Threat of legal action over complaint

[ps123]

Hello,

In brief, my situation is that after a very disfactory service from another company I sent a scathing email to the manager questioning his professionalism / honesty. In reply I have had a threat of legal action with claims of libel and threatening words! My only threat was that I could tell others of their performance, which I have not to date. This has left me very worried, and even after I apologised for perhaps over reacting in my choice of words the company has insisted legal action will proceed.

My question is, do they have a case? I have always thought I could make a complaint directly to a company without the threat of being taken to court. I have not heard from a solicitor yet but it is weighing on my mind that it could cause a lot of trouble.

Thank you for your help

[fisicx]

I sent a scathing email to the manager questioning his professionalism / honesty

That's the libelous statement. It has nothing to do with your complaint. You have made a personal attack on an individual which is why you are being threatened with legal action.

Suppose you sold somebody a item in good faith that turned out to be faulty and that person then wrote a scathing article in the newspaper. You would feel agrieved in the same way this manager is.