I think the whole concept of free VIP on the basis of providing reviews is just asking for a bunch of fake "reviews" so cheap trolls can get unfettered access to the system. Unfortunately, there is no simple and easy solution to the problem, but I do like the idea of a "disputed" tag so they can be given the benefit of the doubt.
Usually, when I see a review scored far above or below the majority, first thing is I look at the reviewer, the number of reviews, and with whom they reviewed. If there one on someone I've seen in the past, and something doesn't seem right, it's immediately ignored. Same with the reviewer with only 1 review.
I am hoping someone else who has experienced a similar problem will be able to help me with my current situation. Over a week ago someone posted a review on my profile. I knew immediately I had not seen the person because of the details mentioned in the review (He stated I had given him a massage and that is not something I typically do). I promptly emailed the client and TER with my concerns. Several days later the client responded, stating he had confused me with another provider and had informed TER of his mistake. Several more days passed and the review was still up. I again emailed TER and was told the client himself had to take certain steps to remove the review. Yesterday marked one week and the review was still up. I again emailed the client asking him to remove the review. I also sent an email to TER stating that the client himself had informed them of his error so I wasn't sure why this was taking so long. Today I received a response from TER saying that they reviews are considered TER property and they require evidence that the review is in fact faulty prior to removing any of them. Sorry for being so long winded, but I am at the end of my rope and not sure how to proceed. I have sent TER emails between myself and the client, yet they still want more. What else can I do? Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Thank you in advance for any advice.
The lady who initiated this post because I have a tentative get together with her this week.
When I went to send the message the TER system said the user does not exist.
Go figure???
Must have been a short term glitch.
I never saw Vegaschips2015. I PM'd him and thanked him for the review. I politely asked him to remind me of the date and location that we met because I didn't remember him. I also know that there are 3 things in his review that I have not done this year. If he would tell me the date and hotel that we met at and it is true then I will shut up about the review and stop asking TER to remove it.
TER has been unresponsive.
My suggestion is that in order to write a review you must PM the lady to make the date or at least send her your screen name in your introductory email. This way she will be able to know that the guys writing the reviews actually saw her
Sorry to hear you're going through this, Bri! I know how frustrating it can be.
Last year, I had a handful of good 9/9 reviews that were fake. I see very few new clients--in fact very few clients in general--so I knew they were fake. Positive as they were, I don't want fake good reviews posted about me, especially when listing activities I don't participate in.
I went through the process you mentioned, Heather...As TER requires (or at least did last year) I sent PM's to the reviewers to please remind me of when/where/what date we met. If they didn't respond within three days, TER would pull the reviews. Which they did.
Along comes another fake, this was not necessarily bad but again, claiming things I don't do (rushing out of the room...ummm...anyone who knows me should be laughing at that that alone.) I PMd the reviewer and he said he saw me at the Ritz. Well, the Ritz Carlton in Lake Las Vegas has been closed for years. I reported this to TER and tried to send him another PM to ask if he might be confusing the hotel name, and he had blocked me.
TER responded that the Ritz doesn't necessarily mean the Ritz Carlton (HUH??) and they believed his side of the story.
I like your idea, Heather, about including screen names in introductory emails.
Maybe things will change with the launch of the new, improved site?
~namaste