England has “malicious” website closed down
Leeds-based PR company An Agency Called England has succeeded in closing down a website that claimed the company was one of the 10 worst businesses in the UK.
The site, www.crapcompanies.com, appeared to be a consumer advice portal, containing testimonies and tales of woe seemingly posted by disgruntled members of the public. The site prominently displayed the names and logos of the 10 ‘worst’ companies, which – alongside England - included eBay, the Royal Mail, and Norwich Union.
Tony Stanton, chief executive at England, told The Drum the site had been set up by a ‘serial litigator’ who used the site to air his own personal grievances against companies he felt had slighted him. According to Stanton, the agency at one time provided webhosting services to the offender for £99 per year, who had then bombarded the company with telephone network support queries, which were not available as part of his agreement.
Stanton also said that the site was after the former client attempted to sue England for a sum of £3,000, an action which England described as “malicious.” The courts found in favour of the agency.
Stanton said the former client then set up the crapcompanies website, which he said was not a public site, but a ‘private vehicle’.
“Everything on it was a reference to him masquerading as a public interest site,” Stanton said.
The agency was able to have the site closed down, only for it to reappear on the net twice – once in Australia and later in Romania. On both occasions, the site was closed down.
Stanton said the existence of the site may have cost them at least one new member of staff.