How to Remove Reviews on 'jpnumber' (Japanese Phone Number Search)
When searching for a company name or phone number on search engines like Google, you may come across posts on phone number reputation lookup websites. These review sites contain user-submitted information about specific phone numbers, including ownership and the nature of calls originating from them. A prominent example of such websites is jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search).
These sites may contain negative reviews, such as complaints about receiving nuisance calls from a particular number. These posts may include identifying information linking that number to a specific company, such as “This number belongs to Company XX.” As a result, negative posts about your company may appear at the top when people search for it on Google.
Reviews on jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) can also be accessed via its smartphone app. Users who install the free app can check reviews about the incoming number directly on the incoming call screen.
Given these reasons, companies facing negative posts on jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) may need to consider appropriate measures, including requesting deletion. This article explains how to implement these measures and when to seek legal counsel.
jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) and Its Smartphone App
As noted above, jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) is a review site where users submit information about the business associated with a particular phone number and the content of calls from that number. Because it also covers numbers used by credit card issuers for identity verification, the platform serves as a practical tool for identifying unknown callers.
If you have a missed call from an unknown number on your phone, you may hesitate to return it immediately. However, searching the number on Google and accessing its jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) page allows you to assess whether you need to call them back. Users can also search directly within jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) by entering a phone number or company name.
Furthermore, jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) provides a free smartphone app. Once installed, the app displays the caller’s business name and associated reviews directly on your incoming call screen.
However, the website may pose reputational risks to businesses. Posts such as “This number is used for annoying sales calls” may discourage people from answering future calls or returning missed calls from that number. Moreover, since jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) has strong visibility in organic search results, a phone number reputation page may appear at the top of the search results for a company’s name. This means that people researching the company may see reviews saying, “This company makes annoying sales calls.”
What Types of Negative Reviews Are Posted on jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search)?
Reviews on jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) describe the content of calls received from a particular phone number. The following are examples of negative posts on the site.
Reviews Alleging Fraud or Criminal Activities
These posts claim that calls from a specific number are fraudulent, such as remittance fraud or one-click billing scams. When these fraudulent activities are genuinely taking place, the posts are accurate and serve the public interest. However, individuals may make such alleging posts based on misunderstanding or malice after receiving a legitimate collection call regarding overdue payments. If a business is falsely accused of criminal conduct, it will inevitably suffer significant damage unless the false information is promptly removed.
Reviews Claiming the Call is a Sales Call
Companies conducting outbound sales through cold calling prospective customers they have collected themselves may find reviews complaining, “I received a sales call from this number.”
As stated above, as long as these posts are true, they can be said to serve the public interest. However, customers who submit inquiries may forget they did so, and post a review saying it was an annoying sales call when a return call is made. Especially in the case of bulk information requests on reward-point apps or services, there are many cases where the customer does not remember “which company they gave their phone number to and made an inquiry to.” If the return calls are labeled as “nuisance calls,” the company may have no choice but to consider the review as harmful.
Unfounded Defamation, Reputational Damage Posts, etc.
Unfortunately, jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) is also treated like an anonymous bulletin board. In other words, posts containing defamation and reputational damage against a company or its officers and employees that goes beyond the “content of the call from that phone number” can be made. Such posts should be deleted just like posts in other anonymous bulletin boards such as 5channel (formerly 2channel).
How to Remove Reviews that Constitute Defamation
The “Deletion Request” page pops up when you click the trash bin icon displayed in the top-right corner of a review you want deleted on jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search).
As outlined on the request page, you will need to send the following information to the address provided on the page via email:
- The phone number of the post: The phone number which the defamatory review was posted (e.g., “03-6262-3245”)
- The time posted: The date and time when the defamatory review was posted (e.g., “2019/11/04 13:35:27”)
- Reason for deletion: As detailed below
What Are Defamatory Reviews That Are Subject to Removal?
The most straightforward reason for removal is that a review violates the terms of use set by jpnumber (JP Number – Japan Phone Number Search). The terms of use (User Guide) of jpnumber (JP Number – Japan Phone Number Search) include the following:
Criteria for Deleting Reviews
Inappropriate Content: Do not post reviews containing illegal content or links to such content. In addition to such reviews, reviews containing plagiarism or copies from other sites may also be removed.
Advertising and Spam: Do not use reviews for commercial promotion, post identical or similar reviews for multiple stores or companies, post false reviews to manipulate ratings, or include external web links.
Conflicts of Interest: Valuable reviews are unbiased and honest. Regardless of the motive, biased reviews lose their credibility.
Personal Information: In accordance with our privacy policy, reviews containing full names, addresses, or other information that can identify specific individuals are subject to removal.jpnumber User Guide
The term “illegal content” seems to refer to posts that violate the law. Because this involves complex legal matters, we will discuss it later. Practically speaking, it can be difficult to properly construct a claim that a certain review violates the law without consulting a lawyer, as this falls under a narrow sense of legal practice.
However, plagiarism, copying from other sites, information that can identify individuals, and biased reviews are also prohibited under the terms of use, so it can be possible to request removal of posts without consulting a lawyer in regards to the following reasons:
- This review is a copy of an article from my blog and was posted without permission.
- This review unlawfully discloses the name of a private residence.
- This review is defamatory and discriminates without basis.
What Defamatory Reviews Are Illegal and Removable?
The issue is the “illegal content” under the website’s terms of use. The first thing to consider for reviewing information that may be defamatory or damaging to a company’s reputation is defamation (infringement of the right of reputation). Defamation is established when:
- A specific matter is written;
- It has a negative impact on the company;
- It contradicts the truth
For example, in the case of calling back a customer who requested materials but they later claimed to have received an “annoying sales call” as mentioned above, the following argument can be made:
- The phrase “annoying sales call” implies a specific meaning that an unsolicited outbound sales call was made;
- Such sales calls are subject to certain legal restrictions, and it is disadvantageous for the company to be thought of as a business that makes such calls; and
- Our company only makes calls to customers who have requested materials, and does not make unsolicited outbound sales calls.
Details on the requirements for establishing defamation are explained in the following article.
This applies not only for “sales calls,” but also to other defamatory and reputational damage cases. However, it is often difficult to construct such arguments and negotiate removal through legal discussions if you are not familiar with the law. It can be said that consulting a lawyer can lead to smoother removal.
Court Proceedings Following Failed Email Deletion Requests
If negotiations for deletion via email fail, it may still be possible to seek deletion through the courts.
Deletion of review information on jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) can be achieved through a provisional disposition, instead of pursuing a full lawsuit that can take some time. In the case of provisional dispositions, deletion can often be secured within 2-3 months from the time of request if you consult with a lawyer who has expertise in reputational damage control.
Provisional dispositions also require evidence that support the legal claims such as those explained above. In the case of the information-request example mentioned above, necessary evidence includes:
- Web pages indicating that you accept document requests and may make follow-up phone calls;
- Customer management databases related to prospective customers who have made document requests; and
- Internal compliance call handling guidelines, etc.
And make claims such as, “Our company clearly states that we may make phone calls when we receive document requests, and we do indeed make calls when we receive such requests. However, we prohibit unsolicited outbound sales behaviors in any other form through company manuals, etc.” Proving such claims can be quite difficult without the assistance of a lawyer.
Identifying the Poster of Defamatory Reviews
When there are many malicious reviews, in particular, when groundless defamatory posts or posts that damage reputation are made continuously, you can request a lawyer to take a measure called a sender identification information disclosure request. This legal procedure requests the disclosure of information such as the IP address of the person who posted a review.
Anyone can post reviews on jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) for free without user registration. Therefore, like anonymous bulletin boards, there may be cases where false information about a company is posted by people who hold a grudge against that company. Even in such cases, it is possible to identify the poster if information such as the poster’s IP address is obtained.
The process of identifying the poster is a bit complicated. If the poster is ultimately identified, you can claim damages for the attorney’s fees required for the identification and compensation for non-pecuniary damage (in the case of a company). The flow of these procedures is explained in detail below.
Summary
As we have seen, while jpnumber (JP Number – Japanese Phone Number Search) is a convenient site, there are cases of defamation and reputational harm based on misunderstandings or malice. In these situations, you may need to consider requesting deletion via email, or pursue legal procedures for post removal and identifying the poster through the courts by hiring a lawyer.
Legal claims such as defamation, which we explained in this article, are often difficult to formulate without the help of a lawyer. If you are troubled by reputationally damaging posts, it is important to consult with a lawyer who has expertise in this area.
Category: Internet
