KwikChex is highlighting the huge number of online attacks on the 'trusted professions, such as medicine, veterinary practices, solicitors and dentists.

Research has shown that there are tens of millions of reviews, ratings and comments visible on web searches - and a very substantial proportion are allegations of serious misconduct.

As an example, you only have to put in the word 'incompetent' before 'doctor', 'lawyer' (or solicitor), 'vet' or 'dentist' to see the number of results it generates in a Google search - millions of instances.
Narrow it down by adding 'United Kingdom' or another geographical location into Google Maps and the severity of the attacks becomes all too clear.

Anonymous and unverified reviews that come high in search engines, accuse doctors of drug abuse and sexual molestation, lawyers of embezzlement and vets of extreme cruelty to animals.

The number of general review and complaint sites is growing - and so is the number of 'specialist' sites that target particular professions. The latter includes attack sites featuring domain names that end in 'from hell' (i.e. solicitors from hell, vets from hell).

Destructive campaigns

The research also found many instances of specific campaigns, such as the one against a UK legal practice that includes allegations of criminality on several online review sites, on Google Maps - and on specially created websites, including one that has 'hijacked' the name of the practice. The result is a web general result that appears truly damning on this practice that employs over one hundred.

Getting to the truth

KwikChex is launching specific services that will assist in protecting and promoting reputable practitioners - and a series of seminars and workshops that will show how to implement an effective and comprehensive reputation management strategy (click here for more details).

Helping protect the public

Included in the KwikChex initiatives will be reports from official bodies - details of disciplinary hearings, history of practitioners and official ratings and reviews. The unique combination of protection, promotion, transparency and authentication provided by KwikChex will help address the confusion being caused by the millions of unregulated unverified reviews.

Let us know

If you have been the victim of a false or malicious online review - or have posted a negative or accusatory review that you can prove or have reported to the appropriate authorities, please inform KwikChex - click here for contact details.

Our mission is to protect the public by promoting the reputable.

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In the wake of the MPs expenses scandal and with a general election looming, local politicians have been quick to support a new online transparency and integrity service.

The new resource, which is being launched by KwikChex.com, will enable voters to quickly and easily compare the qualities of those standing for election in each constituency. It will give details of the background, principles, opinions and policies of candidates over a wide range of subjects, including immigration, taxes, the economy and Afghanistan. It will also enable them to make commitments on aspects such as expenses and how they will serve the public – and following the election the elected MPs will be able to use it to keep the world up to date on all their work and the costs involved.

Two local candidates in the Mid Dorset and North Poole constituency where KwikChex is based, Lib Dem MP Annette Brooke and Conservative Nick King provided advice and feedback on the set up of the service – and have been the first to commit to enrolling as members. Annette Brooke said: “The public have a right to know the financial dealings of both MPs and those who want to become MPs. I have always been open about my work as an MP; if the KwikChex system can help people access financial and other information it will be a very good thing.”

And Nick King, her Conservative opponent added: ” There are already mechanisms for the public to see what their MPs interests are, what they do and what they think. KwikChex is now offering the same opportunity for candidates, an opportunity I welcome wholeheartedly. At a time when the stock of politics and politicians is at a historic low people want those who hope to represent them to be open, accessible and transparent. I believe that’s essential, not only now but at all times and KwikChex are providing a very useful tool to allow just that.”

A KwikChex spokesperson said: “The lines on party policies are blurring to a great extent, and there is no doubt that in the light of recent events, personal integrity and values have become much more important. This new resource enables politicians from across the political spectrum to start to restore the reputation of public servants – and to enable the public to decide how they want to cast their vote based on easy to access information. We are indebted to Annette and Nick for their commitment to what we hope will be the start of new standards and far better engagement with voters.”

The finishing touches on the system, which include polls and surveys, a debate service that will enable the public to pose questions which each member will respond to, feedback on member policies and opinions and the capability for candidates to include video presentations to support their campaigns are just being made now and further announcements on which candidates are enrolling will be published shortly.

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Which of the big three Politicians are talked about most on the Internet?

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