People giving false and misleading information

[Oneeyedvic]

I refer to two specific questions - firstty a question on hire purchase in money & finance section, the second a question on overcharging in home & gardens.

On both of these questions, I have given true, factual advice and have provided website links to relevant trading standards websites. I have refered in both these posts to relevant acts of parliament.

Whilst i know that the advice on this website is to always get further professional advice and not take any notice of people on here, there is one specific poster (and other ABers have mentioned this previously) who is giving constantly erroneous advice and then just abuse when proved wrong.

I really like AB, and since I am well placed to know various laws, I feel I should share this information. I have been wrong on various occasions, but am intelligent enough to relaise I have made a mistake and admitted it.

Unfortunately, the same can't be said of other people. I feel it a shame that this behaviour can carry on. Surely if a person is making erroneous claims, they should either admit mistakes or are they putting them there to deliberatley mislead?

[Hgrove]

I would like to support Oneeyedvic.  We should not be insulted for giving advice to the best of our knowledge, other users are not infallible either (one in particular, and I bet it's the same one Oneeyedvic is thinking of!)  I feel it is highly inappropriate for certain users to post advice in a prescriptive, authoritative manner.

[AB Editor]

Thanks for raising this issue. I have taken action on it.

In future, if you have similar complaints, please email me using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of every page. This will bring matters to my attention quicker and will help save valuable space on AB's boards.

All the best,

[smudge]

I agree with you.Oneeyedvic & Hgrove, rather than give misleading information:

If in doubt leave it out!

[Didwot]

I am still keeping my head down.

[Hgrove]

Good to see you are still reading Didwot.  Your answers were always interesting for me to read.  Feel free to correct me on points of law.

[Oneeyedvic]

Ab Ed: Hence the reason for posting this as a question and not emailing you about it.

Thankyou Hgrove for your support and hi again Didwot. At least on this post I haven't insulted anyone I didn't intend to!

[Hgrove]

Oneeyedvic, did you notice the person in question nowadays goes under a different username?

[Oneeyedvic]

no - zmudge is different person isn't he/she?

on 4/2/05 in Home & Garden under the shower question they wrote " I agree with Oneeyedvic and Miss Zippy. Ignore Sludge completely who has posted ignorant foolish rubbis"

[FP]

What a shame that this person has been allowed to cause upset on this site for so long.  They don't seem to be able to digest the fact that their behaviour is not acceptable!  How can anybody be so thick skinned?

[Hgrove]

Oneeyedvic, of course I can't be sure, but I had my suspicions even when I originally read the comments you have reproduced here.  Perhaps the AB is making me paranoid. I started thinking "could this be a red herring?".  Look at the reply in the thread about working from a flat in Money and Finance.  Consider the display of expertise.  (I have seen another reply from the same user which alerted me, but I can't remember which now).  Consider the choice of name.  This individual bears a grudge against Smudge, which could explain the choice of both IDs.  Of course - there's no proof.

[smudge]

Thank you Oneeyedvic - this really is me 'smudge' & I am a 'she'.

I can't think why people would want to share the same name as me (well give or take a letter), as mine is after our late beloved cat!

I take it as a compliment though! Bye for now.

[smudge]

P.S. I have never worked in the legal profession.

[smudge]

oneeyedvic & Hgrove - I have just taken a look on Money & Finance & can see why you may be confused as to who is who. I have just e-mailed AB Ed to ask why people are allowed to change their usernames, just to cause confusion & problems.

Kind regards, smudge.

[smudge]

Hi AB Ed - my answer shows that it has been edited, but what have you edited? I only ask, as the wording is exactly the same.

Are you just showing that you are aware of my comments & the e-mail I sent you earlier today?

Thank you.

[smudge]

Thank you for your e-mail. Glad that's sorted out.