Defiance over fake reviews

A GOLD Coast man who has drawn attention from authorities after spruiking an unregistered hangover cure and posting fake reviews for his and his wife’s businesses says he has done nothing wrong.

Paul Vickery, 47, changed his name from Robert Paul Davies after being sentenced in 2015 to 200 hours of community service over an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission probe into his Natural Food Vending company, which went into liquidation in 2010.

Meanwhile, his wife Alicia Davies’ business is spruiking hangover remedies that were axed by the regulator for nonpayment of fees more than two years ago.

Mr Vickery’s new venture, Tikool, claims to help businesses improve their online reviews and thus increase sales.

However, multiple online reviews for his new business – and the Fresh Start Everyday Detox business owned by his wife – appear to have been completed by him, his family members and a fellow director of the company.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration said it appeared the Fresh Start products were being advertised in breach of TGA requirements and that it would review them.

Mr Vickery yesterday said the claims were “unfounded” and the hangover product did not require registration.

But the Therapeutic Goods Act says otherwise. Told his response would be published, Mr Vickery said he’d have to check if his views on TGA registration still applied.

He said the Bulletin’s coverage was a personal attack.

“You’ve muddied my name for what? Leaving a review on our own site,” he said.

“Is it really that illegal? “You can’t do this, you can’t just be falsifying this bull **** .”

Mr Vickery said he had not been contacted by the ACCC about any false reviews.