What do I do if a company is refusing to give me a promised refund until I remove a negative review? I would like the refund since it is several hundred dollars but feel like removing the negative feedback is wrong. Thanks!
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Hi @tommeyer82 the issue of a review is normal between a customer and the business owner, business owners they sometimes force customers to take down or edit reviews if they feel it will destroy the business’s image or its ranking on Google Maps.
A genuine review should not be disturbed by anything as it represent the business service to the community. My advice to you will be that since they are correcting their mistake by refunding you, you should accept that, but not to take down completely the review, you can edit it, mentioning on the review that you got your refund back for what ever that did not seat well to you at that time. I hope you will find a way to solve this, thank you.
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Hello @tommeyer82 ,
I think @Raphael-Mahumane makes a valid point here. This is obviously a tricky situation and there doesn’t seem to be a specific solution to it.
I’m just letting you know that I have relabelled your post to How-tos since it’s regarding an issue you seek advice for.
If you wish to learn more about the Local Stories label and what we use it for, feel free to have a look at Welcome to the Local Stories board.
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Hello!!! @tommeyer82
I am Kishor Mali from India.
I am Level 8 Google Local guide.
I Experience this lot of time with my suggestions and Reviews.
Carefully Read my Suggestions and apply it.
First you are Relax.
I am Very impress, to you give genuine Review about your company.
That is not wrong brother.
Our Opinion and Experience gives a very good measurement about Event, Place or Companies.
So It’s make a difficult Situation.
For My side I can give you Some ideas and Suggestions to Handle this Situation and Deal with this.
- You can discuss about company’s Weak point or Defects,
Or Negative Interepution about you or your friends .
Also you can suggest best solutions or Improvements about your point of view.
- If they don’t try to understand, so
I suggest connect with Higher Authority Or Police.
-
But Remember that you have a need Good support of your friends that you are work with them.
-
If you Have don’t satisfied with this take another job, but first you believe in yourself.
-
if your problem solve, than can’t to try overreact of your success opposite company.
Just chill.
Enjoy yourself.
I hope you get your Answer.
But if you have query ask freely with me.
Happy to Help.
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In some way I agree with @KishorMali
@tommeyer82 , my feeling is that, in any case, a review cannot be the instrument to get a refund. If the service, or the product, was not as expected, a refund is due by law. It is wrong to use a review as a tool to obtain that, and it is wrong to ask to remove the review as an exchange to obtain the refund.
We give our review for free, no payment nor reimbursement can be part of that, and my feeling is that this is against the Program Rules
Of course, you can change your review, stating that you have been reimbursed, by the review itself should not be the instrument to obtain something that is due by law
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Hi @tommeyer82 ,
I’m considering what lessons can be learned from your bad experience.
Would it be fair to say that your negative review played a role in getting the company to accept that they should refund you?
If not, then one lesson from your experience could be that we as Local Guides should wait posting our reviews until any disputes have been settled.
Using negative reviews or treats of publishing negative reviews should not be used in negotiating disputes.
What do you think?
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Hi @tommeyer82 ,
I am sorry to hear about your predicament. In case we are talking about a claimed business, I also suggest that you report this business to the Google My Business program as they would be violating the terms of participating in that program. This could result in the business losing their “claimed” status.
Here are my 2 cents:
With all of this (the advice that is given here), it is important to keep a log of the timeline of events related to this case (each step and contact moment). Building a file of evidence is key to your position (weak versus strong) in a conflict like this.
Personally, I would completely ignore the debate regarding their demand in relation to your review and only focus on them fulfilling the contract to give you your refund. Your review is irrelevant and by focussing on that you only muddle your own case to get your money. Strictly speaking, these are two cases and it could help you to keep them separate from the start.
Case 1: They owe you money based on a certain buyer’s agreement.
Case 2: They are “blackmailing” you to change your public opinion of the business.
Focus on case 1 first. Take all the legal steps you would normally take to get your refund if case two would not exist.
My very best wishes, I hope it all gets resolved soon. Please keep us posted on the outcome to complete the story of this “case study” for us outsiders.
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