Losing business due to former company?

Question

Two of the owners of our business used to work for another company. My husband helped them start there own company 2 years ago. Periodically over the last two years they have had cancellations of possible customers that say the other company said very bad things about our company or the owners. We have let this go, but it is just not right as weare trying to build our company with no help from them. They are a multimillion $ company and weare only just starting.
We just recieved the BBB torch award for all that our company does last week. There company did not recieve anything which is why I feel they are still trying to drag us down.
I know we need to have proof of slander, but is this enough of a reason to sue? Or should we just let it go and Pray that God has better plans for the company.

Answer 1

Well, here is what I would do. I would ask the owner(s) of the other company out to lunch or coffee. Neutral territory. I would then begin a dialog with them telling them that you need their help on a matter that has been brought to your attention more than several times over the last two years. I would then ask them if they were aware that someone in their Company was telling your clients very negative things about you and your business. (Some of this depends if it is just the owners or if they had employees.) It could possibly be the employees and the owners may not know about it.....although I doubt it. Then ask them what can be done to rectify this slanderous situation. If they deny it which they probably will, then I would tell them you have heard this from very reliable people and that you doubt that they all got together and planned a conspiracy.
What next would depend on what they say....but if it gets a little nasty, I think I would call an attorney. But if it comes to that you would need to have the names of the people who told you, and exactly what they said and when. He may be able to send them a letter and scare them enough to shut them up.

Answer 2

Trade slander is one of the few areas where defamantion suits make sense -- because there are provable damages. What you MUST do is talk to the customers who told you they were told "bad things" about your company. Get the "bad things" in detail & writing & signed. And get the name of the actual person who said them. If there are actual factual mistruths that led a customer or supplier to deny you business you have the evidence you need. Nobody likes doing this & your customers won't want to get involved; but trade slander can kill a small business.

Answer 3

I think that would be a very hard case to prove. I am not sure it would be worth the time, effort, and the distraction. (Unless they were accusing your company of a crime, such as fraud).

I think you should just continue what you are doing. If it comes up, explain that they are being unscrupulous (questioning their business ethics) and perhaps offer to give them references from other satisfied customers. Personally, I never believe what a competitor tells me about another company.

Answer 4

You can sue. It will likely not go to court and if it does you will lose. However it is a very blunt way of saying "please stop."
It will cost you a good chunk of change for a lawyer. So you have to weigh the cost vs. benefits before you go ahead with a law suite.

You can threaten a law suite. Have a lawyer friend draft up a letter and see what transpires.

Answer 5

more advantageous then probably the actual reason they are not hiring you has not some thing to do including your previous employer. First, appears like you've been out of work for a even as. that is a huge pink flag to any employer. perhaps initially you used the time to get an M.S., yet after that it doesn't look good. 2d, you could properly be asking for a larger revenue (or they could assume you'd be wanting a larger revenue) than they opt for to grant you. in accordance for your journey earlier you've been eligible for a particular revenue, yet upload interior the M.S. and they are going to assume they ought to pay you larger for a similar journey. third, you've a lot of baggage that probably none of your employers are conscious of yet i am going to wager it shows. do not talk about dropping all those issues, do not talk about being determined for a job, do not talk about bothered by melancholy. you could divulge melancholy for your corporation organisation once you commence and then they don't have the right to terminate you on it by way of the undeniable fact that is a pre-modern difficulty that they are conscious of. do not talk about your debt, and do not talk negatively of your previous worker. techniques: Be constructive. likely, employers are sensing your negativity. you want to discover some thing to fill some time. discover an section non-earnings the position perhaps you could volunteer for loose, or interior sight businesses the position you could volunteer some time. Then positioned those on your resume and save utilizing for jobs. you could also try authorities jobs because the criteria for them are more advantageous specifically in accordance for your journey and the absence in artwork must be a lot less of a pink flag. some employers ought to examine your credit, yet frequently in elementary words even as they're about to difficulty an grant and it doesn't sound like you've gotten that close. Please stay constructive and please discover some thing to do with some time. good luck and save attempting.

Answer 6

It's definitely enough of a reason to sue. I'm sure it goes against trade commission laws.

Answer 7

You might want to look into the tort of "Interference with business practices." If I remember correctly, I think this might have to do with stealing potential clients or saying things to them which induce them to not do business with you.