Skincare Clinic Gets Swooped by ‘Legal Threats’ After a One‑Star Yelp Review
Picture this: you spot a “free trial” ad on a skincare site, book a visit, stroll into the clinic, and… Oops, the “free trial” is a trick. You leave disappointed, write a glowing ten‑star review… Then—bam!—a letter arrives threatening legal action for the humble 1‑star slant you left on Yelp.
Who’s the Boss?
- Dore Aesthetics – the clinic that promised a free trial but only handed it out after a package deal.
- Parwani Law – supposedly representing Dore, yet folks claim the letter came from the clinic’s own legal arm.
- Jim Ow Yong – a criminal lawyer who warns that anyone without a proper license can’t masquerade as a solicitor.
Letters Arrive
After the disappointment, the soon‑to‑be‑reviewers posted zero‑star Yelp hits. Then the Mailbox got full of demand letters demanding they delete or suffer crime‑court kettles.
Key details:
- The letters bear Dore’s letterhead, not Parwani Law’s.
- They’re signed off by a “legal department,” but nobody in the firm can confirm its authenticity.
- There’s no legal “saw‑the‑lawyer” stamp, just a threat: “We have instructions to commence legal proceedings.”
Legal Rumble
Under Singapore’s Legal Profession Act, a non‑lawyer can’t legally threaten or imitate a lawyer’s letter. That’s not a loophole—it’s a lawfully enforceable offence. A debt‑collector boss was recently jailed for fifteen‑day correspondence pretending to be a solicitor.
The Yelp Saga
Scanning Yelp shows dozens of 1‑star reviews since October, most magically gone. Only two new 5‑star blasts survive—likely from freshly created accounts.
One reviewer, Wi (anonymous, like a secret agent), says, “We got scared, terrified, and we only wrote a review. This is not cool.” She’s reached out to past reviewers, all saying they received the same dreaded demand letters.
Robots vs. Reality
While Dore’s spokesperson remains silent, the digital backlash is clear—this is not just a business got‑told‑by‑law way of saying “sorry.” It’s a surge of legal pressure for petty online complaints. 1‑star Yelp reviews don’t have to cause a legal fireworks show.
Bottom Line
Don’t let a “free trial” be a trap. If you’re disappointed, consider a different review site—just don’t expect the clinic’s legal team to photobomb your feedback with a threatening letter. And remember, paperwork from a business with no lawyer backing might just be a violation of the Legal Profession Act.
