Spreading Rumours

[MrDMN88]

This Guy is spreading rumours around about my Disabilty

What can i do about it
Is there any disabilty rights or acts i can use to stop this
I live in uk

Any Advice?

[Richard1966]

No there is nothing you can practically do. The Disability Discrimination Act only covers access to services and employment, not gossip.

Ignore it and it will eventually go away.

[mccfluff]

well there is slander but unsure if you have a case

[MickeyTheBrick]

He sounds like he must be a sad, nasty individual to be doing something like that. Although you MAY not have a case in civil law, it might still be worth a chat with the police, to see what they say. Then, if it escalates (I hope it doesn't), the police will already be aware of it.

[qula]

I may get pulled up on this, but I don't think you qualify for legal aid in cases of libel or slander so the police and CPS aren't really interested. You would have to bring a civil case to court and the cost can run into many £1000's and as such these cases tend to be the preserve of the rich and famous.
You would need a very strong case for a favourable court order against the accused and would need to prove you were financially compromised (through lack of earnings say) for any chance of compensation.
In the best case scenario, I don't think you could expect more than that but there's also the risk of losing the case.

[dotty.]

Is it the case that you are in receipt of a state benefit but that the person you are talking about is telling people that you are not entitled to your benefit because he believes your disability claim to be false?

[mike11111]

You are correct about legal aid not being available, also the need to prove financial loss in the case of slander, though not in the case of libel.

[dotty.]

Making a false (and/or malicious ) allegation of benefit fraud to the authorities is unfortunately very common apparently, not sure if there is any recourse in law, sara might know though

[qula]

If that's the situation dotty then the way the question was worded (spreading rumours - ie. unfounded accusations) I fail to see how anyone would be able to influence a decision put forward by an independent medical assessor that was approved by DWP.
Maybe I'm wrong...

[dotty.]

hope sara can advise on this for you MrDMN

[wildwood]

Spreading rumours is extremely hard to prove. The character of rumours is that they change every time it is passed to someone else. What may have started as a completely innocent remark can become a viscious accusation by the time you hear it. How do you know it is 'him' that started it?

Try to forget it and get on with your life.

[Richard1966]

Any defamation action (slander or liable), will cost thousands. Most solicitors will want £10,000 to even start an action and suggest you budget for between £50-100,000 depending on whom your taking action against.

Only celebs, big corporate organisations or rich people can actually do anything about it.

[MrDMN88]

Its nothing to do with money its just a guy spreading rumours about me

[boxtops]

So can't you just ignore it, or provide some proof about what's he challenging you about?