshare owners involve phone callers falsely telling Hilton Grand Vacations owners in the UK that the business is going into liquidation and offering services […]
KwikChex seeing rapidly increasing online threats to consumers and businesses connected to coronavirus Fraudsters delight in exploiting ‘fear factors’ and the coronavirus crisis is demonstrating how they are using it in attempts to scam consumers. This situation particularly suits scammers as so many people are staying at home and using the internet far more for […]
Regulators and consumer organisations have already exposed significant problems with Online Travel Agents (OTAs) – and one small business has already successfully claimed compensation for losses caused by Booking.com Online Travel Agents or OTAs as they are often better known dominate accommodation booking. Hotels and other accommodation providers cannot compete with their massive online presence […]
KwikChex sees an increase in reports from consumers concerned about being caught out by cold-calling rogues offering to get their monies back after losing monies in initial scams. An increasing number of consumers are approaching KwikChex with stories of being contacted by people saying they can get monies back for them that were lost […]
Winning battles against tech giants is difficult even for the biggest companies with the deepest pockets. But in November 2011, KwikChex took on a case and did precisely that – less than a year after our business was founded.
The law is catching up with those involved in ‘Leisure Credits’ and Bogus Holiday Club scams, with arrests, prison sentences and heavy financial penalties taking place. Way back in 2013, the UK European Consumer Centre warned of a new holiday product that was set up to intentionally avoid the legislation that protects consumers in the […]
The challenges KwikChex made against fake reviews got us noticed in the first few months of launching our services when we were invited to appear on BBC TV’s flagship technology programme ‘Click’. Spencer Kelly, host of the ‘Click’ programme visited our offices in Bournemouth and KwikChex director and founder Chris Emmins took him through the […]
2020 marks the tenth anniversary year for KwikChex and we will be celebrating by looking back on the highlights of what we have achieved. At the outset in 2010, we wanted to focus on providing accurate and reliable online content that would benefit consumers. It was a time when we could already see that misinformation […]
Chris Emmins, director and co-founder of KwikChex led a session on consumer protection and law enforcement at the first EUROC seminar held in Sutton Coldfield in September. The session – conducted as a part of the KwikChex-managed Timeshare Task Force initiatives included information on the rights of timeshare owners, including fair contracts and the battle […]
Yahoo Finance, 21st August 2019 The recent presentation of a ‘Hero Award’ by the Chartered Institute of Trading Standards (CTSI) to online investigations and verification business KwikChex highlighted the value of the private sector in fighting what has been an inexorable rise in fraud Since 2010, KwikChex has been fighting battles to help prevent harm […]
16/07/19 After a KwikChex-initiated BBC exposure of serious food hygiene issues, Just Eat will publish the food hygiene rating of every restaurant listed on its UK delivery platform from today. However there are still improvements that can be made. In the UK, whilst consumers will be able to see the official food hygiene rating for […]
Further actions have taken place in a criminal case that KwikChex supported with evidence gained from investigations and consumer reports. Frank Madden was previously sentenced to 40 months imprisonment for operating a bogus holiday discount club scam and has now been ordered to pay back £20,000 and had further banning orders imposed. Read the article […]
Credits: Journal of Trading Standards (www.journaloftradingstandards.co.uk) 11/07/2019 ‘Investigation and verification service provider, KwikChex, has earned a prestigious Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Hero Award for its continuous work and passionate commitment on behalf of consumers, particularly around timeshare scams.’ ‘KwikChex has established a free and effective online help service for consumers the Timeshare Task Force, […]
We are aware that European Consumer Claims / ECC is deceitfully using / ‘hijacking’ the KwikChex name within a domain name / website they have set up. They are also paying for Google Adverts to promote it. They seek to discourage consumers from using the free services KwikChex provides to consumers – and to promote […]
Credits: The Mirror, By Andrew Penman, 14/02/19 Shut down: the company that took upfront fees from people desperate escape timeshare traps ‘International Timeshare Refund Action liquidated after ignoring court judgment’ ‘When ITRA ignored the judgment they took the case to the High Court to have it shut down, assisted by Kwikchex, an online business verification […]
On 30th January 2019, International Timeshare Refund Action – more commonly known as ITRA, was wound up in the High Court of Justice England & Wales.
International Timeshare Refund Action (ITRA) have once again had a judgement made against them in a court action brought by a consumer and supported by KwikChex. On 4th June at Stoke-On-Trent County Court, ITRA were ordered to refund a consumer all the monies he paid to them plus costs – a total of over £5700. On this […]
Since the launch of the new Timeshare Helpline, in July 2017 the Timeshare Task Force operated by KwikChex, has received and responded to over 1000 requests for assistance and successfully resolved half of these, with the remainder receiving ongoing support. As a provider of evidence and witness statements the TTF has helped secure: • The […]
KwikChex, has enjoyed another successful trip to the annual CTSI Conference (CTSI Symposium 2018), in Nottingham this week, working to protect consumers. The subject of our mini-theatre session, presented by Chris Emmins, was ‘Partners in Disruption – bringing together law enforcement, the private sector, the media and consumers’. With limited funds and resources for tackling an […]
Francis (Frank) Madden was yesterday (Tuesday 01 May) sentenced to 40 months imprisonment for scamming consumers in a supposed holiday discount scheme. The sentence was handed down after he changed his plea to guilty on reduced charges. Madden was previously convicted on two occasions and was actually under a suspended sentence when KwikChex detected him […]
KwikChex, a Corporate Affiliate member of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), will be presenting at the CTSI Symposium 2018, which takes place in Nottingham at the beginning of June. This is the flagship event in the UK Trading Standards calendar, with exceptional attendance from experts across the consumer protection spectrum. This year, the subject […]
Another consumer supported by the free services of the Timeshare Task Force has been awarded a full refund, plus costs and interests totalling nearly £10,000 On 27th March at Workington County Court, ITRA were ordered to pay a consumer a total of £9765.90. This included a full refund of £7640.00, plus costs and interest. The […]
Consumer awarded over £4800 as judge declares that breaches of contract by International Refund Action Ltd. (ITRA) were “completely unacceptable” KwikChex can report that on Friday 19 January 2018, at Weston-Super-Mare County Court, another consumer it has supported has won a judgement against International Timeshare Refund Action – ITRA. The judge ordered ITRA to repay […]
Timeshare For KwikChex, 2017 was dominated by successes and praise in the timeshare sector, where KwikChex manages the Timeshare Task Force, providing totally free assistance to consumers. Consumer feedback Click here to read feedback from timeshare owners about the assistance they received from KwikChex. Rogues arrested, in court & guilty Our work in […]
On Friday, 17th November, EZE Europe Ltd., Dominic O’Reilly (described as the CEO of EZE Group) and his daughter Stephanie O’Reilly, a director of EZE Europe Ltd., appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court. All pleaded guilty to offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. These related to misrepresentations regarding the selling of ‘Leisure […]
Some of our favourite news, testimonials & achievements of the last 7 years In our work as part of the Timeshare Task Force, KwikChex achieved the Buy with confidence trading standards approved rating, Aug 2017 Testimonial, Aug 2017 ‘Finding your company was a tremendous relief for us. Now we know there’s hope so that […]
In our work as part of the Timeshare Task Force – It has come to our attention that a business calling itself Timeshare Council and using the website www.timesharecouncil.co.uk has been cold calling consumers – some of which are registered with the Telephone Preference Service. Their methods are deceitful and unlawful. They appear to imply […]
Data from law enforcement agencies and details received by KwikChex via the Timeshare Task Force resources show that the majority of consumer complaints being made within the greater timeshare and long term holiday products sector’ concern the following. So called timeshare alternatives; where it is claimed that substantial discounts are provided by paying very large […]
New helpline launched In 2014, the new Timeshare Task Force, managed by KwikChex received complaints from consumers about the activities of Frank Madden and his business Glenleigh Consultants. This was reported by consumers via the Timeshare Business Check website www.timesharebusinesscheck.org. In the months that followed, intelligence was provided to Trading Standards about the activities taking […]
In July 2016, a consumer contacted KwikChex via the Timeshare Business Check website, with the following request “I have been mis-led and signed up for relinquishment of my timeshare with DRI. I thought I was seeing a consumer advice person at Timeshare Advice Centre Exeter only to be told that ITRA will be working on […]
BBC Radio Humberside Online reviews, fake reviews, TripAdvisor – includes interview with Chris Emmins, KwikChex. Listen here – https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03ts6nc (From 45 minutes).
Credits: 4hoteliers.com, 26th April 2016 After examining more than forty thousand TripAdvisor reviews of all star-rated hotels in Hong Kong in a recently published study, the study warns that the high proportion of suspicious reviews should ring an ‘alarm bell’ for customers. Around 20% of online hotel customer reviews may be unreliable or fake, according […]
Credits: TechCrunch By Sarah Perez (@sarahintampa), 26th April 2016 Amazon is continuing its efforts to crack down on fake, paid-for reviews of the products it sells on its website, by filing yet another lawsuit against those who offer glowing reviews in exchange for cash. In this latest suit, filed on Friday, the company is targeting […]
‘Information and advice for businesses on how to comply with consumer protection law in the online reviews and endorsements sectors.’ ‘Our short advice and open letters explain what review sites, businesses, media agencies and those publishing opinions online should do to make sure they comply with consumer protection law.’ Above excerpts, full details and links […]
Credits: The Guardian, 24th March 2016 Bernard Hogan-Howe blames online theft on ‘bad behaviour’ of customers who have poor internet security and says focus should be on prevention. Banks should not refund victims of online fraud because it “rewards” them for being lax about internet security, the Metropolitan police commissioner has said. Above excerpts and read […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Timeshare Relief UK. A complaint was filed with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in October 2015. The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force www.timesharetaskforce.org which KwikChex manages. The complaint challenged whether the […]
Credits: stuff.co.nz, By Mike Egan, 14th March 2016 This issue of authentication of the customer and whether they had actually dined at a restaurant was exposed recently in France where someone wrote a detailed negative review on a new restaurant called Loiseau Des Ducs several days before it had even opened. The French courts forced Trip Advisor to […]
Credits: TechCrunch By Ingrid Lunden (@ingridlunden), 8th March 2016 Fake reviews have been an occasional and frustrating by-product on sites like Google, Yelp and Amazon for years. But a recent case in the Netherlands highlights how one company affected by them fought back. A nursery in Amsterdam has won a case against Google in a civil court in the city […]
Credits: The Guardian, By Patrick Collinson 5th March 2016 It’s not just the fact that a “life-changing” £25,000 was stolen from a couple scraping together the money to build an extension. It’s not even the fact that they fell victim to the clearly very sophisticated hijacking of an email account. What is truly shocking about the […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Easy Consulting SL t/a www.directresortsinternational.co.uk. The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force www.timesharetaskforce.org which KwikChex manages. The investigation by KwikChex challenged that the ad (“All our luxury resorts are from £99 per […]
Credits: TechCrunch.com by Sarah Perez, March 8th ‘Peeple, the controversial people-rating application that lets its users rate and review anyone, is not a hoax or vaporware, as many suspected following the media backlash surrounding the unveiling of the company’s intentions last fall. The Washington Post even called the app “terrifying,” given that the app didn’t plan to allow […]
Credits: Bighospitality.co.uk, By Sophie Witts, 04-Mar-2016 Businesses which arrange for third parties to write fake positive reviews about them online are at risk of falling foul of consumer protection law, according to new guidance. Above excerpt and read the full article: bighospitality.co.uk
Credits: Worcester Observer, by Lorna Morris, 3rd March A WORCESTER man who conned women he met on internet dating sites has been ordered to pay more than £179,000 under the Proceeds of Crime. Matthew Bart Samuels, of Broadway Grove, appeared at Worcester Crown Court on Monday (February 29) at a confiscation hearing where he was […]
Credits: Techlicious.com By Natasha Stokes, February 29, 2016 When you need a home repair done immediately, it’s natural to turn to Google search for that needed locksmith or plumber… A rise in fraudulent listings means that chances are, you might end up reaching someone who is barely trained at the trade, but is instead part […]
Credits: Telegraph By Katie Morley 1st March 2016 Companies that post fake reviews on websites to boost their ratings could face fines of thousands of pounds as part of a new Government crackdown on misleading business practices. The Telegraph understands that the Department for Business Innovation and Skills is considering banning the practice of writing or […]
Credits: Telegraph By Hugh Morris TripAdvisor criticised after closed Tunisian terror hotel given top award The validity of TripAdvisor’s coveted Traveller’s Choice awards has been called into question after a 2016 recommendation was bestowed on the hotel in Tunisia where an Islamist terrorist attack left 30 British holidaymakers dead last summer. Chris Emmins from KwikChex, […]
Credits: The Daily Mail, By Antonia Hoyle, 17 February 2016 Would you dare let a STRANGER sleep in your bed? Renting out your home on Airbnb is the latest middle-class wheeze. But you could also be in for a nasty surprise… ‘The crooks exploit a weak link in what should be a secure system,’ explains Chris […]
KwikChex in the capacity of its role leading the Timeshare Task Force, recently received a request for assistance from the Third Age Trust, a registered charity with over 360,000 members dedicated to promoting and assisting education for those no longer in full time employment through the U3A Movement. One of their members had responded to […]
Credits: Talk Radio Europe – Bill Padley show KwikChex feature in Talk Radio Europe radio programme about online reviews. Listen to full interview by clicking here
A report has been published by the Direct Marketing Commission (DMC) which is highly critical of the businesses owned by Hollywood Marketing SLU. It recommends that Hollywood Marketing’s membership of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) be terminated. The DMC carried out a lengthy investigation after being contacted by KwikChex, acting in our role leading the […]
Credits: ABC News Australia Influential American travel website TripAdvisor is investigating claims Australia’s largest residential apartment developer is “cheating the system” by preventing guests at its luxury hotels from submitting negative reviews. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.abc.net.au
Credits: Which Undercover researchers from Which? Travel successfully posted a series of fake listings and reviews in a test of the popular site TripAdvisor. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.which.co.uk
Credits: Mail Online By: Tom Rawstorne Disturbing proof the online review that made you book your holiday may be FAKE: Investigation reveals an entire industry is dedicated to generating bogus appraisals for cash ‘If you want to give a good impression or mislead consumers into trusting you, the best way to do it is to […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has informally resolved a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Senegal Investment www.senegal-investment.co.uk (website down). The investigation by KwikChex challenged whether the claim “239% RETURN ON INVESTMENT OVER 5 YEARS” was misleading and could be substantiated. Since the website is no longer live and the claim can no longer be […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Timeshare Solutions Ltd. The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force www.timesharetaskforce.org/ which KwikChex manages. The investigation by KwikChex challenged whether the testimonials by “Steve”, Mrs P Swift, Vicky Tomgue and Mrs Wilson […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Rapid Sale www.rapid-sale.co.uk. The investigation by KwikChex challenged whether the claim “Stop Repossession/Eviction – Cash in Bank in 7 Days ‘Guaranteed” was misleading and could be substantiated. Rapid Sale provided a statement from their solicitor confirming that, subject to obtaining redemption […]
KwikChex participates in Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) radio programme “Burned by Online Reviews”. KwikChex mentioned on CBC website – https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcasts/ontario/ontario-today/ Link to podcast for CBC radio programme “Burned by Online Reviews” – https://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/podcasts/ontariotoday_20150911_81823.mp3. KwikChex on between 25.54 and 34.44.
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has informally resolved a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Exclusive Weeks https://exclusiveweeks.co.uk/. The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force https://www.timesharetaskforce.org/ which KwikChex manages. The complaint challenged the display of a countdown clock promotion which renewed and did not expire on […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has informally resolved a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Direct Resorts International https://directresortsinternational.co.uk/. The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force https://www.timesharetaskforce.org/ which KwikChex manages. The complaint challenged whether testimonials on the www.directresortsinternational.co.uk website were genuine because the same testimonials were […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has informally resolved a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Rapid Sale trading as https://repossessionsos.co.uk/ (website down). The investigation by KwikChex challenged the claim on the Repossessions SOS website ”We sell house fast in just 48 hours! We buy any house” was misleading and questioned whether this could be substantiated. […]
KwikChex mention in Daily Telegraph article about fake online reviews: KwikChex, an online investigations body, said it had identified and exposed thousands of online fake reviews, both negative and positive. A spokesman said: “Whilst that exposure has pressured some reviews sites to invest more in fraud detection, there are still many problems on a vast […]
A business claiming to help prevent unsolicited calls has been fined £50,000 after the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) found it was making hundreds of such calls itself. Point One Marketing Ltd, trading as ‘Stop the Calls’ a Bournemouth based company offered a service to consumers to stop cold calling – but was found to be […]
We would like to advise that the ASA recently contacted KwikChex with regard to a phrase we used on our website – “World-leading Online Reputation and Reassurance Services”. The ASA pointed out that: “The ASA and CAP view ‘leading’ claims as generally relating to market share, and for other meanings to be accepted (such as […]
Selltimesharetoday continues to flout advertising rules after an investigation found its claims to be misleading. The original complaint brought forward by the Timeshare Task Force…Timeshare Task Force uses a reputation management firm known as “KwikChex” to challenge adverts for timeshare exit services that it thinks is misleading. Above excerpts and read the full article on […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) annual report for 2014 clearly demonstrated that there are very justifiable concerns regarding misleading content in online /digital advertising and promotion. They reveal a 35% increase in complaints about online advertising. In 2014, the Internet overtook television for the first time as the most complained about medium, with 13,477 […]
KwikChex has been successfully working for some time with Trading Standards Officers in support of identifying and taking action against rogue businesses. This is particularly true within the holiday sector and even more so in terms in terms of timeshare and related products, where we lead the Timeshare Task Force, which is helping protect and […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has informally resolved a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Sell Business Fast https://sellbusinessfast.co.uk (website now down). The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force https://www.timesharetaskforce.org/ which KwikChex manages. This challenged a statement on the Sell Business Fast website “We Buy Any […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has informally resolved a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Sold Faster https://www.soldfaster.co.uk (website now down). The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force https://www.timesharetaskforce.org/ which KwikChex manages. This challenged a statement on the Sold Faster website “Get a guaranteed CASH offer […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Solution For Timeshare https://www.loveallinclusive.com The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force https://www.timesharetaskforce.org/ which KwikChex manages. The complaint challenged that references made on the Love All Inclusive website regarding affiliations and memberships with […]
Another Visions of the World customer has been granted a full refund of monies by Tesco Bank following guidance from the Timeshare Task Force. Quote from the consumer – “So, my case is now closed and one less thing for you to deal with. Many thanks for your hard work & support.” Note – there […]
In addition to the pure nuisance factor, many scams commence with an unsolicited call. Using the new Which? resource will help ensure that reports are sent to the appropriate regulators. The complaint form is on the Which? website
Credits: Daily Mail By: Sarah Bridge Mail on Sunday article about serial timeshare fraud offender Frank Madden reveals problems Trading Standards face – and includes how KwikChex is cooperating with them to assist investigations and prosecutions. All consumer reports to KwikChex and the Timeshare Task Force are also made available to the relevant authorities regardless […]
KwikChex were featured on the 6 O’Clock BBC News after our investigations team worked with BBC reporters to uncover review fraud involving a Payday Loan company that had fake reviews posted on Trustpilot. The reviews used stolen identities – including one of a deceased young mother. KwikChex is now in the process of launching a […]
A study by KwikChex has shown that loss of reputation caused by association with gastro-intestinal illness comes at a huge price – whether the accusations are true or false. The worst hit you can take as a hospitality business owner is when there is news and online content that says you have made your customers […]
BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast Show Fake online customer reviews – includes interview with Chris Emmins, KwikChex. Above excerpts and read the full article on – www.bbc.co.uk From 1hr 56m Other BBC stories featuring KwikChex – Click here
BBC Radio London Breakfast Show Fake online customer reviews – includes interview with Chris Emmins, KwikChex. Above excerpts and read the full article on – www.bbc.co.uk From 2hr 20m Other BBC stories featuring KwikChex – Click here
BBC Show – Victoria Derbyshire Angus Crawford investigates fake online customer reviews – includes interview with Chris Emmins, KwikChex. Above excerpts and read the full article on – www.bbc.co.uk From 52.40 Other BBC stories featuring KwikChex – Click here
Bournemouth Echo By: Steven Smith, Chief Reporter THE latest investigation into a convicted conman from Bournemouth is at “an advanced stage” – but Trading Standards officers face not being able to bring a prosecution because of the cost. Kwikchex, a Bournemouth-based firm that manages a website advising consumers regarding businesses that operate in the timeshare […]
BBC coverage of release of a report by the UK Competition & Markets Authority on Online Reviews. KwikChex were one of the key participants in the CMA investigation. KwikChex is now in the process of launching a comprehensive, verifiable resource to solve the problems caused to consumers and businesses by fake reviews. The resource is […]
KwikChex were featured on the 6 O’Clock BBC News after our investigations team worked with BBC reporters to uncover review fraud involving a Payday Loan company that had fake reviews posted on Trustpilot. The reviews used stolen identities – including one of a deceased young mother. KwikChex is now in the process of launching a […]
Mrs S paid VOTW £299 to advertise the sale of her timeshare. VOTW promised to be proactive and provide continual assistance and provided assurances that Mrs S would receive money back on the sale of her timeshare. In fact it was extremely difficult for Mrs S to contact VOTW who failed to return calls or […]
Global issues need global solutions – and for 5 years, KwikChex has been helping businesses and consumers from all over the world. That’s meant using several languages (our employees and consultants are very much multi-national too) and an understanding of relevant laws in many jurisdictions). Here’s a list of where our client locations so far […]
KwikChex probably gets more recognition for helping businesses in the hotel and restaurant sectors than any other – but we have assisted an extraordinary range of businesses that have been attacked with fake and malicious reviews. Here are a few of the types of business we have helped. Lawyers – yes, even qualified lawyers come […]
Credits: Daily Mail By: Sarah Bridge Mail on Sunday article about serial timeshare fraud offender Frank Madden reveals problems Trading Standards face – and includes how KwikChex is cooperating with them to assist investigations and prosecutions. All consumer reports to KwikChex and the Timeshare Task Force are also made available to the relevant authorities regardless […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has informally resolved a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding CRP Properties https://www.crpproperties.co.uk/ (Website down) The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force https://www.timesharetaskforce.org/ which KwikChex manages. This challenged a client testimonial on the CRP Properties website by connected company CP Berry […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has informally resolved a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Pennington McClane https://www.penningtonmcclaneassociates.co.uk/ (Website down). The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force https://www.timesharetaskforce.org/ which KwikChex manages. This challenged the following statements on the Pennington McClane website: “We are an experienced, internationally […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has informally resolved a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Sell Your Timeshare Now https://www.sellyourtimesharenow.co.uk/. The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force https://www.timesharetaskforce.org/ which KwikChex manages. This challenged the following statements on the Sell Your Timeshare Now website: “We are a […]
With the permission of the consumers that contact KwikChex and in particular those that do so via the Timeshare Task Force and Timeshare Business Check resources, we are now going to provide access to information on every case we receive to the relevant authorities. Organisations such as the European Consumer Centre, (The ECC network), UK […]
KwikChex recently attended a meeting with the UK Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) in London in response to a request to assist the CMA’s fact-finding initiative concerning online reviews. The meeting and subsequent follow-up covered a wide spectrum, including identifying businesses that use fake good reviews to deceive consumers and the impact of fake bad […]
KwikChex receives and acts upon many reports, concerns and complaints from people from all over the world. In many cases, our investigations reveal criminal behaviour and severe threats to consumers. We gather evidence on these and ensure that they are reported to the correct authorities and whenever necessary we provide further support for prosecutions. But […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Solution For Timeshare/. The complaint includes the Swedish version of the site Slapp Din Timeshare The investigation by KwikChex was carried out as part of activities by the Timeshare Task Force https://www.timesharetaskforce.org/ which KwikChex manages. The complaint challenged whether reviews on […]
Credits: Skift By: Marisa Garcia Skift.com refers to the KwikChex ASA complaint regarding Skytrax in it’s evaluation of Airline and Airport Awards Above excerpts and read the full article on www.skift.com
Credits: The Telegraph By: Claire Cohen A ‘feminist’ TripAdvisor review has been removed from the global travel ratings website for breaching its personal and political commentary guidelines. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.telegraph.co.uk
Credits: Mail Online By: Callum Paton * Jason Page, 20, from Telford was sued by US lawyer Timothy Bussey * The Colorado lawyer had received abuse on a Google Maps profile * Judge said it was ‘likely’ Page had been paid to post damaging comments * Lawyer went to extreme lengths and pursued his attacker […]
Credits: The Independent By: Chris Green Chris Emmins, co-founder of the online reputation management firm KwikChex, said customers who received legal letters should try not to panic. “For consumers that have genuine cause for complaint, they should not be intimidated by such threats,” he said. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.independent.co.uk
Credits: TravelMole B&B owners are being urged to share their experiences of negative and fake reviews as part of a major Government probe. The Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into online review sites to check the information posted is ‘genuine, relevant and trustworthy’. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.travelmole.com
Credits: Telegraph Travel By: Oliver Smith Guest at a Scottish b&b says he had a brick thrown at his window and awoke to find the owner in bed with him – surely this crude review can’t be genuine? Above excerpts and read the full article on www.telegraph.co.uk
Credits: CBS Money Watch By: Aimee Picchi Yelp is suing the operator of several websites that promise to deliver positive reviews for local businesses seeking to boost their scores. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.cbsnews.com
Credits: Above the Law By: Matthew Adams Online posts often enjoy an anonymity that lures people into a false sense of security. Coupled with the inherently impersonal nature of the internet, the impact from user generated online content can be devastating to a business. A word of caution is due to the unscrupulous business that […]
Credits: Belfast Telegraph By: Kim Kelly Reporter goes undercover at hotel called a ‘hell hole’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Credits: Radio Times By: Paul Jones “Think before you click,” says the star of The Fixer and The Hotel Inspector, “your words could cost jobs” Above excerpts and read the full article on www.radiotimes.com
Credits: The Telegraph By: Oliver Smith and Reuters TripAdvisor did not do enough to prevent fake reviews, Italian competition watchdog rules. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.telegraph.co.uk
Credits: The Telegraph By: Leah Hyslop An American couple left a $100 tip for their waiter out of sympathy after receiving service that ‘sucked’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.telegraph.co.uk
Further to an exchange of emails between KwikChex and the Timeshare Consumers Association (TCA) regarding International Timeshare Refund Action (ITRA). https://www.timeshareconsumerassociation.org.uk/2014/11/28/itra/ Contained within this article are the following statements: “ITRA is the most successful company who actions claims against the timeshare industry and who act on behalf of consumers against resorts.” “we have not had […]
The TCA unequivocally apologies to Mr Emmins (KwikChex) This apology refers to one of a number of articles we have contacted the TCA about. We have provided verified information which indicates that content on the TCA website is inaccurate and in some cases is likely to be potentially harmful to consumers. The TCA have responded, […]
Credits: BBC News A man has been jailed after breaking a “revenge porn” law introduced in California last October. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.bbc.co.uk
Credits: BGR Facebook Argentina was ordered to pay a firefighter one million pesos ($177,000) for failing to comply with an order to delete insulting fake profiles. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.bgr.in
Credits: The Globe and Mail By Susan Krashinsky – Marketing Reporter Canada’s Competition Bureau is looking into the issue of “astroturfing” – fake online reviews written to look like they come from regular consumers, but that are actually written by someone affiliated with the product or service being reviewed. Above excerpts and read the full […]
Credits: Mail Online Reporting by Liisa Tuhkanen; Editing by Tom Heneghan Google Inc said on Monday it had reached a settlement with a British businessman over defamatory postings in its search results describing him as a pedophile, a murderer and a money-launderer. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.dailymail.co.uk
Credits: The Guardian By: Will Coldwell TripAdvisor’s fraught relationship with the travel industry. Mention of KwikChex’s group action against TripAdvisor over reviews believed unfair and damaging to businesses. Also investigation launched by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in 2011 into TripAdvisor after KwikChex filed a complaint on behalf of business owners upset at what they […]
Credits: The Guardian By: Joshua Rozenberg Paris court orders parent company to remove links across global network, following right to be forgotten online ruling Above excerpts and read the full article on www.theguardian.com
Credits: CTV News U.S. cybercrime and privacy lawyer Parry Aftab says that while many users often think the anonymity of posting something on the Internet grants them a certain degree of immunity, that’s not really the case. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.ctvnews.ca
Credits: Sky Valley Chronicle Two parents in Georgia whose teenager set up a fake Facebook page to ridicule a classmate have found themselves facing a defamation lawsuit, a state appeals court ruled on Tuesday. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.skyvalleychronicle.com
Credits: Mail Online By: Thomas Burrows * 18,304 requests from Britons to remove links to more than 60,000 URLs * UK has third highest number of requests, behind France and Germany * EU’s ‘right to be forgotten’ allows EU citizens to ask for links to be removed from Google search results * Google has published […]
Credits: Energy Assessor Magazine KwikChex mentioned in this consumer warning regarding an 2012 investigation. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.energyassessormagazine.com
Credits: CBS Baltimore / The Daily Record By: Lauren Kirkwood Widespread collection of personal data online frequently prompts debate about privacy, but there is one group of people that has largely managed to remain behind a wall of anonymity, says Danielle Citron: perpetrators of online threats and harassment. Above excerpts and read the full article […]
Credits: Financial Mail on Sunday By: Sarah Bridge Another great report about KwikChex in the Sunday Mail. Further information available on our website www.timesharetaskforce.org Above excerpts and read the full article on www.thisismoney.co.uk
Credits: Mondaq By: Delvene Michael In a landmark decision, and the first of its kind in Australia, the New South Wales District Court has ordered a former student of Orange High School to pay $105,000 to a teacher for defamatory tweets. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.mondaq.com
Credits: BBC News A British labour activist, Andy Hall has been charged with criminal defamation in Thailand. The use of criminal laws to attempt to silence and punish those involved in publishing matters of public interest is open to extreme abuse. KwikChex calls on the Thai authorities to at least suspend the case – and […]
Credits: Uproxx Web Culture By: Andy Issac Most of our coverage of online reviews has a very serious element – businesses being destroyed by bad fake reviews, rogue businesses planting fake good reviews etc. But this one is in a somewhat lighter note – the story of a ‘reviewer’ that has an unique way of […]
Credits: Reuters By: Dan Levine Yelp Inc and its executives were accused in a lawsuit of selling more than $81 million in stock while deceiving shareholders about the quality of consumer reviews on its website. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.reuters.com
Credits: Mail Online By: Alexandra Klausner * The Union Street Guest House in Hudson, NY doesn’t allow negative Yelp reviews for wedding guests * Of the 572 Yelp reviews online, 554 of them were posted on Monday after media outlets drew attention to the hotel’s policy * Please know that despite the fact that wedding […]
Credits: Mail on Sunday By: Sarah Bridge Fears of bigger bills for timeshare owners stall EU’s war on rogue firms * Many timeshare owners now desperate to quit unwanted properties * Some contracts continue after death, with costs passing to children * EU plan to clean up industry on hold after claims it might make […]
Credits: Forbes By: Eric Goldman Few online algorithms generate as much criticism as Yelp’s algorithm for filtering its users’ reviews, but Yelp has so far successfully avoided a serious legal challenge to its filter. Last week, a California appellate court green-lighted a lawsuit over how Yelp publicly describes its user reviews. This means a judge […]
Credits: Mail Online By: Associated Press A court has ruled that a Hong Kong tycoon can sue Google over its autocomplete results suggesting he has links to organized crime. In a judgment released Wednesday, the court dismissed the Internet search giant’s objections to tycoon Albert Yeung’s defamation lawsuit. Above excerpts and read the full article […]
Credits: The Independent By: Adam Withnall Clearer guidelines from the Government are needed so that people know when they can and cannot be prosecuted over “revenge porn”, social media “trolling” and other indecent material posted online, a Lords committee has said. The trend of “revenge porn” involves people uploading explicit videos and images of former […]
Credits: www.postbulletin.com By: Kay Fate A Rochester woman who created an online posting full of accusations about another woman has been sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to criminal defamation. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.postbulletin.com
Credits: London Loves Business By: Shruti Tripathi Pimlico Plumbers boss Charlie Mullins is suing Yelp for “defamatory and disgusting” reviews about the company. The London-based plumbing company complained to Yelp about five reviews which were subsequently removed by the San Francisco-based website. However, Mullins has taken issue with two other reviews Yelp has refused to […]
Credits: BBC News By: Dave Lee Google has met data regulators from across the European Union to discuss the implications of the recent “right to be forgotten” ruling. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.bbc.co.uk
Credits: Mail Online By: Lizzie Edmonds * Chris Hobson, 46, who wrote 512 reviews in 2013, is site’s ‘top reviewer’ * But he is now facing legal action over one of his scathing critiques * Director of Double Barrel Steakhouse and Grill claims his words are libelous * Sarah Bird says man threatened poor score […]
Credits: The Meta Picture A famous restaurant in NYC decided to hire a firm to figure out why they kept getting bad reviews. What this firm discovered is quite interesting… Above excerpts and read the full article on www.themetapicture.com
Google has announced that it is abandoning it’s ‘real name’ policy for Google+, which affects Google Reviews and YouTube usage. Coverage in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jul/16/youtube-trolls-google-real-name-commenter-policy In truth, it was a minor attempt anyway at trying to tackle malice and lies, because Google didn’t authenticate the ‘real names’ anyway – but at a time when review […]
Credits: BBC News By: Kevin Rawlinson A French judge has ruled against a blogger because her scathing restaurant review was too prominent in Google search results. The judge ordered that the post’s title be amended and told the blogger Caroline Doudet to pay damages. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28331598
Credits: Digital Pulse PWC By: Patrick Stafford It’s hard to deny the power of online reviews isn’t continuing to grow – judging by the backlash of businesses which feel they have suffered at the hands of fraudulent reviews. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.digitalpulse.pwc.com.au
Update: The “Right to be Forgotten” absurdity continues https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28157607 Original Blog: Robert Peston, the BBC Economics Editor reports on the BBC website how an article he wrote on his blog in 2007 is to be blocked in searches by Google on the basis of the ‘Right to be Forgotten ruling by the European Court of […]
Credits: BBC News By: Dave Lee After widespread criticism, Google has begun reinstating some links it had earlier removed under the controversial “right to be forgotten” ruling. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.bbc.co.uk
Robert Peston, the BBC Economics Editor reports on the BBC website how an article he wrote on his blog in 2007 is to be blocked in searches by Google on the basis of the ‘Right to be Forgotten ruling by the European Court of Justice. If correct (he has apparently had notification from Google) and […]
Credits: The Age By: Ben Grubb The consumer watchdog is taking legal action in the Federal Court against an Australian cleaning company it says was involved in posting fake testimonials about its business on the internet. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.theage.com.au
Click Here to listen to the Interview (10 minutes in)
Credits: ZDNet By: Mary Jo Foley Microsoft Internet Explorer officials are attempting to distance themselves from a paid social-media effort by an advocate marketing company meant to promote Microsoft’s IE browser. Above excerpts and read the full article on https://www.zdnet.com
Updated KwikChex member Proof of Quality Profile: The London Bridge Experience The London Bridge Experience wins awards Runner up for Best Attraction for Groups 2014 Group Travel Awards Voted the UK’s Best Year Round Scare Attraction six times: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013 Screamie Awards
KwikChex discusses the laws concerning outdated and irrelevant online reviews on BBC Radio 4 programme You & Yours. KwikChex is taking a number of new actions following recent rulings and changes in the laws, including applications under the Right to be Forgotten principles and defamation. We are also pursuing an international ethical campaign to improve […]
BBC Click – The BBC’s flagship technology programme What happens to a business when somebody deliberately fakes online feedback… Click Here to listen to the Interview
Credits: The Telegraph By: Olivia Goldhill Internet abuse goes far beyond a few nasty comments. We look at the false rumours and online sabotage that can destroy reputations Above excerpts and read the full article on www.telegraph.co.uk
The recent ruling by the European Court of Justice in which Google were held responsible for the effect of links containing unwelcome information about an individual and were ordered to remove the links has sparked great debate – but this is just the beginning of potential legal issues affecting many Internet companies – and potentially […]
Credits: Phuket Gazette By: Bill Barnett Another interesting site, KwikChex, is seizing an opportunity to lead the space in online reputation and internet defamation. Here, proof of quality is meant to assure customers that what they read online is credible and real. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.phuketgazette.net
Credits: The Guardian By: Joshua Rozenberg Internet company’s ‘initial effort’ in releasing form for those wishing to be erased from search will have to explain in detail. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.theguardian.com
Credits: BBC News By: Dave Lee Google has launched a service to allow Europeans to ask for personal data to be removed from online search results. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.bbc.co.uk
L’annuncio che l’Autorità Italiana garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato stia indagando sulle recensioni false di TripAdvisor è l’ultimo di un numero crescente di iniziative legali che cercano di garantire correttezza e la precisione nelle informazioni fornite ai consumatori. Le autorità di tutto il mondo stanno riconoscendo che le imprese di siti web che trasportano […]
The announcement that the Italian Competition Authority are investigating TripAdvisor over fake reviews is the latest in a growing number of legal initiatives that seek to ensure fair play and accuracy in information being provided to consumers. Authorities around the world are recognising that website businesses carrying reviews and complaints are hugely influential when it […]
Credits: The Conversation By: Stephen King The internet is an endless source of information. But who is liable if the information is wrong or, at least, misleading? Above excerpts and read the full article on www.theconversation.com
Credits: Mail Online By: Ted Thornhill * TripAdvisor user left review of Lincoln City hotel it’s claimed is ‘malicious’ * ’12Kelly’ wrote that some staff at The Ashley Inn ‘were high or drunk’ * The anonymous user also alleged that the owner smoked drugs * At the time of writing 158 reviews of the hotel […]
Credits: BBC News Travel-rating service Trip Advisor is being investigated in Italy over concerns the site is not doing enough to prevent fake reviews. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.bbcnews.co.uk
Credits: Sky News Experts suggest ignoring the top and bottom 10% of user-generated online travel reviews if you want to get close to the truth. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.news.sky.com
As predicted, moves to use the supposed ‘Right to be Forgotten’ ruling made by the European Court of Justice to remove personal and unwanted search results have started. The BBC have reported that amongst the new requests are applications from a paedophile, an ex politician and a doctor wanting to remove negative reviews […]
Credits: BBC News By: Jane Wakefield Google has received fresh takedown requests after a European court ruled that an individual could force it to remove “irrelevant and outdated” search results, the BBC has learned. An ex-politician seeking re-election has asked to have links to an article about his behaviour in office removed. A man convicted of […]
Google held responsible by the European Court of Justice for links to online content considered ‘irrelevant’ and harmful to individuals. Much has been made of the ruling by the European Court of Justice against Google, which obliges them to ensure that there are no links to past ‘irrelevant’ personal data concerning a Spanish individual. Most […]
Credits: BBC News A top EU court has ruled Google must amend some search results at the request of ordinary people in a test of the so-called “right to be forgotten”. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.bbc.co.uk
Credits: The Independent By: Antonia Molloy Guests threaten to write bad reviews unless they are granted freebies. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.independent.co.uk
Credits: Mail Oneline By: Sam Webb * Restaurants and hotels report rise in diners dropping website’s name * They threaten to post negative review if they don’t get free food or wine * One steak house owner says alarming trend ‘just isn’t right’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.dailymail.co.uk/
Credits: The Telegraph By: Telegraph Staff ‘Guests warn staff they will post negative reviews on the website if they are not given better service, meals or upgrades’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.telegraph.co.uk/
Credits: Saint Peters Blog By: Rick Outzen ‘A Philadelphia judge has ordered the owners of Philly.com to disclose the identity of a person who posted a comment online calling the plaintiff a pedophile.’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.saintpetersblog.com
As reported in the international media, investigations by KwikChex regarding the effectiveness of review fraud detection have led to the exposure of a major flaw in the TripAdvisor systems. The abuse was carried out using the daodao.com site – TripAdvisor’s site in China. Just a handful of ‘reviewers’ were responsible – posting an extraordinary number […]
Credits: WCPO By: Jane Andreasik ‘Don’t ever assume you’re anonymous’ “Everyone is promoting ‘Oh, no one’s going to be able to figure out who you are’ is very dangerous for a lot of kids. Don’t ever assume you’re anonymous. Don’t do it under the disbelief that it’s not going to be traced back to you,” […]
Credits: Travel Mole TripAdvisor has removed at least 10,000 reviews from its Chinese website daodao following complaints that they were fake. Online reputation management company KwikChex is now calling for the site to be suspended until a “very thorough audit” can take place and new systems installed to better detect fraud. It claimed that the […]
Credits: Tnooz By: Karthick Prabu Daodao, the local imprint of TripAdvisor in China, is the subject of an investigation after a damning report into the validity of its reviews. The report by KwikChex, the UK-based online reputation management company which has been a ongoing thorn in the side of the user review service for years, […]
Credits: The Sydney Morning Herald By: Jolyon Attwooll The authenticity of TripAdvisor reviews is under the spotlight again after new research revealed thousands of suspect postings on the Chinese version of the website. The study, carried out by Kwikchex, an “online reputation management” company that has been a regular critic of TripAdvisor, uncovered what it […]
Credits: The Telegraph By: Jolyon Attwooll New research has highlighted thousands of suspect reviews on the Chinese domain of TripAdvisor The authenticity of TripAdvisor reviews is under the spotlight again after new research revealed thousands of suspect postings on the Chinese version of the website. The study, carried out by Kwikchex, an “online reputation management” […]
Credits: The Oregonian By: Aimee Green Thinking of posting a bad review about your latest dining experience, doctor you consulted or contractor you hired? Better think twice, if you don’t want to get sued. That’s the de facto message the Oregon Court of Appeals sent Wednesday, when it breathed new life into a $7,500 defamation […]
Credits: MFMonitor A Philadelphia court has ordered philly.com, a website to reveal the name of an anonymous commenter, for his defamatory comments on electricians’ union leader John Dougherty, triggering new move on online comments and their anonymity. The user made a comment anonymously known as “trolls” with a fictious name “fbpdplt,” and called Dougherty in […]
Credits: Expectations Holidays Phileas Fogg The fictional adventures of Phileas Fogg in the Jules Vern 1873 classic “Around the World In Eighty Days” have inspired many a traveller. For those unfamiliar with the story, Fogg, a wealthy London bachelor, wagers his social peers £20,000 (over £1 million in today’s money) that a new railway in […]
Credits: The Washington Times By: Joe Hadeed Back in 1955, when a customer brought a rug to Hadeed Carpet Cleaning, it would be hand-cleaned in my family’s driveway. Today, we still clean carpets with the same care and attention, but we’ve grown quite a lot over the decades, and now serve more than 30,000 residential […]
Credits: The Huffington Post By: Sue Scheff In our kids ears and out of their mouths — and now, on to their social networking sites! That may not be exactly what happened in the case of Patrick Snay, former headmaster of Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami, Florida, but it is eerily similar. After his contract […]
Credits: The Eater By: Hillary Dixler In a blow to angry Yelpers nationwide, a Virginia court has ruled that one woman’s scathing Yelp reviews of a local contractor were in fact defamation. In a dramatic turn, the contractor who sued her was found guilty of defamation too. The Washington Post reports that the multi-day trial […]
Credits: Herald Sun Business By: John Rolfe State fair trading authorities and ACCC investigating bogus reviews on internet AT least 10 businesses have been sprung posting bogus reviews on the internet to dupe would-be customers. Those suspected of feathering their own online nest include a major funeral company, a high-end restaurant and a building company […]
Credits: Mail Online By: Victoria Woollaston * More than a fifth of Americans have reviewed a product they’ve never used * This rises to almost a third of parents with children under 18 * The majority (32%) claimed they did so simply because ‘they felt like it’ * While 22% admitted they just didn’t like […]
Credits: Search Engine Land By: Matt McGee It’s been almost a year and a half since Yelp began issuing Consumer Alerts when a business on its site has been caught trying to get fake reviews; but after a cautious start, that program appears to be turning up the heat. According to an interview with CEO […]
Since June 2012, KwikChex has provided a resolutions service that enabled customers of Simply Electronics with complaints to raise their issues with KwikChex – a form of ‘complaint escalation’ Throughout that time, (with the exception of one case which was more complex) all cases have been resolved with either the goods being delivered, a replacement […]
Credits: Mirror By: Tom Howell How do timeshares stack up against package holidays? We checked TripAdvisor ratings to find out It’s the time of year to start thinking about holidays away from home – so we’ve turned to TripAdvisor to see how traditional package deals compare to timeshares January is a popular time for booking […]
Credits: This is Money By: Victoria Bischoff Timeshare sellers and owners have teamed together to tackle rogue firms who dupe victims out of thousands of pounds every year. They have set up their own regulator called The Timeshare Task Force. This is made up of the Resort Development Organisation, which represents legitimate timeshare firms, the […]
Credits: PR Web The leading businesses and bodies in the European timeshare sector have launched a new initiative to tackle issues that potentially affect hundreds of thousands of timeshare owners and consumers; the initiative also signifies a new era reflecting the great strides forward that the industry has taken in quality and integrity. The Timeshare […]
Credits: PR Web The leading businesses and bodies in the European timeshare sector have launched a new initiative to tackle issues that potentially affect hundreds of thousands of timeshare owners and consumers; the initiative also signifies a new era reflecting the great strides forward that the industry has taken in quality and integrity. The Timeshare […]
Credits: This is Money, By: Sarah Bridge The battered timeshare industry has set up its own regulator in a desperate attempt to tackle organised criminals defrauding customers, and to restore a reputation left in tatters by a string of scandals. The latest spate of fraud aims not to sell new holiday timeshares but to sting […]
Credits: This is Money By: Sarah Bride The battered timeshare industry has set up its own regulator in a desperate attempt to tackle organised criminals defrauding customers, and to restore a reputation left in tatters by a string of scandals. The latest spate of fraud aims not to sell new holiday timeshares but to sting […]
KwikChex is coordinating a new European Timeshare Task Force designed to help consumers and drive quality and integrity. KwikChex is the principal coordinator in a new initiative designed to tackle issues that potentially affect hundreds of thousands of timeshare owners and consumers. The initiative also marks the start of a new era reflecting the great strides […]
Credits: RDO (Resort Development Organisation) By: Chief Executive Blog With apologies to Jamie Cullum who wrote the lyrics for the song “What a difference a day makes”. This song title came into my head after Chris Emmins (Kwikchex) and I had made a presentation to the staff of the UK and Scandinavian European Consumer Centres […]
Credits: Hospitality Magazine By: Brea Carter In a bid to tackle issues surrounding fake online reviews, The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has released a best practice guide for businesses and review platforms such as UrbanSpoon. Online reviews: a guide for business and review platforms touches on everything from guiding principles for posting reviews […]
Credits: Fox4News By: Linda Wagar KANSAS CITY, Mo. –Social review sites started out as a great way to share tips about a hip new clothing store or a hot restaurant. In fact, those reviews have become so important that business owners will got to great lengths, even break the law, to manipulate them. Whether you […]
Credits: News.com.au FAKE hotel reviews are becoming more common and travellers should not rely on user-generated content says research released today by CHOICE. “The boom in hotel review sites has given rise to the practice of ‘astroturfing’ or the writing of fake reviews by companies to promote their own accommodation,” says CHOICE Head of Media […]
Credits: CNN Money By: Jennifer Alseve It’s not uncommon to receive a few negative reviews, but what’s the best way to handle it? Here’s what you don’t want to do: Call online reviewers punks, trash or other expletives on your company Facebook page like the owners of Amy’s Baking Company did last spring. Their outrageous […]
Credits: Business 2 Community By: Andrea Eldridge Online reviews can be a great tool to help find a hotel for your next trip, a reputable handy man or the best coffeemaker around. On our last trip to San Francisco, we ate our way from one delicious restaurant to the next, all with the assistance of […]
Credits: BU Today By: Susan Seligson If you’re combing Yelp reviews to decide where to eat, you’re likely to be misled or even duped, according to Georgios Zervas, coauthor of a recent study concluding that at least 16 percent of the reviews are fake. The researchers found that the worst offenders are restaurants seeking to […]
Credits: Business 2 Community By: Richard Larson In case you haven’t heard, it is the age of customer service. The customer does not have to be right but the customer is king in our new online economy. From the business perspective, customer service can be even more difficult because customers do not see the employees […]
Credits: Hospitality Magazine By: Danielle Bowling ‘The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is cracking down on fake online reviews, setting up best practice guidelines in consultation with industry and consumer groups. Fake reviews posted by competitors or disgruntled diners on websites including Urbanspoon and Eatability have long been a sore point for chefs and […]
Credits: Herald Sun By: ANTHONY GOUGH ‘FED-UP restaurant owners are fighting back against anonymous online reviewers, saying unfair negative ratings are dragging their names through the mud and driving away their business. With the growth of websites such as Urbanspoon and Eatability, restaurateurs have reported customers threatening them with bad reviews to extort free food […]
Credits: The West Australian By: Rob Broadfield ‘Veteran chef, restaurateur and industry leader Russell Blaikie has urged hospitality businesses to “push back the tide of bile and madness” from internet-based restaurant ratings sites such as Urbanspoon and TripAdvisor. Blaikie, co-owner of multiple award-winning Must Winebar in Highgate, is the keynote speaker at tonight’s prestigious West […]
Credits: Small Business Trends By: Anita Campbell ‘Yelp filed suit against a business (a law firm no less!) over what it claims are fake reviews the business created for itself. While there have been stories before of companies “outed” for being behind fake review efforts, and even FTC complaints, Yelp filing a lawsuit is new. […]
Credits: The Telegraph By: Natalie Paris ‘Reservations have been raised regarding TripAdvisor’s policy of erasing old reviews following a hotel’s renovation.’ ‘Reviews are only helpful if they have been written recently anyway, online investigation authentication service KwikChex argued this week.’ “KwikChex firmly believes that reviews over two years old on the TripAdvisor site serve no […]
An abundance of media coverage on how tweets could alert people to food poisoning risk has sparked great concerns within the worldwide hospitality sector. (See links to news articles below) Owners of restaurants and hotels have been contacting KwikChex for advice as we are currently already in the process of taking action on the huge […]
Credits: Halifax Courier ‘A Halifax businessman is at loggerheads with TripAdvisor after his restaurant rating slumped from from top spot to 122nd out of 136. TripAdvisor removed 280 reviews after its fraud detection systems indicated suspicious activity. But, Ziggy Hussain who runs Ziggy’s Spice House, said the huge growth in popularity is down to him […]
Credits: Cincinnati.com By: Jeffrey Layne Blevins ‘Truth and responsibility may matter again in online defamation cases after a recent U.S. District Court decision in Eastern Kentucky. For too long the anonymity afforded to third-party posters and the broad immunity provided to online operators has fed an untruthful and irresponsible environment for online dialogue. No one […]
Credits: Mail Online, By: Mark Palmer ‘Fake reviews are only one issue. Just as serious is the way Trip- Advisor drags its feet over removing old reviews when a business has changed hands or undergone refurbishment. Victims of this include Maria and James Church — the mother and stepfather of singer Charlotte Church — who […]
Credits: Mail Online, By: Mark Palmer ‘But critics say the website is quicker to dispute reviews that are over-positive than those that are particularly negative. The story of Ziggy Hussain, who owns an Indian restaurant in Halifax called Ziggy’s Spice House, is instructive. After receiving excellent reviews, more than 250 were deleted by TripAdvisor because […]
Credits: Mail Online, By: Mark Palmer ‘By sharing all your experiences, you’re helping other travellers make better choices and plan their dream trips. That’s what you are told before posting a review of a hotel or restaurant on the website TripAdvisor. But better choices and dream trips don’t always come into it. You might just […]
Silverpoint Testimonials Club Paradiso See testimonials/reviews from Silverpoint members about their Club Paradiso experiences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLOkV2MT9W4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWQRS9Lcryc Silverpoint Testimonials Tenerife See testimonials/reviews from Silverpoint customers about their experiences on a Silverpoint Promotional Holiday. All of these people stayed in one of Silverpoint’s luxury resorts in Playa de las Americas or Los Cristianos in Tenerife. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A79r1_tJQjs
Credits: news.com.au ‘A BEAUTIFULLY restored boat serving Michelin-starred food. Divers on hand to catch any fish on the menu. Countless reviews describing the cooking as ‘simply divine’. This restaurant sounds too good to be true. Trouble is, it was. Because when dozens of foodies headed to Oscar’s to sample the ‘mind-blowing’ food after reading its […]
Credits: Fox News ‘Fake reviews of a restaurant named Oscar’s, billed as having “Michelin-starred food,” reportedly had diners looking for the eatery in an alley filled with garbage cans.’ ‘“The listing featured over-the-top reviews for a fake business, but it went undetected for more than two months,” Chris Emmins, co-founder of the online reputation management […]
Credits: The Times By: Simon de Bruxelles ‘A “floating restaurant” that worked its way up the TripAdvisor ranking has been exposed as a fraud intended to embarrass the online ratings site.’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.thetimes.co.uk
Credits: Yahoo News UK & Ireland ‘The TripAdvisor profile for Oscar’s boasted that staff in diving gear would swim down to catch whatever fish the customer wanted’ ‘It was billed as one of the best places to eat in Britain with “amazing” and “mind blowing” Michelin-starred food on offer. And its setting sounded especially magical: […]
Credits: The Telegraph By: Victoria Ward ‘Its “mind-blowing” food was said to rival the best in the world while its romantic setting in the hull of a ship left awestruck diners raving about the experience.’ ‘With staff dressed in diving gear ready to catch whatever fish the customer ordered and a changing location dependent on […]
Credits: BBC News ‘The UK must do more to stop online fraud and deter state-sponsored cyber-espionage or risk losing the fight against e-crime, MPs have warned. The Home Affairs Select Committee said much low-level internet-based financial crime was falling into a “black hole” and was not reported to the police. The MPs said more officers […]
Credits: The Telegraph By: Daniel Johnson ‘A businessman set up a fake restaurant with glowing reviews in a bid to expose the apparent failings of the TripAdvisor website, prompting baffled customers to be led down a backstreet alleyway.’ ‘Oscar’s was billed as having “amazing” and “mind blowing” Michelin-stared food, built in the hull of an […]
Credits: Mail Online By Eleanor Harding * Oscar’s was billed as one of the best places to eat in Britain * The staff ‘would swim to catch whatever fish the customer wanted’ * Bookings began to flood in after the eatery supposedly opened on May 1 * Diners were baffled when they arrived at an […]
Credits: Telegraph Travel By: Oliver Smith ‘TripAdvisor has come under fire after its fraud detection systems failed to prevent a non-existent business becoming one of the most highly-rated restaurants in a popular seaside town.’ ‘Chris Emmins, co-founder of the online reputation management firm KwikChex, said the listing cast doubt on TripAdvisor’s ability to spot fraudulent […]
Credits: Caterer and Hotelkeeper By: Neil Gerrard ‘TripAdvisor has removed hundreds of positive reviews for a Halifax restaurant, causing it to crash from being the number one business in the area to near bottom, amid suspicion that many of the reviews were fake.’ ‘KwikChex has now asked TripAdvisor to allow an independent IT expert to […]
Credits: NCB News By: Rosa Golijan ‘Sometimes people post negative online reviews for products they never even used, not because they really hate a company, want to make a competing product look better or because they’re just bored — but instead, a study suggests, these folks are actually customers who are a little bit too […]
Credits: Trib Live By: The Los Angeles Times ‘Consumers often turn to the Internet to research a product before buying. Fake reviews are always a concern, and the problem may be bigger than previously thought. There have long been reports and rumors of businesses posting negative reviews of their competitors’ products or companies that pay […]
Credits: Business 2 Community By: Cynthia Effinger ‘The fact that a consumer can now share their experiences with thousands at a time through a simple Facebook post is both thrilling and frightening.’ ‘Amy’s Baking Company: A Social Media Nightmare Amy, an Arizona restaurateur, and her co-owner husband recently appeared on the reality show “Kitchen Nightmares” […]
Credits: Los Angeles Times By: Andrea Chang ‘Consumers often turn to the Internet to research a product before buying. Fake reviews are always a concern, and the problem may be bigger than previously thought.’ ‘The duo found that about 5% of the product reviews were written by customers with no record of actually purchasing the […]
Credits: Digital Trends By: Jam Kotenko ‘Yelp has decided to go even bigger with their pursuit against false information and directed a major lawsuit against BuyOnlineReviews.net, which conveniently also owns the domain BuyYelpReview.com. The complaint filed last week seeks to shut down said site through a court injunction as well as complete reimbursement of Yelp’s […]
Credits: Travel Weekly, USA By: Danny King ‘Paris-based hotelier Accor said it had placed one of its executives on a leave of absence after learning that he had posted more than 100 reviews of both Accor-operated hotels and competing properties on TripAdvisor under an assumed alias.’ ‘The U.K.-based online reputation-management firm KwikChex identified Peter Hook, […]
Credits: Travel Blackboard, Asia Edition By: N.J. ‘Review website, TripAdvisor is under the reliability scope again, after a hotel group’s employee has admitted to posting up to 100 anonymous hotel reviews on the site.’ ‘According to the report, Mr Hook had been publishing reviews under the name ‘Tavare’ since 2010, but was caught out by […]
Credits: Travelers Today By: Katie McFadden ‘Do you always trust travel reviews on sites such as TripAdvisor? You might want to be more careful. A hotel executive was recently busted for posting reviews about his hotels and rivals.’ ‘According to Telegraph Travel, Peter Hook, a communications manager for Accord hotels in Asia and the Pacific […]
Credits: The Telegraph By: Oliver Smith ‘A senior executive at one of the world’s largest hotel groups has admitted breaching TripAdvisor’s rules by posting dozens of glowing reviews about the firm’s properties.’ ‘Peter Hook, who describes himself on Twitter as “director of propaganda” for Accor hotels in Asia and the Pacific, also published a number […]
Credits: The West Australian By: Kate Emery ‘WA consumers who rely on web reviews for everything from where to go for dinner to weight loss treatment are being urged to be sceptical, with research suggesting as many as 30 per cent of online reviews could be fake?’ Above excerpts and read the full article: https://www.au.news.yahoo.com
Credits: Fox News ‘Want another reason not to trust Yelp? An ad posted on Craigslist under the New York City section is seeking to hire people to write fake Yelp reviews for restaurants to help boost their ratings.’ Above excerpts and read the full article: https://www.foxnews.com
Credits: It News By: Charis Palmer ‘Retailers to debate who owns data. American Express is planning to join the large pool of transaction data it holds on customers with that of organisations like TripAdvisor to help legitimise customer reviews.’ Above excerpts and read the full article: https://www.itnews.com.au
Credits: The Wall Street Journal ‘Online reputation management expert JW Maxx Solutions advises spiteful internet users to think twice before they post, following a $13 million court case which ruled in favor of the victims. PHOENIX, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — It is plain and simple: the days of anonymous internet posting are over. The […]
Credits: Hospitality Net By: Georges Panayotis ‘The community site has again been caught in a flagrant act of deception basing a ranking for best British hotels on fanciful character appraisals.’ Above excerpts and read the full article: https://www.hospitalitynet.org
Credits: The Sun By: Ben Archibald ‘A HOMELESS hostel branded one of the UK’s worst has now been named as a top HOTEL — after jokers’ fake five-star reviews on travel site TripAdvisor. The grim Bellgrove Hotel has metal bars on its windows and peeling wall paint — and was called a “dumping ground” for […]
Credits: Western Telegraph Pembrokeshire County Council has been accused of ‘going backwards’ after it stopped publishing certain planning documents online for fear of potential defamation claims. Since January 30th, third party representations on planning applications are no longer posted online to avoid the authority publishing “defamatory material”. Above excerpts and read the full article: https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk […]
KwikChex has launched a new timeshare advice website as part of its role in verifying online content in conjunction with the Resort Development Organisation (RDO). In addition to general advice, it will also provide to consumers the means of reporting suspicious activities and websites, scams and concerns – all of which will be acted upon […]
The Resort Development Organisation has published a new mission statement. KwikChex welcomes the notable consumer focus and looks forward to continuing our work with the RDO and its members in providing additional consumer reassurance based on our strong verification processes. RDO Mission, Vision & Values Mission The mission of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) is […]
Credits: BBC News ‘Fair-trade officials in Taiwan are looking into reports that Samsung paid people to criticise rival HTC online. Samsung is alleged to have hired students to post negative comments about phones made by Taiwan’s HTC. If found guilty of engaging in “false advertising”, Samsung and its local agent could face fines of up […]
Credits: HR Magazine by Jeremy Dickerson ‘The unprecedented growth of social media has seen the number of defamation cases involving online content rapidly increase. The popularity of sites such as Facebook and Twitter and the ability for users to share their views, or ‘retweet’ defamatory or potentially harmful statements, can present a huge problem for […]
Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket is the first organisation to be awarded the coveted status of TATOC accredited re-sale company. The association launched its accreditation programme for timeshare re-sale companies in January 2013. Re-sale joins the existing resort accreditation programme as TATOC’s flagship award. Harry Taylor, TATOC executive chairman, explained: “The re-sale accreditation programme is TATOC’s gold […]
Credits TravelMole “Even singer Charlotte Church’s parents, who run a B&B in Cardiff, were almost reduced to tears by the harsh criticism of fellow participants when they appeared on the show in 2011.” Above excerpts and read the full article on www.travelmore.com/news
Credits: Caterer and Hotelkeeper by Neil Gerrard. ‘Consumer reviews website TripAdvisor has pledged changes to the way it handles information regarding the opening hours of businesses featured on its site, after restaurateurs highlighted a series of inaccuracies that then proved hard to correct.’ ‘Chris Emmins, from online reputation management company Kwikchex, which has also helped […]
Credits: Travelmole ‘Police are investigating claims of abuse by six bed and breakfast operators following their appearance on a TV programme, Four in a Bed. One of the owners who appeared in the Channel 4 series claims to have been sent excrement through the post, according to a report in trade journal Caterer and Hotelkeeper. […]
Credits: Travelmole ‘Chris Emmins, founder of KwikChex, a company that assists businesses in managing their reputation, gives the following advice to those tempted to participate in reality TV programmes, such as Four in a Bed to avoid the abuse received by some previous participants, as reported on TravelMole today.’ Above excerpts and read the full […]
Credits: Advocacy Global Voices Online ‘In many countries, the line between the right to free expression and an individual’s right to protect his or her reputation is a blurry one. In the Internet age, the issue has become even more complex. The Internet has created new opportunities for individuals to express their own opinions, but […]
Credits: Caterer and Hotelkeeper By: Janet Harmer ‘Six of the bed and breakfast operators in the current series of the Channel 4 programme Four in a Bed are seeking legal advice after receiving abuse following their television appearance.’ ‘Chris Emmins, the founder of Kwikchex, the online company which helps businesses protect their reputation, said the […]
The Resort Development Organisation is one of the first trade organisations to feature on the new TrustChex resources being introduced by KwikChex. The full RDO members list has now been published on the TrustChex website. TrustChex provides fully verified online information on businesses for consumers – and for featured businesses, the means for consumers to […]
Credits: Irishtimes.com By: PAMELA NEWENHAM ‘Social media sites and users need to smarten up their act as libel cases are being taken and won Social media is arguably the most powerful form of communication in the world. In recent years news and information has spread quicker through Facebook and Twitter than any traditional media method. […]
Please be aware that an attempt to defraud timeshare owners by using the name of KwikChex authenticated member Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket has been reported today. An offer made after a phone call was followed up with an emailed PDF purporting to come from Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, with the following contact details: Email: worldwidetimesharehypermarket@outlook.com Contacts & Phone Numbers Founder & CEO: […]
Credits: MENAFN – Arab News ‘Novelist and journalist Samar Al-Muqren has won a ruling after filing a complaint against a writer and website owners for online defamation, and is now awaiting the outcome of a second case of cyber bullying.’ Above excerpts and read the full story on
Click here to view the New KwikChex YouTube Channel. Including videos created by KwikChex and videos featuring KwikChex. The latest video – KwikChex Worldwide: Other videos: KwikChex BBC coverage BTO 2012 – Chris Emmins Kwikchex Interview Victims learn how to beat cyberbullies La squilibrata reputazione – BTO 2012 Dangers of Fake Online Reviews
Credits: IDG News Service By Mikael Ricknäs ‘The Swedish Data Inspection Board wants to make “grave” defamatory remarks made online a crime, even in cases that are currently protected by the country’s constitution. The statement from the public authority follows an inquiry last year by a parliamentary committee that examined whether to update the constitution’s […]
Published by BTO – Buy Tourism Online 2012, www.buytourismonline.com Listen to full interview
Credits: Time Ideas By: Adam Cohen ‘Jane Perez, a retired captain in the military from Fairfax County, VA, was not happy with her home contractor, so she wrote reviews on Yelp and Angie’s List explaining why. She said he had done a poor job on her renovations and billed her for work he did not […]
Credits: Mail Online By Damian Ghigliotty * Writers say thousands of mostly positive book reviews have been deleted from the online shopping site in recent months * Amazon will not disclose how many reviews it has erased * Several writers have voiced frustrations with the move * Others are pushing for more vetting of book reviews Amazon […]
The newly announced TrustChex resources from KwikChex will be the most reliable and fastest way to cut through the typically confusing results that consumers see in online search results. Some sectors, such as travel and in particular timeshare are so problematical that consumers stand little or no chance in distinguishing truth from fraud. From websites […]
Introduction 1. This informal consultation seeks views on the content of regulations to be made under clause 5 of the Bill. The regulations will be prepared following consultation and will be laid before Parliament for the purposes of approval by both Houses in due course. Responses to this consultation should be sent to defamation@justice.gsi.gov.uk by […]
Dear Enlisting your support on a right to redress action I have a business in your constituency. It has been the subject of damaging online allegations and distortion. The allegations are unsubstantiated and anonymous. The website they are published on does not verify the identity of the author of the comments. They have no way […]
Credits: RCI Ventures By Steve Adams ‘European timeshare trade body the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) is protecting its name – and that of the industry – by joining forces with an online reputation management company. The three-month trial deal with Kwikchex (www.Kwikchex.com) is effective from December 2012 and will be monitored by the RDO’s Communications […]
For the original article click here: https://www.kwikchex.com/2012/09/asa-ruling-re-mantrav Mantrav Fail in Attempt to Sue for Online Defamation Malcolm Hardy, the owner of the Mantrav International business attempted to sue several people in the UK High Court recently, alleging defamation, claiming damages of £150,000 and seeking injunctions to prevent people mentioning his name or that of Mantrav […]
Credits: Business 2 Community By: Melissa Agnes ‘What If Pursuing Your Online Defamer Results In Even More Online Defamation?’ Above excerpts and read the full story on www.business2community.com
Credits: BBC News ‘Cyberbullying is a growing problem with attacks often having a lasting effect on the victims. Inside Out looks at two victims of internet bullying who have decided to find a solution to the problem. Seventeen-year-old Conor, a student and musician from Shropshire, was bullied on a website where people could vote on […]
BBC Inside Out (West Midlands) investigates the damage caused by online defamation. The Broadcast is available on iPlayer www.bbc.co.uk 12 minutes 15 seconds in.
Credits: Irish Examiner By Dan Buckley ‘There are no frontiers for the internet accusers and abusers, writes Dan Buckley Social media such as Facebook and Twitter have become the new Wild West, allowing anonymous users to publish vile comments online and brand innocent people guilty of crimes without the slightest proof.’ Above excerpts and read […]
Credits: Metro ‘Twitter and Facebook users who libel individuals on the internet will face the same punishment as newspaper editors in breach of the law, the government has warned.’ Above excerpts and read the full story on www.metro.co.uk
Credits: CNET By Don Reisinger ‘Google has lost a defamation lawsuit in Australia. An Australian court today ordered Google to pay 200,000 Australian dollars ($208,760) to Milorad Trkulja for showing search results that might have caused users to link him to mobsters.’ Above excerpts and read the full story on www.cnet.com
Credits: The Sydney Morning Herald By: Clive Dorman “Two of the world’s most popular travel review sites have found themselves in the middle of a corporate war over the authenticity of consumer reviews brought on by a company representing hoteliers.” Above excerpts and full article on: www.smh.com.au
Credits: TravelMole.com By Linsey McNeill ‘An investigation by advertising watchdogs into a leading airline and airport review site found it was unable to back up several of its claims, including that reviews on its site were posted by genuine passengers.’ Above excerpts and read the full story on www.travelmole.com
Click here to view the ASA Adjudication on Skytrax
Credits: thestar.com By: David Graham ‘Katz, 42, posted two negative reviews on restaurantthing. com — the first time she’d ever written an online review — about her unsatisfactory dining experience at Mambo Nuevo Latino restaurant in Ottawa’s ByWard Market.’ ‘That should have been the end of it. Instead, Mambo’s 41-year-old owner Marisol Simoes retaliated by unleashing […]
Credits: The Australian By: Claire Connelly “AN Australian man has won a landmark defamation case against Google after images of him were published alongside gangland figures including drug baron Tony Mokbel. The man – who has lived in Australia for 42 years also claimed that a Google search for his name brought up stories about […]
Credits: CNBC By: Heesun Wee ‘Gaming positive reviews online is getting harder. The website Yelp which connects local businesses with user-contributed reviews on everything from restaurants to local dentists — recently launched a new “Consumer Alert” system that clamps down on fraudulent reviews.’ ‘But with business risk comes opportunity. Gartner forecasts the emergence of companies […]
Credits: The Australian By Kate Schneider ‘Yelp putting on detective hat in bid to find fake reviews is placing a warning sign on the listings of those caught. Claims to have already busted nine companies TIRED of companies trying to trick travellers with fake reviews, Yelp is now publicly shaming those it claims are involved […]
Credits: Business 2 Community By Frederic Gonzal ‘According to research company Gartner, as much as 15% of online reviews will be fake by 2014. Just this past summer, it was found that 8% of Facebook accounts are considered fraudulent ones, which represents a fair chunk knowing there are now over 1 billion active users on […]
Trip Advisor Sacking The staff sacked following uncomplimentary reviews on Trip Advisor. Featuring Chris Emmins from KwikChex. Click here to listen (Duration:6 minutes)
Credits: The New York Times By: David Streitfeld “Businesses caught soliciting favorable reviews are increasingly running the risk of getting slapped with a badge of shame. Like every Web site that depends on consumer critiques, Yelp has a problem with companies trying to manipulate their results. So it set up a sting operation to catch […]
Credits: theBandBer.com ‘Back in 2010, a UK reputation management firm called Kwikchex launched a campaign against TripAdvisor for publishing allegedly libellous anonymous reviews about hotels. In particular, it has been working with the Advertising Standards Agency to demonstrate how unverified reviews sites can be abused. However Tennessee judge recently ruled that there was no defamation […]
Credits: Yahoo New Zealand ‘A former hotel employee says he was fired after a negative TripAdvisor review he thinks was posted by a disgruntled co-worker.’ Above excerpts and read the full story on www.yahoo.com
Credits: The Sunday Times By: Chris Haslam ‘The owner of a six-room guesthouse on the Isle of Lewis has become the first hotelier in Britain to be granted the right to sue TripAdvisor.’ ‘…however, TripAdvisor successfully argued that the case was beyond the remit of a small-claims court and should be heard in a higher […]
Credits: BtoBonline.com By: Christopher Hosford ‘Brand and reputation management is considered a key element of social media marketing. But what happens when forums, blogs, tweets and “likes” are sabotaged by hackers, competitors and other villains intent on destroying a company’s reputation? As many as 15% of online reviews will be fake by 2014, according to […]
Credits: Mail Online By Emily Allen General manager Frank Long vowed to ‘deny everything’ if details of the scam emerged One review said it was the ‘friendliest airport hotel ever’ and made special reference to the staff “A hotel boss ordered his staff to write bogus reviews of his hotel after it had a series […]
Developer and founder of KwikChex.com: industry leader in Reputation, Reassurance and Resolutions of business services. An online resource that allows the public to quickly and easily verify the reputation of a company or a website. He has helped important international companies to increase sales by creating strong and well-differentiated options. Creativity and technical innovation in […]
Credits: NBC News By: A. Pawlowski, NBC News contributor ‘Travelers may love TripAdvisor.com, but hotels often gripe that unverified bad reviews have cost them customers. Now a former hotel worker says a questionable review cost him his job. “I’ve never heard of anyone being targeted specifically and actually being fired over a TripAdvisor review,” Fred […]
Credits: The Telegraph By: Rosa Prince ‘Former Conservative co-Treasurer, Peter Cruddas, who resigned after boasting that a donation to the Party would be ‘awesome’ for businesses is suing the political consultant who first reported the story.’ ‘Peter Cruddas, a multi-millionaire banker and businessman, is said to have begun legal proceedings for defamation against Mark Adams, […]
Update 09/10/12 The case of Fred Keeler, the worker fired after a review published on TripAdvisor was taken up by NBC News in an article published 5th October – https://www.nbcnews.com/travel/travelkit/hotel-worker-tripadvisor-review-cost-me-my-job-6289095 This follows a previous case in the UK, when David Marshall, an Edinburgh bus driver was sacked after being the subject of a TripAdvisor review. On […]
Credits: 4Hoteliers ‘Man employed for 14 years at Sheraton Hotel claims he was fired after bosses read an anonymous review alleging dishonesty. Fred Keeler has sought the help of internet reputation company KwikChex after being fired from his job as a barman at the Four Points Sheraton Philadelphia (NorthEast). The review was deleted shortly after KwikChex […]
Credits: Ad Age By: Michael Learmonth ‘Online reviews can make or break a local business, which is why the incentive to cheat with paid-for, malicious or fraudulent reviews is so great. Weeding out fraud is an inexact science; sites such as TripAdvisor, Google+ Local and Yelp use a mix of algorithms and human moderators to […]
Credits: BBC News ‘Facebook has begun deleting fake page “likes”, independent data suggests. According to Pagedata, many of the site’s most “liked” pages suffered large drops in numbers on Wednesday. The move follows the social network’s admission that 8.7% of its users are not “real”, many having been set up by spammers who use them […]
Credits: BBC News ‘A regional judge has ordered the arrest of Google’s president in Brazil, Fabio Jose Silva Coelho, after the company failed to take down YouTube videos. Authorities say the videos are slanderous towards a candidate running in a city’s election for mayor. The judge ordered the removal of the videos last week, but […]
Credits: Business 2 Community By: Olivia Roat ‘I recently read an article on Mashable that reported on a study from tech research company Gartner. According to Gartner, by 2014, 10 to 15% of social media reviews will be fake and paid for by companies. Chalk it up to naiveté, but I found this news regarding […]
Credits: Herald Online By: University of Houston Law Center ‘With Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and more than half a billion active websites, the Internet provides a forum where messages can spread at lightning speed. At this moment, extremist publications and films appearing online have sparked protests across the world. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) monitors […]
Credits: Business Insider By: Max Nisen ‘When you search for a product or service online, one of the first things you’ll come across are ratings and reviews. The more impressive a company’s rating, the higher it’ll appear on a Google search. And the competition in this space is fierce — which is why there’s been […]
All comments can be authenticated and indeed have to be under UK laws. Should anyone be in any doubt as to the veracity then we would recommend that they contact the Advertising Standards Authority and we would be pleased to provide the necessary evidence to them. Simply Electronics have been trading since July 2007. Verified […]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has published their findings and ruling in the case of Mantrav International. The business was a member of KwikChex, but was suspended due to no evidence being provided to substantiate claims on the website concerning financial bonding. Directors of the business insisted and still insist that such arrangements are in place. Because of […]
Credits: Mail Online By: Paul Harris ‘Richard Gollin took on the corporate might of TripAdvisor after customers confirmed they had cancelled bookings because of criticism they read on the site, widely viewed as the travellers’ bible.’ ‘Chris Emmins of KwikChex, which investigates online reviews, believes there could be up to ten million fake postings among […]
Credits: The Sunday Times By: Chris Haslam ‘A new wave of fraudsters is posting bogus accounts of theft and injury on TripAdvisor to back up false insurance claims, according to hoteliers.’ ‘Chris Emmins, of the online reputation management company KwikChex, says: “We’ve had more than 40 requests from hoteliers in this situation. It’s fairly frequent, […]
Credits: Technology Spectator By: David Glance ‘LANCASHIRE businesses are losing out on new sales due to fake or unjust reviews, according to a top marketing consultant. Internet review experts Got Juice say the problem affecting Lancashire could be tackled if reviews were required to be authenticated.’ Above excerpts and read the full story on Lancashire […]
Credits: Technology Spectator By: David Glance ‘The American social scientist Donald Campbell observed that as soon as you try to apply and use indicators for social decision-making, the pressure to corrupt the measure increases and it then distorts the process it is measuring. The measure eventually becomes meaningless because it loses its value as a […]
Credits: The Telegraph By: Jo Glanville ‘On Wednesday, sooner than anyone anticipated, the defamation bill returns to the House of Commons for report stage and its third reading, before heading to the House of Lords for its further progress through Parliament. Along the way, it’s likely to collide with the publication of the Leveson Inquiry’s […]
Credits: Mail Online By Sabi Phagura “A restaurant owner was so incensed by a bad customer review, she went on to set up a fake sex site profile as revenge, a court heard.” Above excerpt and read the full article on DailyMail.co.uk
Credits: Forbes By: Suw Charman-Anderson, Contributor ‘The furore around recent allegations, confessions and denials of fakery on Amazon, forums and social media has exploded over the last couple of days. There have been far too many blog posts and news articles to keep up with, but the fact that this story now has its own […]
Credits: The Guardian By: Oliver Thring ‘As a tool for reviewing restaurants the internet is entering a new, less dependable phase. Can any sites which rely on anonymous reviews be trustworthy?’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.guardian.co.uk
Credits: The Independent By: Andrew Hough “Amid a growing worldwide backlash against the “underhand tactics, the 47 year-old disclosed that he had written at least a dozen posts on the internet using pseudonyms.” Above excerpt and full article on www.independent.co.uk
You can view the original story ‘Leeds restaurant fined after bug poisons 23’ – that we featured on our new food poisoning help website by clicking here. The restaurant featured in the story, the Red Chilli in Leeds was inspected last July / August. The article reports that the mitigation included the owners addressing the problems straight […]
Credits: The Mail on Sunday (This is Money) By: Sarah Bridge ‘It is every cook’s worst nightmare. Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal has just been accused of giving diners food poisoning.’ ‘However, rather than being a genuine case, it seems that Heston may be the latest victim of a growing trend in which people put fake […]
Credits: Firstpost By: Sandip Roy ‘Fake Review Writer is actually a bona fide job category these days. You can find it on the website Freelancer.com alongside more traditional freelancing jobs such as Java programmers and telemarketers. Someone wants 5K fake Facebook likes as fast as possible. At the time I checked, there were three bids for that […]
Credits: Forbes By: Suw Charman-Anderson, Contributor ‘The web has created some fantastic opportunities for authors, publishers and self-publishers alike, but this summer has seen the industry’s dark underbelly revealed in all its venal, pustulant ignominy.’ ‘…successful author Stephen Leather confessed, during an on-stage panel discussion, that he used fake accounts to write reviews and promote […]
Credits: Forbes By: Trefis Team, Contributor ‘…lately, the authenticity of the reviews on TripAdvisor’s website has once again come under scrutiny. TripAdvisor was even investigated by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) in September 2011 following growing criticism of its apparent failure to monitor fake comments posted on its website. As a result of the investigation, in […]
Credits: The Olive Press By: James Bryce ‘This eclectic mix of clientele has inevitably influenced the variety of food and hotels on offer, something which has resulted in an interesting mix being thrown up by TripAdvisor.’ ‘The overall feeling regarding TripAdvisor seems to be one of scepticism, with a cautious acknowledgement of the benefits it […]
Credits: Lawyers.com By: Sylvia Hsieh ‘A student won a $4.5 million civil lawsuit against a former state attorney who defamed him online, followed him and his friends and showed up at his home several times.’ ‘Back in 2010, after Chris Armstrong became the first openly gay student body president at the University of Michigan, a website […]
Credits: Caterer and Hotelkeeper By: Neil Gerrard ‘Bexley is the local authority area with the highest failure rate among catering businesses for food hygiene in England, while Craven district council, North Yorkshire, has the lowest failure rate. That’s one of the findings from new research by reputation management firm KwikChex, which has analysed the scores received by […]
Credits: BBC News ‘Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak says he will review changes to a law critics say restricts free speech online, after protests.’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.bbc.co.uk
Credits: CNN By: Mariano Castillo An Argentinian judge has ordered Facebook to remove a profile from its site that allegedly was defaming a local business. Above excerpts and read the full article on www.edition.cnn.com
In the latest research by KwikChex – into thousands of online allegations of food poisoning, the results showed some eyebrow-raising statistics and cases. There are certainly well over 100,000 online allegations of food poisoning in the UK alone. Of 200 cases where KwikChex has been asked for assistance by business owners claiming false allegations, there […]
Credits: Mail on Sunday (This is Money.co.uk) By Sarah Bridge And Dan Pront “Some of the biggest names in the restaurant business are being bombarded with unfounded accusations of giving customers food poisoning on unregulated review sites. Chris Emmins, founder of KwikChex, which investigates potentially damaging internet reviews, said businesses were falling foul of fake […]
Credits: The Telegraph, by Charles Starmer-Smith A hygiene expert has warned that people who make unsubstantiated allegations about food poisoning in reviews on user-generated websites such as TripAdvisor could face legal action. “It’s almost impossible to say with any certainty that food poisoning came from any one meal, so making these kind of threats could potentially […]
Credits: The Ottawa Citizen By: Andrew Seymour ‘The husband and the general manager of a ByWard Market restaurant owner also had motive and opportunity to defame a dissatisfied customer who posted a negative review online, a defence lawyer argued in court Tuesday.’ Above excerpts and read the full story on The Ottawa Citizen
Credits: RIA Novosti ‘Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a defamation bill into law, the Kremlin press service said on Monday.’ ‘The bill, which was passed by the Russian parliament within a week of being filed, has drawn fierce condemnation from critics who say it is intended to silence the opposition.’ Above excerpts and read […]
Credits: The Telegraph By: Martin Beckford ‘Damages awarded in personal injury, nuisance and defamation cases will rise by 10 per cent from next year, the country’s most senior judges have announced.’ ‘However public bodies that are often sued in civil courts, such as the NHS, will actually save money under the reforms as they will […]
Credits: CBSDenver.com By: Brian Maass ‘A Centennial-based anesthesiologist, Dr. Michael Gesquiere, has filed a civil lawsuit against a former patient, Joanna Putman, claiming her online venting amounted to libel that damaged his reputation and his business.’ “My advice to anyone thinking of posting a negative review, particularly in the immediate aftermath of a bad experience […]
Credits: San Francisco Chronicle By: Chronicle Columnist ‘Internet users who post personal information are finding stalkers can use it as a tool for harassment.’ ‘Carla Franklin landed on a Facebook page created under her name. She was shocked to see her own image staring back, a swimsuit photo from her earlier days as a model. […]
Thousands of online allegations of food poisoning are increasing the risks of serious illness to the public and unjust damage to good businesses. Food-borne illness is complex and can even be fatal. Wherever possible, proper procedures should be followed to prevent others being put at risk. Requests for assistance from restaurants and other food outlets […]
Credits: TrustLaw ‘The re-introduction of criminal libel to Russia’s domestic laws is a yet another serious blow to freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch said today. The European Union member states, the United States, and the Council of Europe should remind the Russian leadership that criminal penalties for libel are regressive and out of step with […]
Credits: TPMIdealLab By: Carl Franzen ‘Limits of free speech in the online age were upheld this week, when a district court judge in Idaho ruled that a local newspaper, the Spokesman-Review would have to turn over the identity of an anonymous commenter who has been sued for defamation by a local Republican Party official.’ Above […]
Credits: The Seattle Times By: Christopher Elliott ‘Online travel giant isn’t very transparent about the way it operates, says columnist Christopher Elliott.’ ‘TripAdvisor.com, which claims to be the world’s largest travel site, bills itself as a place that offers “trusted advice from real travelers.” Corcoran, an office administrator in Baltimore, says that trust was broken when […]
Credits: Mail Online By: Dominique Jackson ‘That is why we should give a cautious welcome to Justice Secretary Ken Clarke’s new proposals to oblige internet service providers to unmask the online bullies who are using their websites to post defamatory messages so that innocent victims do not need to resort to costly legal action to […]
Credits: Lexology By: Max Windich, Manches LLP ‘The recent case of McGrath and MCG Productions Ltd v Dawkins and others highlights the risks run and precautions to be taken by website operators in relation to their site’s content. Uniquely, the case also opens up the possibility of website operators being held liable not only for content hosted on […]
Credits: Mail Online By: Donal Blaney ‘The spin doctors at 10 Downing Street have done well today. The media has bought – hook, line and sinker – the spin that the Defamation Bill will mean an end to the scourge of internet trolls.’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.dailymail.co.uk
Credits: Reuters By: Rosalba O’Brien ‘Website operators may soon be forced under planned new British laws to reveal the identity of those who post defamatory comments on their forums, a move that aims to protect victims by speeding up what is often a lengthy and expensive legal process.’ Above excerpts and read the full article […]
Credits: TPMIdealLab By: Carl Franzen ‘An ongoing nationwide battle against offending online comments has taken on a political tinge in Idaho, where a local Republican party official is suing a commenter on a newspaper website and trying to force the newspaper, the Idaho Spokesman-Review, to turn over the commenter’s information, as well as the information […]
Credits: Rappler By: Reynaldo Santos, JR ‘MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives has approved a bill that will prevent and punish acts of online defamation, threats, and prostitution. Congress passed on third and final reading House Bill 5808, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, which defines and punishes cybercrime to prevent its proliferation.’ […]
KwikChex has now found a website that we believe answers our criteria for a 5 star rating. Whilst ResponsibleTravel.com may be no giant in terms of numbers of reviews they provide – 5,350, according to their website, they do provide a resource that is diligent and ethical, publishing reviews from authenticated customers, whether negative or […]
Credits: Cincinnati.com By: Jim Hannah ‘The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled that 2011 Cincinnati Ben-Gals cheerleader Sarah Jones can proceed with her defamation lawsuit against the online gossip website TheDirty.com.’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.cincinnati.com
Credits: Huffington Post UK By Michael Rundle ‘The age of the troll could be over. Websites might be forced to unmask people who post defamatory statements online. Under new government proposals in the Defamation Bill, victims of online bullying will gain the right to discover the identity of those posting “scurrilous rumour and allegations” on […]
Credits: BBC News ‘Website operators in the UK may soon have to identify people who have posted defamatory messages online, allowing the victim to undertake legal action against the “troll” rather than against the website.’ Above excerpts and read the full article on www.bbc.co.uk
KwikChex has received a number of enquiries regarding the submissions we made to the UK Advertising Standards Authority about SKYTRAX. For the sake of clarification, the request for the ASA to investigate came about principally when KwikChex was evaluating a number of travel reviews sites to produce an initial guide to consumers. The ranking is primarily based on elements of verification, which […]
Credits: BuzzFeed By: Allison McCann ‘Go on TripAdvisor’s UK site and you can no longer find the “reviews you can trust” slogan anywhere on the page (it still exists in the US, in tiny grey print near the bottom of the page.) Legally forced to remove the phrase, soon they might just have to say […]
Credits: The Guardian By: Roy Greenslade ‘Canny consumers do not take adverts at face value. According to a research study, once they come across an ad they go online to check out reviews of the advertised product or service – but do they get the correct and fair information?’ ‘KwikChex says: “If consumers see negative opinion results, […]
Social Language Processing & Identification To Improve Online Reviews Quality And Performance The management of KwikChex and SLP-ID, the creators of Review Skeptic, a Social Language Processing detection system created by researchers at Cornell University, are assessing how they can combine their resources to spot fake reviews and accurately assess the true standards of businesses. […]
The rise in the influence the internet has on consumers has seen one particular element rise exponentially – the online review. Previous surveys have demonstrated how online reviews affect buying behaviour and even share prices. Now research carried out by KwikChex, the leading reputation management and quality assurance business, is revealing how advertising is being substantially undermined by conflicting online information. Surveys conducted […]
Airline rating site Skytrax is under investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority over the authenticity of some of its reviews. Credits: TTG Digital “The ASA has launched a formal investigation which will ask Skytrax to prove that some of its reviews, from which it gives airlines a star rating, are genuine. The probe follows a […]
0. Responsibletravel.com has been awarded 5 stars based on the degree of diligence demonstrated in publishing reviews. There is only one issue in terms of our criteria – that of displaying out of date reviews, which we will discuss with them. However, given the relatively few number of reviews and their overall standards, we viewed […]
In assessing each site, we have followed a criteria of awarding points for: • Verified reviews – reviewer has paid for services / goods and can be fully identified. As the intention is to identify what are likely to be the most honest and reliable reviews, this has been given the greatest weighting • Verified […]
Updated 3rd July 2012 KwikChex has now published ratings on the first named travel review sites. Background Reviews sites, are fundamentally asking consumers to trust / believe in the information they provide on businesses. They are highly influential in consumer opinion and decision making. Small businesses in particular can be made or broken according to […]
Credits: Time Techland By: Matt Peckham ‘Watching faceless online passerby troll bloggers or mock fellow scribblers can be a drag, but what if legislators’ answer to online ne’er-do-wells was to ban anonymous comments from websites entirely? That’s what the state of New York is planning to do in identical bills — S.6779 and A.8688 – […]
A short summary of some of the cases that KwikChex has recently taken onboard and resolved. Google Blog Online Hate Campaign Halted A hate campaign waged against a family by a person infatuated and rejected by one of the daughters was brought to a halt by KwikChex. The family had tried in vain for […]
BBC Fake Britain investigates the damage caused by fake Trip Advisor reviews to KwikChex Members Howarth House and Medieval Lodge. The Broadcast on the iPlayer has now expired – the next available viewing according to BBC is at 02:55am Thursday 7th June BBC1
Travel websites implement new policies on reviews after investigation Credits: abc15.com By: Adam Slinger “Travel websites are scrambling to crackdown on fake reviews before the summer vacation season after a new study alluded that some hotel owners and staff were writing false reviews under the pseudonyms of tourists In February, the United Kingdom’s ‘Advertising Standards […]
Credits: Yahoo Philippines “Travel review sites have come to exert phenomenal authority over where we stay and where we eat, with the likes of TripAdvisor and Booking.com now holding millions of reviews from travelers. Those reviews, of course, are only useful as long as they can be trusted, and in recent years it’s been increasingly asserted by hoteliers […]
Credits: USA Today By: Laura Bly In the latest round of an ongoing debate over the reliability of hotel reviews on TripAdvisor and other travel review sites, U.K.-based reputation management company KwikChex is launching a ratings system that ranks the sites on sliding scale. According to Tnooz.com, KwikChex will award as many as five stars for sites where reviewers are […]
Reputation management company KwikChex is to beef up its efforts to protect the travel and hospitality sector against false and damaging online reviews. The company said no other industry has been as affected by harmful review websites, so it has decided to dedicate additional resources to the sector. Read the full article on www.travelmole.com
Google Reviews, TripAdvisor and Yelp are regarded as the most unreliable review sites, according to a new ratings system introduced by the online reputation management firm, KwikChex. Chris Emmins, co-founder of KwikChex, said that the five-tier ratings system, which is currently being introduced to its own online site, is intended to provide consumers with […]
In response to worldwide concerns regarding the reliability of online reviews and the spread of review fraud, KwikChex has created a 5 tier ratings system and will be applying this to reviews websites. The core principles are provided in the attached table. We are contacting the owners of reviews sites to advise them of the […]
Credits: Enfield Independent By: Hermione Wright ‘A cyber bully is playing with the future of a Tottenham funeral firm by leaving ‘fake’ feedback on a major review website.’ ‘Damian Melville, 33, opened Melville and Daughters funeral directors in West Green Road two years ago to ensure future job security for his five-year-old and 12-year-old daughter when […]
“Reviews You Can Trust”. It always was a bold slogan, but last month Tripadvisor was officially told to remove it from its British website. The country’s advertising watchdog decided you couldn’t tell which reviews were real, and which were simply made-up. But now, one similar site says it may have found a way. Keith […]
Credits: The Telegraph Travel By: Oliver Smith ‘New evidence of hoteliers attempting to manipulate their ratings has increased the pressure on TripAdvisor to improve its screening procedures.’ ‘Pressure is growing on TripAdvisor, the travel review website, to improve its screening procedures following the emergence of new evidence of hoteliers attempting to manipulate their ratings and of […]
Credits: USA Today – Travel By: Laura Bly ‘To many hoteliers and their guests, TripAdvisor’s Hotel Popularity Index — a destination-specific ranking based on quantity, quality and recency of content written about the hotel on the site — is an indispensable and influential tool.’ ‘While TripAdvisor “does a good job for a lot of people, […]
Credits: PeterGreenberg.com By: Phil Baker ‘It’s easy to find hotel reviews online, but honest, unbiased honest customer reviews are harder to spot. Tech columnist Phil Baker reports on new findings and reviews the latest technology to see if there’s a better way.’ ‘There’s another option that I recently discovered that’s taking a novel approach to […]
Credits: Travelmole By: Bev Fearis ‘TripAdvisor has decided to remove its new ratings system following criticism from hospitality businesses. The review website introduced a new scoring system out of five last week but the initiative immediately came under fire. KwikChex thanked TripAdvisor for its swift action in removing the ratings system.’ “We believe that the […]
Credits: The Telegraph Travel By: Oliver Smith ‘TripAdvisor is to scrap its controversial new “ratings” system, which allows reviewers to mark hotels, restaurants and attractions without leaving a written review.’ ‘KwikChex, the online reputation management company, which has frequently spoken out against TripAdvisor’s methods, described it as “baffling”. Chris Emmins, chief executive of KwikChex, said: “It […]
Credits: Manchester Evening News By: Sarah Dunn ‘Griffiths posted a stream of up to 30 detrimental online reviews on tripadvisor and other sites about The Good Life – owned by the ex partner of her husband, Adrian.’ ‘She slated the vegetarian restaurant, claiming staff were ‘cold and unattentive’, ‘the vegan option wasn’t vegan’ and there were […]
Credits: The Telegraph Travel By: Charles Starmer-Smith ‘A hygiene expert has warned that people who make unsubstantiated allegations about food poisoning in reviews on user-generated websites such as TripAdvisor could face legal action. “It’s almost impossible to say with any certainty that food poisoning came from any one meal, so making these kind of threats could […]
Credits: The Telegraph Travel By: Charles Starmer-Smith ‘Following the Advertising Standards Authority’s ruling that TripAdvisor can longer claim all its reviews are by “real travellers”, Charles Starmer-Smith calls for the website to re-think the way its reports are checked. There are hoteliers queuing up to welcome the Advertising Standards Authority’s ruling that TripAdvisor can no longer […]
Credits: CNN By: Marnie Hunter ‘Phrases such as “reviews you can trust” and “reviews from real travelers” have misled TripAdvisor users in the United Kingdom, according to a judgment issued Wednesday by the Advertising Standards Authority in Britain. The decision comes in response to a complaint filed by a reputation management firm and two hotels, claiming […]
Credits: Mail Online By: Sean Poulter ‘TripAdvisor can no longer claim to offer ‘trusted and honest’ reviews, the advertising watchdog has ruled. It said that because the world’s biggest travel website does not vet its 50 million users’ comments, it cannot guarantee they are genuine.’ ‘It has faced claims that some establishments are being given poor […]
Credits: The Telegraph Travel By: James Hall, Consumer Affairs Editor ‘It follows complaints that some unscrupulous hoteliers have posted fake comments on the site to boost their own business or sabotage others. The advertising watchdog said that because reviews can be posted on the site without any form of verification, Tripadvisor must no longer claim […]
Credits: PC Advisor By: Carrie-Ann Skinner ‘Regulator upheld complaint that website doesn’t check comments are from real travellers The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has slammed holiday-reviews site TripAdvisor, claiming it’s “misleading” web users. KwikChex Ltd and two hotels made complaints over the site’s claims that it offered “trusted advice from real traveller”, “reviews you can […]
Credits: BBC News ‘TripAdvisor has been ordered to rewrite some of its marketing claims by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority. The ruling follows complaints by hotels that the site had said that its holiday reviews could be “trusted”. The watchdog said that the ruling served as a warning to all sites with user-generated material. It […]
Credits: The Guardian By: Steven Morris ‘Advertising watchdogs have criticised the travel website TripAdvisor for asserting that all contributions on its pages were honest and from real travellers. But some hoteliers and others in the hospitality trade claim the site is open to abuse, for example from rivals keen to attack an establishment’s reputation. Two […]
Credits: Irishtimes.com By: CONOR POPE, Consumer Affairs Correspondent ‘THE IRISH Hotels Federation has welcomed a ruling published by the British Advertising Standards Authority this morning which prohibits travel website TripAdvisor from claiming or even implying the hotel reviews it carries are “honest, real or trusted”. The federation also called on all travel review websites to […]
Credits: The Press Association ‘TripAdvisor has been told it cannot claim all of its reviews are written by real travellers. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said claims that all reviews on the travel site are genuine are “misleading”. The ruling came after complaints highlighted statements on the TripAdvisor website which claimed: “reviews you can trust”, […]
Credits: Tnooz By: Linda Fox ‘The UK advertising regulator upheld a complaint from online reputation firm Kwikchex and two hotels which argued wording on TripAdvisor’s UK website, such as “reviews you can trust…from real travellers…and trusted advice from real travellers”, was misleading because the company could not prove reviews were genuine or from real travellers.’ Chris Emmins […]
Credits: Scotsman.com ‘An ADVERTISING watchdog has told the travel website TripAdvisor it could not claim that all of its reviews were written by real travellers. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said claims that all reviews on the site were genuine were “misleading”.’ Above excerpts and full story from www.scotsman.com
Credits: Campaign By: Loulla-Mae Eleftheriou-Smith, campaignlive.co.uk ‘The advertising watchdog has told TripAdvisor, the travel reviews site, it can no longer claim or imply that all the reviews on its site are from “real travellers” or are “honest”, “real” or “trusted”. The Advertising Standards Authority looked into three complaints, one from online reputation management company KwikChex […]
Credits: The Drum ‘Claims by Tripadvisor.co.uk that its “Reviews you can trust” statement, alongside claims that the site carried “reviews from real travelers” and that it offered ‘trusted advice from real travellers’ was untrue, and banned the company from using similar claims in the future. Three complaints were received by the Advertising Standards Authority, from […]
Credits: Travolution ‘A complaint about the authenticity of Tripadvisor reviews has been upheld by UK watchdog the Advertising Standards Authority. The complaint by online reputation specialist KwikChex Ltd centred on the site’s claims of the authenticity and trustworthiness of its reviews. Tripadvisor had claimed the site featured more than “50 million honest travel reviews and […]
The complaint centred on TripAdvisor’s claims of the trustworthiness and reliability of reviews posted on their website. It was made because of what we regarded as exaggerated claims by TripAdvisor regarding the trustworthiness of reviews on their website, which are all unsubstantiated – without even verification that authors of comments left on the site are […]
Credits: Digital Journal By: Roderick Eime “TripAdvisor.com, arguably the most influential source of hotel reviews, has released its much anticipated Travelers Choice Awards for 2012. But not all hotels agree.” “Another company, UK-based KwikChex.com, is specifically targeting TripAdvisor in their efforts, placing pressure on the company to take more stringent measures in verifying reviews, including […]
Credits: Eat Out Magazine “Online reviews have been in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. Allegations of sabotage and fake postings are rife leading the Advertising Standards Authority to launch an investigation into reviews of hotels and restaurants. Chris Emmins co-founder of KwikChex, tells us about the rise, reviews and risks of online […]
KwikChex member Medieval Lodge in Hastings, UK today had a fake review removed from their TripAdvisor profile after the BBC reported the distress and damage being caused on their flagship breakfast news programme. KwikChex has traced the person responsible and is considering further action. Watch the BBC news clip. Further information and update on this […]
Voyager’s World, Bangalore, India – December 2011 Is that Review Genuine? The reviews on travel review websites look good and glowing. But how trustworthy are such reviews? Firoz Fazil finds out. Excerpts from article: “If you start with the fact that there is no verification process – not even to confirm that is a genuine […]
Firms fall victim to fake web reviews Click here to view video (originally shown on BBC News at Six 03/11/2011) Plus related article on BBC News Website: Google removes ‘paedophile’ claim on review website Credits: BBC News By Claire Marshall BBC News Midlands correspondent “A business owner accused in a Google review of being a paedophile […]
“(Reuters.com) – TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site with 20 million members, has completed its spin-off from travel website operator Expedia.” “UK reputation management firm KwikChex would take umbrage with the term ‘authentic review’; a non-transactional site, there’s no guarantee that people who review properties on TripAdvisor have actually stepped foot in them. KwikChex represents […]
Credits: Tnooz By: Chris Emmins, chief executive of KwikChex “When KwikChex first started publicly challenging TripAdvisor, many were concerned it was an attempt to suppress freedom of speech. Some had the impression that it was being driven by sub-standard businesses which simply couldn’t take criticism. On both accounts, nothing could have been further from the […]
Credits: The Telegraph By: Emma Barnett “Companies need to plan social media communication with the same level of thought, crisis management and craftsmanship as a traditional advertising campaign.” “Brands must learn from Qantas-esque mistakes when marketing themselves online and cleverly engage with reviewers. Social media engagement is risky, but when done well, is the most […]
TripAdvisor reviews – confusing, contradictory, coercion and blackmail. Featuring KwikChex. Click here to listen
Bad Online Reviews or Blackmail? Companies are complaining that review websites are being used to blackmail them… Featuring KwikChex. Click here to listen (Chapter 2)
Credits: The Telegraph – Travel “Guests are attempting to blackmail hotels and businesses into paying hundreds of pounds by threatening to write bad reviews on the online site TripAdvisor, it has been reported. “ “TripAdvisor carries more the reviews which it claims are honest, reliable and written by “real travellers around the world”. But online […]
The Times has reported on cases brought to their attention by KwikChex that involve coercing business owners by threatening to publish comments on TripAdvisor. The article features three businesses that have recently come to KwikChex for assistance. KwikChex can confirm that they have started actions on their behalf and are grateful to the media for their help […]
Credits: Mail Online By: Sophie Freeman “Hotel guests are using the threat of a bad review on Tripadvisor to blackmail owners into paying hundreds of pounds ‘compensation’ – even when there was nothing wrong with their stay.” “Last month, MailOnline reported that hotel owner Deborah Sinclair was taking legal action after Tripadvisor placed a ‘red […]
We can confirm that we have been notified that the ASA have completed their investigation into the complaint regarding misleading statements by TripAdvisor, but that it is currently protected under confidentiality agreements and no announcement will be made until the ASA Council have met to consider the recommendations and to make their final rulings. We […]
Credits: The Telegraph – Travel By: Oliver Smith “TripAdvisor, the travel review website, may have to change the way it operates if proposed changes to defamation laws go ahead and a new complaint being considered by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) is upheld.” “Several hoteliers are also taking legal action individually against the website for […]
Credits: Caterer and Hotel Keeper By: Neil Gerrard “TripAdvisor is to launch a customer support phone number for registered owners and managers on the online reviews website, which is set to go live today.” “The move comes following an intense period of publicity for the controversial website, which faces pressure and the threat of legal […]
Please see the article in Caterer and Hotel Keeper – Click here Details as follows: We have been informed that this service will only currently be available in the UK and Italy UK Monday-Friday 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM EST 0-800-098-8460 (Toll-Free) +44(0) 203 318 5019 Italia Telefono Lunedì-venerdì 10:30 – 18:00 800 789 317 […]
Google removes ‘paedophile’ claim on review website Credits: BBC News By Claire Marshall BBC News Midlands correspondent “A business owner accused in a Google review of being a paedophile and a thief has said he is delighted that the search giant has removed the entry.” “He (Chris Emmins of KwikChex) called for Google, Tripadvisor and […]
Almost everyone would acknowledge that the worldwide web is saturated with fraud and deceit. Online defamation is soaring and both consumers and reputable businesses suffer. KwikChex believes that significant improvements to reliability of information are readily achievable and obviously desirable. We are inviting a wide range of businesses, including some of the most influential such […]
Proposed changes to defamation laws will have significant effects on review sites liabilities and anonymity The recent publication of recommendations for the change in defamation laws contained some interesting and significant proposals concerning online defamation and anonymity. Striking the balance of the different elements – protecting freedom of speech, encouraging consumer feedback and dealing with malice […]
Following in the wake of actions taking place regarding the Riverside Hotel in Evesham, UK, KwikChex is taking immediate steps regarding a warning of similar action against one of our members. The Lancers B&B in Tunbridge Wells, UK received an email from TripAdvisor threatening various punitive actions that they state could be taken against the […]
Deborah Payne owner of The Riverside Hotel in Evesham, UK contacted KwikChex after TripAdvisor posted a warning on the hotel’s listing alleging review fraud. Deborah categorically denied the allegations and said the warning was causing substantiated damage to her business. The review website responded by releasing statements that she or people associated with the business […]
Credits: The Blackpool Gazette “A HOTELIER fighting an online reviewing giant is calling on businesses to band together and stop reputations from being destroyed.” “The idea came after Mr Yates became involved with online reputation service KwikChex after a series of what he claims are fraudulent, inaccurate reviews of his Clifton Drive South establishment.” […]