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Customer Threatens a Bad Review if I Don't Provide Free Service

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  • 04-20-2013, 05:16 PM
    cornelius
    Customer Threatens a Bad Review if I Don't Provide Free Service
    My question involves defamation in the state of: california

    Lately I have had customers at a store come in to get this and that services for free
    or else they will post bad reviews on yelp.
    Also, we have rules and regulations here and customers wish to break them or else they will post
    bad reviews.
    What can I do about this? Is this extortion?
  • 04-20-2013, 05:36 PM
    adjusterjack
    Re: Extortion for Free Services
    Yes, it's extortion.

    But, realistically, there's nothing you can do about it except refuse to do business with them.

    I don't think too many people pay much attention to Yelp anyway.
  • 04-20-2013, 05:46 PM
    cbg
    Re: Extortion for Free Services
    I'm not sure it's extortion. Coercion, maybe?
  • 04-20-2013, 06:00 PM
    adjusterjack
    Re: Extortion for Free Services
    I think the CA extortion statute can be stretched to cover the customer's threats:

    518. Extortion is the obtaining of property from another, with his
    consent, or the obtaining of an official act of a public officer,
    induced by a wrongful use of force or fear, or under color of
    official right.

    519. Fear, such as will constitute extortion, may be induced by a
    threat, either:
    1. To do an unlawful injury to the person or property of the
    individual threatened or of a third person; or,
    2. To accuse the individual threatened, or any relative of his, or
    member of his family, of any crime; or,
    3. To expose, or to impute to him or them any deformity, disgrace
    or crime; or,
    4. To expose any secret affecting him or them.

    http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/di...0&file=518-527

    Good luck getting the authorities involved at that level.
  • 04-20-2013, 06:17 PM
    cornelius
    Re: Extortion for Free Services
    They are threatening us to steal our products,
    but I dont think people or authorities take these kinds of things seriously.
  • 04-20-2013, 06:42 PM
    adjusterjack
    Re: Extortion for Free Services
    Quote:

    Quoting cornelius
    View Post
    They are threatening us to steal our products,
    but I dont think people or authorities take these kinds of things seriously.

    You're right.

    But if this is one or two people once in a while develope a thicker skin and tell them to get lost.
  • 04-20-2013, 06:44 PM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: Extortion for Free Services
    They are not threatening to steal your products. They are trying to coerce you into giving them free products. You are free to say "No".
  • 04-20-2013, 06:44 PM
    jk
    Re: Extortion for Free Services
    so, if you continue to knuckle under, it is what it is. If you refuse the services, you defend the bad reviews. If they libel you, you may be able to take legal action. So, either continue to give away whatever or tell them know and deal with whatever they do. Not much else to tell you.
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