Someone is bad mouthing my business what can I do?

[alison27]

I have built up a kids entertainment business from scratch over the past 18 months and have been quite successful. I get my bookings directly through my website from parents and corporate clients such as shops and cinemas etc. I also get bookings through other entertainers and agencies.

About 10 months ago I started getting the feeling that I was being bad mouthed to agencies and other entertainers. The link was established by me when I started noticing a link between not getting bookings and a certain persons name being mentioned. I have had this many times in the past 10 months and its getting to be far too much of a coincidence that this persons name is mentioned during conversations about potential bookings then I find out later that I havent got it and its either gone to her or a "friend" of hers.

What can I do? How should I approach this situation because its costing me money left right and centre when I cant get bookings. It makes me really angry and certainly perplexed as to why this person would want to bad mouth me and my business at every turn when I have never even met this person let alone caused her any direct or indirect problems - I dont go around bad mouthing others so im at a total loss as to why this person is doing this.

SO I am looking to find out about what sort of legal position I am in - even if its just to warn her off cos Im just getting plain sick and tired of it all to be honest!

Thanks in advance!

[bednobs]

surely you can't be at a TOTAL loss as to why they are doing it? Read your question again especially the line about " i find out later that i haven't got the job and its either gone to her or her friend"

the first place to start is to speak directly to the person in question?

Perhaps you should get more proof than a "feeling" though
You could persue a legal route i suppose, but in my opinion the only people to win are the lawyers

[CheekyChops]

I doubt you can do anything legal at the moment, you have no proof that this person is doing anything, just a feeling.

To sue someone for slander, you have to show that they have been saying defamatory things about you to a third person - at the moment you can't prove anything.

I would write them a stroppy letter, saying that if they carried on doing what (you think) they are doing, then you will consult a lawyer/solicitor.

[sense4all]

Haven't you got a friend who could pose as a booker and see if you can get some actual evidence of her suspected activities ... that's what I'd do. Then take action!

[VillageVicar]

There�s an old German slang word called �Ruftmort� which roughly means killing people with words. It�s a bit like our phrase, you can�t un-ring a bell.

I�m afraid you need more definitive proof before you can take any specific action. Once you do, rather than writing yourself, I suggest you have a solicitor issue a strong warning.

Unfortunately, simple hearsay is not sufficient proof. It either has to be in writing, or by submitted sworn affidavit by those who have themselves been told disparaging things about you or your services.

I wish you every success

Fr Bill

[alison27]

thanks for all your suggestions.

maybe im being abit neurotic about this but i have spent time and money to build a profitable business in the past year or so. I will be damned if i let this person make problems for me now.

I will keep my ear to the ground and see if this happens more frequently and if it continues i will get a friend to pose as a booker and def get a solicitor to do a letter, i think a letter from me will only fan the flames iykwim?

thanks for your advice, you lot are a sage bunch!