From the publisher – This is one persons opinion and they have the right to see it in print!
Draft Letter to the Editor — The Villages & Local Newspapers
Subject: Concerns Over Promotion of Unlicensed Businesses in “The Villages Word of Mouth” Facebook Group
To the Editor,
I am writing out of deep concern for the safety and fair treatment of residents in The Villages, particularly regarding the growing issue of unlicensed businesses being promoted—and in some cases protected—within one of the community’s largest online recommendation groups.
“The Villages Word of Mouth,” a Facebook group with tens of thousands of members, has become a primary resource for residents seeking trustworthy referrals for contractors, and other service providers. Many Villagers, especially older residents, rely on these recommendations believing they come from an unbiased, community-driven platform. Unfortunately, recent experiences suggest the opposite.
As a long-time contributor to the group and a licensed business owner, I have watched administrators selectively allow certain businesses to be recommended while deleting legitimate concerns or negative experiences posted about others. Several businesses, despite being unlicensed or uninsured, are freely promoted—sometimes aggressively—while licensed competitors are silenced or removed without explanation. In my own experience, I was blocked from the page after pointing out that a promoted company was operating not in compliance with licensing and insurance requirements in the state of Florida. Meanwhile, the unlicensed business was permitted to continue advertising to unsuspecting residents.
To be clear, a private online group is within its legal right to set its own rules. But with such an enormous influence over consumer decisions in a 55+ community, the lack of transparency and inconsistent enforcement of standards poses a significant risk. Many Villagers assume they are receiving honest information from their peers, not filtered recommendations that may reflect personal relationships or conflicts of interest among the group’s moderators.
The State of Florida has strict regulations regarding contractors, and other service providers. These laws exist for a reason: unlicensed or uninsured operators not only undercut legitimate businesses who follow the rules, but they also leave consumers completely unprotected. Should damage, injury, or loss occur, the homeowner can be held liable—often at great financial cost. This is especially troubling in The Villages, where older residents are more frequently targeted and more vulnerable to misleading advertising.
The larger issue is not about any single business or individual. It is about the responsibility of influential community platforms—formal or informal—to avoid misleading those who depend on them. When a group representing itself as a trusted, unbiased resource begins filtering out legitimate warnings while, by extension, tacitly legitimizing unlicensed or unqualified providers, residents deserve to know.
My hope is simply that this issue receives the attention it warrants. Transparency matters. Accountability matters. And the tens of thousands of Villagers who rely on online recommendations deserve to make informed decisions based on complete, accurate, and fairly presented information.
Thank you for your time and for helping shed light on a matter that impacts the safety and trust of our entire community.
