Skincare Clinic Allegedly Threatened Legal Action Against S’poreans Who Left Bad Reviews On Their Business

There’ve been many instances of bad reviews gone wrong.

While it’s nothing as drastic as what happened in China, things can still get pretty awkward between the ex-customer and the shop.

Yes, we can say that Singaporeans take our reviews pretty seriously.

But serious enough to send legal letters? Now, that’s a first.

Ridiculous or not, that’s what happened in Singapore recently, though.

Skincare Clinic, Dore Aesthetics “Free Trial”

Several Singaporeans saw a skincare clinic, Dore Aesthetics, offering a free trial for new customers on their website.

But when they visited the clinic at Robinson Road, they were told that they can only get the free trial if they sign up for a package.

Which kind of defeats the purpose of a free trial, if you think about it.

Naturally, they didn’t take the shop up on their offer.

And even more naturally, they decide to give Dore Aesthetics a one-star rating on Yelp, a platform that allows customers to rate businesses.

Next Thing They Know, Bam! Demand Letter, Please

Now, there are a couple of ways to deal with bad reviews.

You can be cool dudes like Goody Feed and not react to any of them, you can post your side of the story first on social media and call them a liar.

Or, you can get a lawyer and threaten to sue them.

Guess which Dore Aesthetics went for.

The third option.

One-star reviewers found themselves receiving letters from Parwani Law acting for Dore Aesthetics.

They were told to either take down their reviews or face legal actions against them.

But Here’s The Kicker

Some of the letters the reviewers received weren’t from Parwani Law. The letters bore the letterhead of Dore Aesthetics and were addressed to them from Dore Aesthetics legal department.

Parwani Law said that the letters were not sent by them and would not give a comment on the issue.

However, other lawyers spoken to said that the language used in the letter emulated lawyer talk so well, it’s actually an offence.

“If an unauthorised person on behalf of a claimant writes, publishes or sends a letter or notice threatening legal proceedings other than a letter or notice that the matter will be handed to a solicitor for legal proceedings, he may be guilty of an offence,” Criminal lawyer James Ow Yong of Kalco Law said.

Previously, a debt collection firm’s boss was imprisoned for sending letters of demand to debtors and threatening legal actions against them.

No More 1-Star Reviews

At the end of the day, Dore Aesthetics got what they wanted.

According to Straits Times, Dore Aesthetics’ one-star reviews were all removed, leaving only two five-star reviews.

The reviews were left by accounts that were created just this month.

Interesting.

By the way, since you’re reading this on our app, would you care to leave us a review (Android or iOS)? If you leave a bad review, you would receive a letter from our Cat Department.

You really shouldn’t piss him off. He has killed six people in our office already.