DISQUS

Consumerism Commentary: Publicly Shame a Deadbeat

  • Chad Bordeaux · 12 months ago
    I am not sure how this can be legal. Sure, they can do it, but are there not fair credit reporting laws preventing many of the things that will be posted here? Aren't they setting themselves up for a ton of lawsuits whenever false information is published? It seems like they would be liable if false information were published.
  • Greg · 12 months ago
    I can not see anything good coming from this...
  • Flexo · 12 months ago
    Chad: It's my understanding that there is a federal law that protects website operators from liability for content posted by visitors and users.
  • Amp · 12 months ago
    I hear the terms "libel", "slander", and "defamation" coming!

    Even if the owner is not responsible, those who post there will be. Plus, any complaintant who asks for their name to be removed from a public website not controlled by the government who is not granted that respect can call up a site's ISP, lodge a complaint, and have the site taken down.

    This one won't last, boys ;) The owner will be inundated with lawsuits, and even if he's found to be "innocent" (how can one who facilitates be innocent?), the time and money he'll spend off work and with lawyers will kill him.

    Sometimes, the suit is not won by the facts, but by the lack of energy on one party's part.
  • Green Panda · 12 months ago
    I can see how this can be abused y some people. How can they prove the debt is real?
  • mapgirl · 12 months ago
    Instead of this, why not re-institute debtor's prison? Because suing someone for slander and libel on an anonymous website doesn't really get a debt paid does it? Just look all those deadbeat dads who don't pay child support. Their names go up on public websites, but does it really get all of them to pay? (I'm sure some do, but certainly not all. Many go on being deadbeats.)
  • Bill M · 12 months ago
    I agree with mapgirl. Sueing anonymous users will get you nothin, maybe another bill from your lawyer.
  • Kyle · 12 months ago
    I can see how a site like this might be effective, but I have moral problems with the premise. Damn you, morals!