How to leave a bad review “also warning others”

Havana Shamrock

Havana Shamrock

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Sep 9, 2008
5,422
Sarasota Fla.
Boat Info
2019. 250 SDX OB
Engines
300 Verado V8
I had a terrible experience with a diesel repair co in Fla where I had to sue them for non service and now then they stopped making court ordered payments. where can I say it out loud to warn others not to use them or beware? I’m so pissed this has been going on for 2 years and now this? I called small claims court they said I’d have to re file to get them back to court. I don’t know if I can say their co name here what’s the rule ? I’d like to warn others.
Thanks for the rant.
 
Any legal action filed in court is now part of the public record unless otherwise sealed by the court... IMHO
 
If you negatively affect their business chances are you’ll never get paid as they may cease operations.
 
Local news channel. You’re probably never getting paid anyway.
 
Havana Shamrock said:
I had a terrible experience with a diesel repair co in Fla where I had to sue them for non service and now then they stopped making court ordered payments. where can I say it out loud to warn others not to use them or beware? I’m so pissed this has been going on for 2 years and now this? I called small claims court they said I’d have to re file to get them back to court. I don’t know if I can say their co name here what’s the rule ? I’d like to warn others.
Thanks for the rant.
Click to expand...
The review is a moral compass to let others know your experience. I'm a proponent good and bad reviews. I think hard before leaving bad reviews but I have. In the most recent I had some windows replaced and the local rep for the manufacturer literally destroyed my house with a quality that one star wasn't even applicable. Your situation Havana is a bit different due to some legal implications but still....
I ask myself - if I got a call and they said "what would it take to remove your review?" - where is my moral compass.
 
I agree I too have waited to leave a bad review giving them the benefit as of now it’s 3 months since the last payment and I’m sure I’ll never see the remainder of the money I’d like to 1 warn others 2. Have a way to vent on this guy the legal process has ended so I’m free to say what I want I believe. The end of the story is that Steve (Cod) was actually at my marina before we headed to the Bahamas and he stayed and reassembled my port motor I then installed 2 new turbos and a week or so later we where in the Bahamas steve saved my Bacon. so anyone in the gulf coast looking for a Cummins service shop that have a great looking web site”heehee” hit me up and I’ll let you know who NOT to give your money to.
 
@Havana Shamrock as long as the review is truthful it doesn't matter if it is positive or negative. But to Tom's point, the negative ones still need to be less slamming, even though they may deserve it. If your goal is to warn others, then less slamming is more believable. JMO.
 
I forgot, In our state I think you can pay the sheriffs office to collect the money/ garnish their wages. Something like $40 Iirc
 
A negative rating on their Google reviews goes a long way. As for them not paying you what was court ordered, I would go after them again. You can add in the new claim costs to what is already owned. You can also go to the states AG office, Dept of Consumer Affairs, and hit them there. As well, as the BBB. With a court order to pay and them not paying, I'd get with the sheriffs office and have a sheriffs keeper go sit on them. My Uncle did this for a few years. He would go sit in a business and at the end of their day, empty the register and take all card transactions that were headed to the bank. The next morning, he would take up the card transactions with their bank. He would take all incoming money until the debt was paid. There might be such service in your area.
 
If you write a review state facts not opinion. IE Hotel: We arrived at 7PM went to bed at 11PM. The noise from the AC was 85DB all night based on reading on my phone when in bed. If you state you could not sleep because of the AC that is your opinion not fact.
 
File a show cause motion and have them explain to the judge why they are ignoring a court order. Don’t forget to ask for attorneys fees. Maybe if they are threatened with jail time for contempt of court they will be more willing to pay off what they owe.
 
If you do go ahead and decide to say they have not paid me what is owed, make sure you put something in like "as of the date I write this 03.13.2023, I have still not received..." that way, if they pay you, the comment can still remain.

If you put just "they haven't paid me", if they do finally pay you they can fight to have the comment deleted and your warning to the rest of us could go away.
 
SKybolt said:
@Havana Shamrock as long as the review is truthful it doesn't matter if it is positive or negative. But to Tom's point, the negative ones still need to be less slamming, even though they may deserve it. If your goal is to warn others, then less slamming is more believable. JMO.
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Spot on. I am not a lawyer but i sure watch a lot of Law & Order. There is a fine line between a factual negative review and a libel. Be careful you don’t cross that line and you’ll be fine.
As Alonso said in Training Day “It’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove “.
Damn straight cookie. Don’t say more than you can prove.
 
Serious note. About a year ago on THT some guy got some new boat that some dealer really farked him over. Don’t ask details, I drink. Thread went crazy amount of pages. The buyer posted a LOT of nasty stuff about the dealer. It was obvious he had a case. But legally he went overboard. Then the whole thing ended up in libel court. I don’t know how it was settled but i do know it cost him a bunch in lawyers to defend himself in court for the things he said.
When in doubt, assume they have deeper pockets for lawyers than you. Cause that is where any dispute will end up.
 
SOUTHEASTERN MARINE POWER IN SARASOTA, FL has a great looking website.....and they also are a large Cummins Marine Diesel shop???? I wonder if this shop is possibly involved in any of this? Just sayin'
 
What if we had a thread - "The good and difficult of boat vendors".

One of the most effective surveys that I regularly get from an airline I fly on alot is very simple: Next I call this airline, would I be happy to talk to the same representative - yes or no. Pretty simple, but also very effective.

I understand the ramifications of negative stuff - but I sure would like to know. Since I boat in the same area I would like to have my eyes open.
 
Havana Shamrock said:
I agree I too have waited to leave a bad review giving them the benefit as of now it’s 3 months since the last payment and I’m sure I’ll never see the remainder of the money I’d like to 1 warn others 2. Have a way to vent on this guy the legal process has ended so I’m free to say what I want I believe. The end of the story is that Steve (Cod) was actually at my marina before we headed to the Bahamas and he stayed and reassembled my port motor I then installed 2 new turbos and a week or so later we where in the Bahamas steve saved my Bacon. so anyone in the gulf coast looking for a Cummins service shop that have a great looking web site”heehee” hit me up and I’ll let you know who NOT to give your money to.
Click to expand...

Hey Joe,
Knowing your situation, I'd say you're being way too kind. We're talking about being screwed on a 5 digit dollar amount project and you gave them two years to make it right. If you were looking for a shop in the area, wouldn't you want to know to stay away from people like this shop? I wouldn't hesitate to use google, yelp, boating forums, BBB, etc. to share your experience. This is the least you can do to help your fellow boaters. We never hesitate with recommendations when people ask for a decent shops. We should be free to do the same when things go the opposite direction.

Using the power of internet is one of the best options to at least try straightening businesses like this out.

Just my 0.02c.
 
blaster said:
File a show cause motion and have them explain to the judge why they are ignoring a court order. Don’t forget to ask for attorneys fees. Maybe if they are threatened with jail time for contempt of court they will be more willing to pay off what they owe.
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Absolutely! I would devote all of my attention to this matter if I were you Joe. You are a lot smarter than those idiots and you are retired with all the time in the world to drop the hammer on them. The law is on your side and you should do something about it. As Alex pointed out this is more than a few dollars of your money at stake.
 
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