Small and medium enterprises are urged to unite in pursuit of justice, after Trustpilot got caught red handed removing legitimate reviews and sustaining fake reviews in cases where companies do not pay Trustpilot for membership.
Trustpilot, a well-known online review platform, is caught in the midst of controversy as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) experience what they believe to be unfair treatment. Trustpilot has been accused of removing legitimate reviews, while allegedly allowing fake reviews from non-customers and actual competitors to remain on their site. This issue is causing growing concern among SMEs and may lead to significant legal and financial consequences.
The facts:
A respected client, the president of a bank, recently submitted a review for a PR agency using his domain level email. Surprisingly, Trustpilot deemed the review “fake” and removed it. In a follow-up email exchange, the client confirmed the authenticity of the review and asked for further instructions to rectify the situation.
Adriaan Brits, The CEO of the PR agency expressed frustration with Trustpilot, noting that the removal of the legitimate review seemed to be tied to not having a paid Trustpilot membership. This situation has raised suspicions of potential “extortion” and has led to concerns that Trustpilot may be causing actual damages to thousands of SMEs.
The PR agency has announced plans to expose Trustpilot’s ill-spirited behavior, comparing the situation to a “Rosa Parks moment” for persecuted and abused SMEs. The agency is committed to assisting others in organizing class action lawsuits against Trustpilot, aiming to hold the platform accountable for its potentially unfair practices.
Adriaan Brits said: “This is a Rosa Parks moment for SMEs, marking a turning point where we refuse to accept unjust treatment by Trustpilot any longer. This time, Trustpilot chose the wrong business to bully. We are determined to stand up not only for ourselves but for all those affected by their questionable practices. Together, we will fight to ensure fairness and justice for SMEs. Peter Holten Muhlmann will have to get ready to explain a lot to SMEs and his investors.”
A good example of just how out of touch Trustpilot is with the real world, is the case of Tesla. It has a Trustpilot rating of 1.8 which is shockingly low considering that it rose to being the number one EV maker globally, with millions of satisfied clients – with a mere 1350 reviews. Elon Musk is an example of a business owner who did not cave into Trustpilot’s little game as seemingly Tesla is not paying them a penny for a profile and ignores the platform completely.
Investors cautioned:
Investors in Trustpilot are being cautioned about the mounting dissatisfaction with the platform’s practices. The threat of class action lawsuits and the pursuit of justice by SMEs and their advocates could lead to significant legal and financial consequences for the company. Trustpilot’s actions are under scrutiny, and its future reputation is at stake as the situation unfolds. Trustpilot may have gotten away for years under the flexible legal system of the United Kingdom, however in the United States, businesses will go the extra mile to stand up to potential extortion and ill-willed companies that attach themselves as parasites to the US economy.
