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Couple Fined £100 by “Rotten, Stinking Hovel” for Negative Review

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A budget hotel in the U.K. took on free speech with a policy that fined guests for posting bad reviews online.

Tony and Jan Jenkinson did not enjoy their stay at the Broadway Hotel in Blackpool, England. Like many other unsatisfied travelers, the couple took to TripAdvisor and shared their experience by posting a negative review, warning other guests to stay away from what they described as a “rotten, stinking hovel.” Two days after posting the review, a £100 charge from the hotel appeared on the couple’s credit card statement.

Upon the Jenkinsons’ inquiry, the Broadway Hotel claimed to have a policy that charges guests for each negative review they leave. The policy states:

Despite the fact that repeat customers and couples love our hotel, your friends and family may not. For every bad review left on any website, the group organiser will be charged a maximum £100 per review.

The couple contacted their bank to have the charge removed. They then reached out to Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards team to launch an investigation into the Broadway Hotel’s policy. The team passed the couple’s complaint along to the Blackpool Trading Standards group, noting that the hotel was attacking free speech, and accommodations with negative reviews should focus more on fixing the problems and increasing the standard of each stay, rather than fining those who complain.

Following the Blackpool Trading Standards’ investigation, the Broadway Hotel cancelled its policy and says it plans to refund the money.

[Photo: TripAdvisor]

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