Small Town Small Minds, Spain
Can anyone advise what I should do with this situation? I live in Spain, small village 8000 population - 1000 of which are Ex Pats, & run a small groceries store. Mainly dealing with ex-pats. There is a lady who also lives here as a translator - responsible & confidential job, you'd think!
This lady has been a real gossip about a lot of the ex-pats in this village & surrounding others, as she has translated for them on numerous occassions be it buying a property, trouble at the police station or helping at the doctors, etc. Most people have realised that this is her way & tend not to use her much anymore. She does like to be involved in everything & everyone's business, kind of putting herself on a pedestal & appears to get very jealous & bitter if you do something without her assisstance.
My issue with her is this: one of my customers has decided to do a sponsered slim for our local Hospital's cancer department, having previously suffered from breast cancer herself in the past.
In my shop, I weigh her & keep track of the loss - I also have on my counter a form for people to complete if they wish too support her - no money has changed hands nor will it until or if, the weight loss is accomplished.
The translator lady has gone around the village saying that I am doing this as a marketing ploy for the shop & also that you can only find out the weightloss by going to a local hotel/bar (friend's of my own), buying a meal & then & only then will you get told!
All of this is untrue. I do not publish the weight loss, however I have a print out of the spreadsheet & it is available if any should ask to see it. No one has said that you have to go for a meal or ask at the hotel/bar in question. Their only connection is that they also have a sponsership form for the slimmer behind the bar, should anyone choose to sponser her.
Also she has commented that "What if I don't give the money to the cancer department - who is to know?" & implying that I would steal the money, etc.
The lies that are be branded blatantly around the village is of course concerning me as I have a very customer service business to consider & so do my friends at the hotel/bar.
I would like to know anyone's opinion on this, especially if anyone has any knowledge of any slander situations under European or Spanish law. And what anyone else thinks I should do, as a business owner, I am treading very carefully!
Please help if you can - Thanks
Re: Small Town Small Minds, Spain
If most people already think she's a nut, she's probably mostly an annoyance. Unfortunately I don't think you're likely to find somebody in this forum who is particularly familiar with Spanish or EU law.