Gripe Sites: Noble or Nasty? - Comments Page 2

The problem with most of these sites is that anyone can post anything anonymously, regardless of whether or not it's true. This makes it very easy for a competitor to ruin another company's reputation. What makes it worse is the fact that you are held hostage. Yes, you can pay to remove the post, or you can post your response to the charge; however, that will only increase the position of the page in a web search and invite more posts by the poster.

The company that I work for was blasted by a client that posted a lie to Ripoff Report. We, in fact, have a telephone recording where said client stated that he would admit that he would have the post removed. That was over 2 years ago and the post is still on Ripoff Report and continues to damage our company's reputation. This client not only received our services, but also cancelled his payment after receiving the services. When asked why he wouldn't remove the post after promising he would, the client stated that he was advised by an attorney that, if he admitted he had falsified the info, our company could sue him for damages.

I would suggest that consumers use a better method of checking out a business than sites like Ripoff Report and the BBB, who are basically blackmailing businesses. If you're a big fan of the BBB, I would suggest that you do your research on them.

-Ron

The most negative feedback I ever had was with H-P. This computer purchase in 2009 still rankles me as my worst consumer experience ever.
Amazon seems truly to care about your purchase. Their customer feedback and refund policy are first rate. Wall $treet seems to agree.

@Lucy: I've had mainly excellent results using Angie's List. The one negative experience was with a Realtor. "Everybody" raved about how great she was to work with. I found her to be excellent until it really mattered -- getting much needed communication as the closing date neared, and getting inaccurate information at times. I stressed during the process that since I don't sell houses frequently I'd have questions and need answers, and when time was crucial, a phone call was preferred over email. Emails sent late at night were the norm. I gave an accurate review based on my experience and was contacted by the Realtor immediately after. By then, it was too late.

Here's one. Trying to post an issue, may get you threatenned-dedicated forums related to the various issues, security issues, etc.For example,in the header of an alleged American Express email I received, it was asked that certain groups-like "abuse hotmail" among others would comply with the request that the IP was being tracked for spoofing. If anyone took the time to look at "View Source" and the Mime Header, the header request explicity stated websites and people to notify so perhaps the spoofers could be tracked, besides American Express security. Now, the email did not pass the hotmail "sniffers"(filters for legitimacy), but even when it's known these emails are spoofed or fraud, hotmail still allows them in to users Junk Mail boxes when a user has an exclusive inbox rule.Why do they even allow that through is beyond me-for another day. Anyhow, the link in the alleged American Express email, when moused over had an address in Russia. Following the request in the Mime Header I did report to security MS Hotmail with all the header info as well as the other places involved in trying to track who was spoofing the ip. "ABUSE HOTMAIL was listed, so I sent it. I received a reply it was not an MS HOTMAIL issue so I wrote American Express, sending the mime header a long with the hotmail security teams response to me and also sent it to hotmail asking why it did say in the header to notify them, to get clarification on what I did wrong. I also posted it all on a Security Forum. Next thing I know, I get a veiled threat with a link to read the hotmail "terms of conduct". So I got threatened by MS Hotmail I guess for doing the right thing as far as what the request in the header said and asked people to do. I don't know how many people use their own time to do this sort of thing, but I get sick of the email abuses, so I'll often do it. I never heard from the hotmail team over what I did wrong when the header asked hotmail abuse be notified-did I misunderstand? Plus, shouldn't it really be their job to do this when it fails their filters "sniff test" and again, even better, would be to not allow it in to inboxes or Junk Mail. How many people don't realize it's fraud, may have clicked a link and ended up with someone in Russia learning their American Express account info. Yes, people need to better educate themselves, but it sure would help if we could all work together to help lessen the load of those who have been spammed, scammed, and or given great "critters" mining info off their computers. I just don't get it when you try to do the right thing and get a veiled threat, suggesting what you did does not make you a good Internet Citized? Go figure.. LindaSView