Legal help for Ontario businesses dealing with false online reviews. If unfamiliar accounts accuse your business of misconduct or several similar reviews appear in quick succession, preserve the evidence before you respond. Soundmark Law can assess the reviews and help you decide whether to report them, seek a correction or consider a legal response.
What to save before you respond
- Capture each review in full, including its date, rating, reviewer name and public profile. Keep the review link and the link to your Google Business Profile.
- If several reviews appear close together, record the timing and any shared wording. Save related emails, texts, posts and any requests for money or a concession.
- Keep relevant booking, sales or service records privately. Save any platform reports, case numbers and responses, along with records of cancellations or other business impacts you can document.
Use the Ontario defamation evidence checklist to organize what happened.
When to report a review to Google
Use Google’s review reporting process for content that appears to violate its Maps contribution policies. Examples include reviews that are fabricated or coordinated to manipulate ratings. A burst of negative reviews can be a reason to look more closely. The timing alone gives you limited evidence about who posted them or why. If you respond publicly, keep it brief and avoid sharing private customer information.
What an initial paid review covers
We agree on the scope and fee before work begins. The initial review can cover a defined set of reviews and supporting records, potential platform-policy violations, whether specific statements raise a defamation issue, and any known timing concerns. You receive a recommended next step, which may include a platform report, a request for correction or removal, or advice about a legal response. Any letter, platform submission or court work can be scoped separately.
Can a bad review be defamatory?
The exact words and context matter. A specific allegation of misconduct raises different questions from a customer’s opinion about the service. A review can violate platform rules even where a legal claim would be impractical. We assess the available evidence and explain what you can realistically seek.
How soon should I get advice?
Get advice promptly if the reviews are spreading, someone is threatening to post more, or a letter states a deadline. Legal deadlines depend on the publication and the circumstances. If you’re unsure which timing rule applies, see the Ontario defamation deadline checker for when to seek advice. Booking a call does not retain the firm or extend a deadline.
Talk through the next step
The free 15-minute call is for fit and scope. Have a short summary, the platform involved and any known deadline. Keep client, customer and other sensitive records private until we confirm how to share them. For other reputation disputes, see our defamation and reputation services.
General information about Ontario matters. Legal advice is provided under an agreed engagement.
