The Alternative Traders Website

[stevie m]

We've all heard of Checkatrade and MyHammer etc. Where customers can review previous work post comments both good or detrimental. Is there a reverse site where traders can post good or bad remarks about customers who for example are very late or non payers of money owed or have been downright rude or awkward. It seems to me that for a business the see-saw is pretty loaded one way. I can understand that reputation of work is paramount but small businesses rely on cashflow and often have to pay materials upfront from their own finances. So is it a legal minefield to have this type of website or does one already exist that I'm unaware of.

[237SJ]

Doubt it. If they name the customer they would be breaking the Data Protection Act.

[stevie m]

What if it was a trade only subscription service, because customers on the Checkatrade etc sites can give bad reviews if there is any slight dispute yet traders have no redress. The bad review may just be vindictive. Surely something like Tripadvisor where the Hotel/Guest House owner is openly named falls under the same umbrella of Data Protection and that isn't subscription based

[237SJ]

The Data Protection Act governs how companies use customers` data. It doesn`t work the other way around.

[boxtops]

Bur guest houses are businesses, stevie - traders can't comment on members of the public.

[hc4361]

The Data Protection Act doesn't come in to it.

Something like this? http://www.customers2avoid.com/

I think that is a US site.

[hc4361]

Hotels and guest houses have a right to reply on TripAdviser.

[237SJ]

Why doesn`t the Data Protection Act come into it? And yes that is a US site (different laws to ours)

[stevie m]

Seems one-sided though especially late or non-payers. Through experience I have had a few which at a later date after talking to other tradesmen, told me that they had the same problem with the same customers. All problems were resolved although one went through the legal channels which was inconvenient to say the least. The thing is you can't ring around all the trades people to check whether they've worked for the prospective client.

[237SJ]

Yes, it is onesided. The law governs companies and what they do with a customer`s details. It doesn`t govern private individuals which is why people can say terrible things about companies and get away with it.

[hc4361]

The DPA protects PERSONAL data held on computers about an individual.

If Joe Bloggs & Son don't use a computer then the DPA is not relevant. Even if the transaction is held on computer it is doubtful it would come under the scope of the DPA.

[stevie m]

I don't belong to any of these websites as I feel that you may do 100 great jobs but the 1 job that unfortunately might go awry slightly could be enough to deter customer as bad reviews stick out more than good. Equally I have a mate who fell out with his client over material costs and they wrote a very vindictive review which cost him loads of work. We should have some form of reply I feel.

[237SJ]

hc - here is an example of the Data Protection Act at work (in the airline field). Passenger asks if his friend has checked in yet. The Act says that he can`t be told that information. Passenger approaches crew member and says "can you tell me where my mate Joe Bloggs is sitting as I want to speak to him" Passenger can`t be given that information as it`s classed as data. That is data (nothing to do with a computer).

[stevie m]

I get the picture, I just think its very unfair. How about if just the address was supplied, I guess its the same scenario.

[237SJ]

Mind you, the act gets broken all the time. I saw one of those photographers that used to be on the Airport programme and jokingly said "Are you waiting for me" - he said "No, I`m waiting for Lady Gaga". Someone had tipped him off and they get tipped off all the time. Sometimes it`s probably the star`s "people" who want to keep them high profile but if it was anyone from an airline, they could be in serious ***. There are huge fines and even a prison sentence for breaking the act.

[237SJ]

Some companies do try to fight back - http://www.untied.com/SLAPP/