Competitor directly soliciting our customers

GoneShootin

It has come to our attention that a new competitor (a past customer actually) is soliciting our customers via Facebook. The competitor (a past company facebook page "friend - now blocked) directly contacts our customers and solicit their service.

Is this simply a case of standard competition, or is it leaning on a solicitors letter?

We also evidence that suggests blatant copying of our price structure and package names, although I suppose that's the price for being a local market leader...

hullaballoo

It seems to me that it's just regular competition. It might be different if he was previously employed by you or involved directly in the running of your business.

It's pretty common, even in big business, for competitors to copy market leaders' business structures. If the product pricing structures are similar, you'll have to engage in strategic pricing and you may need to look at cost centres around your price plans if his prices are lower than yours. There might be an element of illegality if he's using similar product names etc., but that depends on the nature of your business and the names in question.

The nature of his relationship with you suggests that he hasn't done anything underhanded and there's nothing stopping him directly soliciting business from your clients.