Black Listed: Someone is bad mouthing me in my industry. What can I do?

Question

An employer cancelled my contract. He said a customer called to say I was drunk. I asked which customer. No answer. It doesn't make sense. My customers are out having a good time. They could care less if I drink. But here's the thing. I don't.. If I was inappropriate I would take the hit but I was not. Several other vendors have cancelled using the same reason. I don't understand! I think I know who did it but I can't prove it. What should I do? I 'm losing money.

Added details: I confronted them directly. They laughed and said I was paranoid. When I confronted them a second time they were overly defensive and tried to spin my words. Indicating that it might be best not to speak to them again.

Answer 1

Mel is partially right. Getting someone who is trusted to help find the rat may be a good idea. Confronting the person directly isn't. Such people will only try something else to mess with you. It will only start a cycle of escalation. Avoid it.

If you are seriously losing money and there is no legitimate reason behind it, START BY GETTING A LAWYER!!!! Even if you can't find the person who's speading the rumours, you can still go after those who cancelled you contracts (I assume that if you had a contract that those people you have them with are obligated to honor it... hold them to it!). No court in the world will allow someone to break a contract based on hearsay, that is, just because someone said something. They would need to be the one's to witness you being drunk on the job. And the court would force them to produce evidence and witnesses (that being the rat) and make them testify. You stand to collect from the rat and anyone who unjustly cancelled your contracts. Don't be shy about it. If as you say the accusations are totally bogus, the law is on your side. Good luck.

Answer 2

Trying to disprove rumors ia very difficult business. If you think you have made an enemy who is causing you damage, see if you can get a trusted customer or friend in the industry to tell you what they heard and from whom.

Your other option is to confront the person you suspect directly and ask if you've done something to upset them. If you ask the right questions in a way that implies that you already know what they've been up to, they may implicate themselves.

Good luck.

Answer 3

You can try to call the vendors who cancelled directly, and see if you can find out who, if anyone, has contacted them. Or since you have such a great rapport with your customers, talk to them and see if they have heard any such thing from anyone about you. Without knowing who is spreading the information, there is little you can do to stop it directly from the source.

Answer 4

Consult an attorney. An attorney may be able to send a letter of inquiry to your accuser, indicating his actions could result in a slander lawsuit. He would have to prove his accusation was true, thus bringing in and revealing his informant as a witness in his defense. I doubt it would be good for his business and relationship with this person to draw them into this situation. Try do document what losses could be proved as a result of his actions

Answer 5

Even though you can't prove I would begin a libel suite - which may put enough pressure on the person(s) to either stop - of you could gain enough to win in court.

Answer 6

this is what I would do...I would confront that person and threaten them with legal action if they continue to hurt my business. I would also take this time to re-evaluate myself and see if really what they are doing is justified (to protect client/s) If there is no justification, then I would sue the person bad mouthing me and to subpoena all those you think that he warned for witnesses to what he/she is doing to steal or to hurt your business. best wishes.