Posts Tagged
‘KwikChex’

KwikChex, an expert on online reviews, and a renowned verification, investigation and resolutions business has carried out an evaluation of the debate on online reviews for solicitors.  Since 2021, the SRA has been actively encouraging solicitors to engage with online reviews resources. In June, they produced a report which included details, including the fact that sites […]

The Helsingborgs Dagblad newspaper recently published a warning about the UK-registered company, Gravamen Consultants Ltd. The article calls attention to the plight of Swedish couple Ingrid and Lars-Göran Ljunggren, who paid Gravamen Consultants to help exit their timeshare contract and recover monies. Journalist Mikael Brandt reached out to KwikChex for further information.  Here is a […]

Trustpilot uses the slogan “Find companies you can trust” – referring to those that have achieved a high ‘Trustscore’ on its platform – but these ratings can lead people relying on supposed trustworthiness into very unsafe situations. Here are some facts about businesses with these trusted ratings and the reviewers that help them achieve their […]

Following the latest analysis of content on the Trustpilot reviews website, KwikChex is commencing a series of actions to tackle serious misinformation and fraud.  The case against Trustpilot   Trustpilot uses the slogan “Find companies you can trust”. This is intended to persuade consumers that businesses with a high rating on their platform should be trusted. […]

After an investigation by KwikChex and an article in The Mirror, Trustpilot has removed over 20,000 reviews from one business profile.  The KwikChex investigation revealed how crypto business Nova Wallet has rocketed to the top of Trustpilot’s UK Banking and Money category, with 23,000 reviews. The investigation then followed a trail of technology businesses, all […]

Fraud prevention and investigations business KwikChex and renowned solicitor firm Lincoln Green are providing a unique service that will help consumers to reliably check on whether they have been misled and are in danger of losing monies to businesses that have exaggerated, potentially deceived or failed to deliver promised services or returns on investments. If initial […]

When KwikChex started an investigation into how a new crypto business called Nova Wallet instantly jumped into the number 1 rated UK company in Trustpilot’s UK Banking and Money Services (“Best in Banking & Money”), we had no idea that it would lead to a trail of businesses ‘ultra-hyped’ by celebrity endorsements and purported success […]

KwikChex has just appeared on BBC TV again, having helped the Rip Off Britain team with investigations into Easy Consulting and the many brands they use. For years, Easy Consulting and the many different bargain holiday brands they use, which operate out of Alicante in Spain, have targeted UK consumers with cold-calls and online marketing. […]

A KwikChex investigation into online reviews website Trustpilot has shown that the platform is being used to promote a broad spectrum of illegal activity, from financial scams, through counterfeit documents to illegal drugs. Whilst the problem of fake reviews has been acknowledged for some years, and governments around the world are tightening laws to help […]

Recent days have seen increasing online and print coverage of KwikChex’s continuing work to increase Online Information Integrity (OII). Articles have already appeared in UK newspapers featuring KwikChex investigations into the way fraudsters use fake reviews as a part of their deceptions, including massively in currency trading (Forex and Cryptocurrency) scams – and now the […]

Multiple award-winning journalist Chris Haslam has published an article in the Times and Sunday Times, querying once again whether online travel reviews can be trusted? It coincides with TripAdvisor’s announcement that the site has just passed 1 billion reviews. Chris Emmins, CEO of KwikChex was interviewed for the article and pointed out that for all […]

Credit: BBC News, 9/02/21  A man who left a negative review of a legal firm on the TrustPilot website has been ordered to pay £25,000 ($34,000) in libel damages. “Philip James Waymouth engaged London law firm Summerfield Browne online to provide advice but was unsatisfied with the service he received.”“He then left a review accusing […]

The domain had previously been used to publish derogatory content against KwikChex and to promote European Consumer Claims / ECC and associated businesses. It has been formally found that ECC abused the good name of KwikChex by using the KwikChex brand in bad faith. The action was taken by KwikChex against European Consumer Claims Ltd., […]

Consumers have advised that they are increasingly being cold called by people that initially identify themselves as KwikChex or a purported ‘official authority’. They have claimed to be from (for example), The Timeshare Council’ or consumer protection organisations or law firms or court representatives, citing supposed cases that have already taken place which entitle the consumers called to […]

In February 2012 after challenging TripAdvisor over fake reviews for more than a year, a complaint submitted by KwikChex to the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) was upheld. In the ruling, phrases such as “reviews you can trust” and “reviews from real travelers” were judged to be misleading and   TripAdvisor were instructed not to […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Chris Emmins, Co-founder of KwikChex, appears on Channel 5’s ‘When teens kill’ programme to advise on the potential dangers of online classified ads. It follows a previous KwikChex investigation into the risks of using Gumtree, which include fraud, theft and – as the programme shows, even the possibilty of serious assault / loss of life. […]

Bloomberg have published an article after KwikChex Investigations showed that take away delivery giants are delivering food to consumers from businesses with poor food hygiene ratings. This is part of a more substantial investigation by KwikChex , with further details to be made public soon. ‘Deliveroo and Uber Eats List Restaurants With Low Health Scores’ […]

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 […]

KwikChex has once again assisted BBC investigative journalists, providing information on problems with online reviews websites.   Director and Co-Founder of KwikChex, Chris Emmins was also interviewed on Adrian Goldberg’s programme. – discussing how TripAdvisor prioritise Online Travel Agents (OTAs) that pay TripAdvisor in their search results. TripAdvisor now prefers consumers to see ‘deals’ from their OTA […]

'Your team has done a fantastic job to remove these 2 fake reviews. On behalf of all our team here in Marrakech, we want to say: Thank you, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Gracias... As a small independent hotel, with limited resources and facing unscrupulous competitors, now we can say that justice is done. Finding your company was a tremendous relief for us. Now we know there's hope so that we can protect our online reputation.
-- Mr A, Aug-17 --

‘Your team has done a fantastic job to remove these 2 fake reviews. On behalf of all our team here in Marrakech, we want to say: Thank you, Merci, Grazie, Obrigado, Gracias… As a small independent hotel, with limited resources and facing unscrupulous competitors, now we can say that justice is done. Finding your company […]

KwikChex, a Corporate Affiliate member of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), will once again be exhibiting and presenting at the Consumer Affairs & Trading Standards Conference, which takes place in Harrogate at the end of June. This is the flagship event in the UK Trading Standards calendar, with exceptional attendance from experts across the [...]
Successes for consumers right across the spectrum Here is what consumers had to say about KwikChex during 2016: KwikChex Testimonial Just to inform you that disputed review has now been removed from our page. Thanks for your help. TP, Nov-16 Timeshare Task Force Testimonial Can’t recommend these guys highly enough. If you have any issues [...]
Successes for consumers right across the spectrum The Timeshare Task Force, which is managed by KwikChex, has produced an unparalleled series of results for consumers during 2016. The free service has become increasingly vital and more used  by consumers in the last 12 months, with the Timeshare Business Check website playing the leading role in [...]
For the video summary of our 2016 highlights on YouTube - click here   January KwikChex in Middle East & Asia January saw KwikChex visiting clients and carrying out investigations in the UAE and Asia. We were once again particularly indebted to long term KwikChex clients and friends Max Hart and Dong Chi Thuy of [...]
Credits: The Mirror, By Andrew Penman, 1st Dec The Timeshare Consumer Association claims to be an independent consumer champion, but is it? 'Timeshare Consumer Association refuses to say who owns and runs it. The business vetting site Kwikchex approached the TCA, posing as a consumer wanting to sell a timeshare. “The response from the TCA [...]

Credits: The Sun, by Kathryn Cain ‘CHINESE fraudsters operating a sophisticated “fake reader factory” have taken down travel website TripAdvisor’s page on the country’s top social media app.’ ‘Two years ago a Bournemouth-based online reputation management company cast specific doubt on the integrity of TripAdvisor’s Chinese operation. Chris Emmins, co-founder of KwikChex, found some “amazingly […]

We searched for someone to help us resolve a TripAdvisor issue.....
-- JC, Mar-16 --

We searched for someone to help us resolve a TripAdvisor issue years back when TripAdvisor refused to remedy the situation where a post attacked the physical stature of an employee.  That is when we came across KwikChex.  We made a call and actually talked to someone who assured us that I was in the right […]

‘We have found KwikChex to be extremely proficient in providing online investigation services, individual and corporate due diligence and liaison with regulators and the media. The services help us to protect our business reputation and enable us and our clients to make informed decisions. They respond rapidly and expertly and provide an invaluable resource.’ CL, […]

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 […]

KwikChex assisted this consumer after they paid £1,000 to Monster Travel. “We would like to express our grateful thanks to KwikChex and staff member Mr Chris Emmins, for the help and understanding of our situation involving a Leisure Credits company. During a visit to the offices of the Leisure Credits company, we were asked to […]

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: 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, […]

KwikChex assisted this consumer with a chargeback claim to Monster Travel. “I have just received a letter from Vanquis Bank regarding my claim over the transaction of £500 to Monster Travel. I was delighted to be informed that the chargeback was successful under the Visa Rules and Regulations and that further action is not needed […]

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 […]

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

KwikChex assisted this consumer with relinquishment of their timeshare. “I am more than pleased to be able to tell you that in April this year my request to surrender my ownership of the weeks I owned ​was accepted. Not only that, but they even refunded me to the tune of £1,062.60 for maintenance fees paid […]

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 […]

KwikChex assisted this consumer with a refund from Realistix (Timeshare Business Check Profile). “Received my deposit back this morning so all is good in the world. Thank you so much for all your help. Without the exposure you gave them I doubt it would ever have happened.” Mr H, Oct-15 Note – no fees are […]

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 […]

We just wanted to thank you and all your colleagues at KwikChex for all your assistance with relinquishing the above time share. It is a great feeling to have finally disposed of the week, and I feel that without seeing the article in a national paper where you were shown as an organisation who was […]

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 […]

KwikChex has once again been working with the BBC to highlight dangers to consumers. As part of the Timeshare Task Force initiative, KwikChex contacted the BBC 4 Radio You & Yours programme about a product known as Realistix Solutions. This is a product which is the subject of many consumer complaints. Consumers are approached with [...]

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 […]

I cannot thank you enough for all you have done and are doing for us. Words cannot express how grateful we are. Mr & Mrs L, Aug-15 Note – this relinquishment was achieved without any fees being applied by the developer / resort – and there are no fees whatsoever charged to consumers seeking help […]

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 […]

Credits: Mail Online By: Antonia Hoyle ‘Gumtree is unquestionably one of the favourite and most prolific resources used by criminals,’ says Chris Emmins, co-founder of KwikChex, an online investigations and authentication business. ‘It is inherently dangerous for consumers — both buyers and sellers — and the utmost caution is required when using it.’ Above excerpts [...]
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint submitted by KwikChex regarding Timeshare Refund UK www.selltimesharetoday.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 that references made on the www.selltimesharetoday.co.uk website stating "Timeshare Refund UK is a 100% [...]

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 […]

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

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 […]

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 […]

Today I received a letter officially terminating my membership. I believe that this has been achieved mainly due to your invaluable input for which I thank you profusely. Mr R, May-15 Note – this relinquishment was achieved without any fees being applied by the developer / resort – and there are no fees whatsoever charged […]

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: 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: 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: 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 […]

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 […]

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: 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: 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: 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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

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 […]

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 […]

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: 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: 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” […]

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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. Click here for full details of the RDO Mission Statement

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: 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: 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 […]

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: […]

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

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 […]

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: 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 […]

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

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: 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: 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 […]

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 […]

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: 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 […]

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 […]

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: 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 […]

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: 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.’ […]

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: 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, […]

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 – […]

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

The proposed changes to UK defamation laws that were included in the Queen's Speech last week would have a profound effect on online reviews.  The government has made clear its intentions to support free speech, while also enabling claimants to protect their reputation by securing removal of defamatory material without undue delay - and to [...]

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 […]

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 […]

The team at KwikChex is always delighted when we restore rightful reputation and score another victory against online defamation and malice. When our clients and their families are put in danger and don’t get the response they should from online publishers, it makes it even more rewarding. That’s why we appreciated receiving the following words […]

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 […]

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 […]

“(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 – 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: 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 […]

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: Mail Online By: Simon Tomlinson   “A hotelier is suing TripAdvisor over claims she has lost thousands of pounds in revenue after the travel website accused her of posting fake positive reviews. Deborah Sinclair is taking legal action after a ‘red flag’ was placed on the review page of the Riverside hotel which she […]

Credits: The Irish Times By: Karlin Lillington “In the UK, that anger has bubbled over into a complaint brought to the country’s Advertising Standards Agency by online reputation management company KwikChex, representing some 2,000 UK hotels.” “Kwikchex co-founder Chris Emmins told the Telegraph that the company made a similar complaint on behalf of hotels and restaurants […]

Credits: The New York Times By: Andrew Adam Newman “While Web sites like TripAdvisor, which is owned by Expedia, amass consumer reviews, Oyster relies instead on 45 full-time reviewers who stay in hotels incognito and post their reviews and photographs.” “Earlier this month, the Advertising Standards Authority in Britain announced it was investigating the veracity […]

Credits: SearchSecurity.co.UK By: Ron Condon, UK Bureau Chief “Despite the economic turmoil of the last three years, the banks still retain public trust when it comes to looking after personal information, according to a new consumer information security attitude survey conducted by research group YouGov. By contrast, the public sector and online retailers are trusted […]

Credits: The Mail Online By: Travelmail Reporter “TripAdvisor has removed the slogan ‘reviews you can trust’ from its website, replacing it with the phrase ‘reviews from our community’.” “The website is currently being investigated by the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) over allegations that fake reviews have been posted on the site.” Above excerpt and full […]

Credits: The Independent By: Richard Hall “…But the veracity of reviews has been called into question by a group of 2,000 hoteliers, who approached online reputation management company KwikChex to investigate. The ASA responded to the concerns raised by KwikChex by announcing a formal investigation on September 1.” Above excerpt and full article on www.independent.co.uk

Credits: The Economist By: A.B “Thanks in part to a campaign by KwikChex.com, which helps companies manage their online reputations, TripAdvisor is expected to have to provide evidence to the ASA showing that taglines such as “You’ll find real hotel reviews you can trust at TripAdvisor” are fair.” Above excerpt and full article on www.economist.com

Credits: Technorati By: Kaleel Sakakeeny “Now we read in the usually reliable industry site, hotel marketing.com that the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority(ASA) is officially investigating the review giant because complaints have “reached monumental levels.” “If the ASA finds against TripAdvisor it could spell trouble for spin-off Expedia, a huge ad monger.” Above excerpts and full […]

Credits: Pinsent Masons, Out-Law.com “KwikChex believes that claims made by TripAdvisor are misleading and cannot be substantiated. Under the UK Code of non-broadcast Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing (CAP Code), which sets out the rules on online advertising, it is prohibited for advertisers to make misleading claims and for those claims not to be […]

Credits: The Boston Globe By: Melanie Nayer “How many times have you Googled a hotel name and found a TripAdvisor review show up? How many times have you clicked on that link to read the review? How many of those reviews were fake?” Above excerpt and full article on The Boston Globe: www.boston.com

Credits: The Times By: Billy Kenber “The travel review website TripAdvisor is being investigated by the advertising watchdog over allegations that its claims to provide trustworthy and genuine reviews from real travellers are false.” “Chris Emmins, of the online reputation management company Kwikchex, has been studying TripAdvisor for eight months and said that he believed […]

Credits: The Telegraph By: James Hall “The advertising watchdog has launched a formal investigation into TripAdvisor, the travel review website, after thousands of hoteliers and restaurateurs claimed that its reviews are made up or defamatory.” “KwikChex.com, which helps companies manage their online reputations, approached the advertising watchdog and demanded that it looked into the complaints.” […]

KwikChex News Release 01/09/2011 The Advertising Standards Authority have written to KwikChex, confirming that they have considered the issues raised regarding TripAdvisor – and have decided to deal with it under their formal investigations procedure. TripAdvisor will be asked to respond and provide evidence to support their own position. This is one of a number […]

Credits: Argophilia By: Phillip Butler “The allegations by many are that, hotels were paying “agents” to “boost” their reviews – and to make their competition look bad. The Christian Science Monitor goes so far as to say the “problem” with fake reviews and endorsements if even greater than TripAdvisor’s suggested 10 million fake endorsements, CSM […]

Credits: HotelNewsNow.com By: Stacey Mieyal Higgins “It’s a relatively new phenomenon—customers actually shaping a brand by commenting and sharing experiences. Yet travelers rely so heavily on peer experiences that to not manage it, to not stay on top of guest comments, is to ignore one of the most important parts of your brand.” “Chris Emmins, […]

Credits: Caterersearch.com By: Janet Harmer 03/08/2011 A report that is claimed to include tens of thousands of defamatory comments and misrepresentation on review site TripAdvisor has been presented to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Online reputation management firm KwikChex.com, which has also presented its findings to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA, said […]

Credits: The Times By: Chris Haslam “The site comes under attack again as it is revealed several writers for hire post positive comments for cash.” “That’s worrying, says Chris Emmins of the online reputation-management company KwikChex. “The No 1 hotel in Rome is currently the Deko,” he says. “It opened in April and, after just 30 […]

Credits: The Times By: Laura Whateley “As ‘thousands’ of fake hotel reviews prompt a warning to travellers, we examine the facts and urge holidaymakers to exercise caution when using TripAdvisor.com” “Corruption of information and abuses of the site are growing,” Mr Emmins (KwikChex Co-Founder) says. “We have studied TripAdvisor for eight months, evaluating almost every […]

KwikChex Member The London Bridge Experience has been Voted the UK’s Best Year Round Scare Attraction for three years running (Screamie Awards 2009, 2010 & 2011) The London Bridge Experience and The London Tombs are London tourist attractions not to be missed. Whether you are looking for somewhere scary to take the family, a despicable […]

“The web-cleaners promise to sort this out. Most seem to reshuffle your Google results by posting links with fake Facebook and LinkedIn accounts to force down negative news, pushing it to the unread sixth or seventh page. I preferred the KwikChex approach: it establishes new platforms that generate positive news. The result: good news forces […]

Credits: The Times By: Roger Boyes “It was only a matter of time before reputation managers caught up with people who don’t play football for Manchester United. People like me. After all, it’s not just celebrities who have reputations to lose.” “The new web-cleaners promise to sort this out. These reputation managers say they can […]

Chris Emmins, co-founder of Kwikchex, said he had been approached in the past week by three celebrities who panicked after seeing how quickly the footballer Ryan Giggs’s name had been spread online. The company turned down the work “on principle”, but the three men – an actor, an author, and a politician – all wanted […]

Credits: The Times By: Billy Kenber “Hotels and authors are paying agencies to boost their rankings on review websites and discredit their rivals.” “Other companies take a different approach. Chris Emmins, co-founder of Kwikchex, works to remove false negative reviews posted by rivals or disgruntled former employees by providing TripAdvisor with proof that they were […]

May 28, 2011 – www.einnews.com 24-7 Press Release Reputation Management is a relatively new and growing service, dealing principally with managing online reputation. The Times Berlin correspondent and author Roger Boyes is trying out the Verified by KwikChex service. DORSET, ENGLAND, May 28, 2011 – The Times newspaper wanted to run a feature on Reputation […]

Online, peer-to-peer review sites like TripAdvisor hold immense sway over the reputations of hotels and resorts. But with many in the industry complaining of malicious or fraudulent reviews, Chris Lo asks if these sites are doing enough to protect hotels and travellers from misleading or defamatory material. Excerpt (from hotelmanagement-network.com) The problem with TripAdvisor With […]

Credits: The Sydney Morning Herald By: Ellen Creager “Now, a British reputation management company, KwikChex, is gathering unhappy hotel owners and travel providers in a group to fight back. It’s threatening to file class action suits in Britain and the United States for defamation and libel unless TripAdvisor changes its policies.” “The problem for TripAdvisor […]

Credits: The Times By: Chris Haslam “Next time you leave a hotel feeling ripped off, hard done by or otherwise aggrieved, take a deep breath before posting that stinking review on TripAdvisor, because it could end up costing you thousands of pounds in legal damages.” “Chris Emmins is the co-founder of KwikChex, a company that […]

BackGround Brook Barn Country House in Oxfordshire has earned itself the highest reputation – one of the top places to stay in Oxfordshire on Trivago, AA 5 stars – and a 97% ‘popularity ranking’ on TripAdvisor. They have just asked KwikChex to help with a defamation issue on TripAdvisor. 5 days ago, a post appeared […]

The last week has seen extensive press coverage of the actions by KwikChex.com against defamatory comments posted on TripAdvisor. Some of the information received from applicants contained information of a serious nature that has required further investigation. The next step is the submission to TripAdvisor of a list of ‘specimen cases’, of which some of […]

Type ‘Appalling Hotels London’ into a Google search and it shows 576,000 results. Repeat the exercise, replacing the word ‘hotel’ with ‘restaurant’ – 372.000 results.

You can repeat this exercise anywhere with similar results. New York will get 627,000 results for restaurants and 82,700 for hotels – in fact type in just ‘disgusting hotel’ and Google declares 1,700,000 results and 1,440,000 for ‘disgusting restaurants.’

This is a simple way to understand how many accusations and criticisms are being placed on the web – and often the business owners on the receiving end are not even aware of the damage being done – and are not deserving of the criticisms. In the results you will find many mentions of leading brands such as Hilton (49,900 ‘disgusting’ results), and Marriiott (45,800).

KwikChex.com has been conducting research to define the scale and significance of the problems of online reputation and bad and fake reviews.The scale is astonishing – thousands of websites and blogs are already online carrying millions of reviews. Most reviews are anonymous and are often almost completely unmoderated.

[gravityform id=7 title=false description=false] Fake and Suspect Online Reviews In addition to promoting Outstanding Businesses, KwikChex provides services that are aimed at creating a more honest and dependable Worldwide Web. This includes dealing with fake reviews. We defend our members against online defamation and are working towards the improvement in the dependability of online reviews. […]

With the full launch of KwikChex now imminent, and the membership applications now available online, businesses have started to sign up to the KwikChex network. The first members will feature in a special report which will demonstrate that they are leading the way in providing increased reassurance to consumers and web users, with  each one […]

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