Archive for better business bureau
Rating the consumer complaint websites
Posted by: | CommentsOver the last decade, consumer-gripe websites have become an Internet mainstay, a place for customers to share opinions on what works and, mostly, what doesn’t.
But how well do the leading complaint websites themselves work? On Monday, an old-fashioned bricks-and-mortar organization, the Consumer Federation of America, delivered a mixed verdict: The best sites are great for helping consumers voice irritation, but not so great for helping them address it.
Stephen Brobeck, the federation’s executive director, said the group decided to examine more than a dozen complaint websites, in part because they show up so frequently in Web searches.
Not very long ago, aggrieved consumers had few options beyond griping to friends or relatives, filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or state attorney general, or suing, Brobeck said. Now, sites such as My3cents, Complaints Board, and Ripoff Report, offer an alternative.
Though some sites, such as My3cents, offer consumers the chance to post positive comments, the sites have special appeal to the disgruntled.
“They’re unhappy, and they want to vent,” Brobeck said. “And this is a very low-cost way to vent, with potentially high impact.”
Susan Grant, the federation’s director of consumer protection, said the best sites could help potential customers of the large, national companies most likely to appear in the sites’ databases.
She said a lack of complaints should not be seen as any sort of guarantee. “But if there are lots of complaints, and lots of complaints about particular kinds of problems, that’s a good indicator to consumers that they may want to look elsewhere for their purchases,” Grant said.
Grant said the sites could also prove useful because consumers sometimes shared stories about how they ultimately solved a problem.
Some dating services just not that into you
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s bad enough when a potential suitor breaks your heart. Now, dating services are causing grief for consumers.
The Better Business Bureau said complaints in northern Illinois about matchmaking services have more than doubled to 137 in the last year, up from 66 for the previous 12-month period.
The BBB told of a 70-year-old McHenry woman who paid $1,695 for an 18-month period, and didn’t realize it was an extra $20 a month to be able to go online and see potential matches after the first six months.
Pickings were slim in the 65- to 75-year-old demographic, she said.
“Many of them want to go out with women 15 years younger,” she told the BBB. “I joined in June 2009 and have only met three people.”
Common complaints included few arranged dates, subpar prospects and poor service.
Matchmaking services often say they have a database of thousands of singles in the area and promise a minimum number of dates, the BBB said. But one consumer “reported to only have received three referrals over a 12-month period, significantly less than what was promised.”
Often consumers complained about being paired with people who didn’t match their criteria, including smokers or people who lived too far away.
Others were told by matchmaking companies to quit being so picky about whom they dated.
The BBB encourages consumers to check its Web site for complaints, to avoid high-pressure sales tactics and to realize that they might not stop being billed once the contract runs out.
Business Bureaus top 10 Complaints 2009
Posted by: | CommentsThe Better Business Bureau has released a list of the top ten scams to be aware of. This year, the list focuses in on dubious practices of online commerce, such as asking consumers to read the fine print before you click “yes.” Complaints in 2009 run the gamut from teeth whiteners to premium text messages to government grants, but all tie back to consumers unwittingly consenting to sign up for the service or product.
1. Health Claim Scams
Bogus products that make “breakthrough” health claims on the Internet or promise cures for illnesses, such as cancer, target the most vulnerable consumers. Be wary of on-line swine flu remedies not authorized by Health Canada that are making unsubstantiated health claims that they kill or ward off the virus. Consult your health care practitioner before trying any new treatment. Don’t be influenced by “miraculous” testimonials discussed on websites and blogs. Think twice before buying a product that claims it can “do it all.”
QUICK TIP: If you have questions or complaints about counterfeit drugs and/or drugs purchased over the Internet, please call Health Canada’s toll-free line at 1 800 267 9675. If you suspect that a website is promoting a treatment or cure that is too good to be true.
2. Not So “Free” Trials
You may want to try out a new diet product, an acne cream or teeth whitener, but be careful about signing up for ‘free’ trial offers. Many websites offering a free trial for products do not disclose the billing terms and conditions or do not have such details prominently displayed on their website. Before providing any credit or debit card information, review the website fully to avoid in repeated billing. Remember that money transfers and direct debit are two of the main methods by which scam artists seek to obtain your money.
QUICK TIP: When considering trial offers, be sure to first determine whether you are enrolling in a membership, subscription or service contract that allows the company.
3. ID Theft
Often people find out that they are victims of identity theft after they are contacted by a collections’ agency for an account they never set up or because their credit has taken a hit. ID theft is when someone uses your information to obtain loans, goods, or services and does not pay the bills. Increasingly, people are being lured online into revealing personal information.
QUICK TIP: Do not fall for requests for information, or other scare tactics. Online scammers send emails that look legitimate, requesting that your “account information needs to be updated.” Another new tactic called “scareware” has a pop-up message showing that your computer is infected with a virus and that you need to visit a website to purchase and download anti-virus software that would fix the problem. These are all phishing tactics, ways to get you to reveal personal or financial information. If you receive these messages just delete them and do not click on any links. Doing so may compromise your computer’s security. If you are a victim of ID Theft call your financial institutions to request that your current cards be cancelled and that new cards be issued. You should also contact your local police and Canada’s main credit reporting agencies: TransUnion Canada at tuc.ca (1 866 525 0262) and Equifax Canada at equifax.ca (1 866 779 6440).
4. Home Repair Rip-Offs
Imagine hearing that your furnace is leaking dangerous carbon monoxide into your home. Many times homeowners are told that they need to do an immediate replacement due to a crack in their heat exchanger or because the contractor has a gas-sniffer device which shows high carbon monoxide levels. This high pressure safety situation often ends up in unnecessary and costly repairs.
QUICK TIP: Do not make a decision to repair right away. Start with the Better Business Bureau and search for a company reliability report at bbb.org. Ask the person to provide a gas permit and a license with the BC Safety Authority and call to verify it at: 1 866 566 7233.
6. Free Government Money Schemes
Do you think you are entitled to free money from the Canadian government? Be suspicious of companies offering “free” advice on obtaining government grants. Often social networking sites and online ads will point to blogs that appear to be written by everyday people who are sharing the secret of how they received thousands of dollars in grants from the government to pay off their debt. In reality, this is a mass marketing scheme that does not provide an easy way for you to get a government grant. Rather, it costs you money to participate.
7. Business Opportunities
Your friend or a family member may have invited you to attend a presentation involving an investment opportunity. You don’t know anything about the company, and are desperate to hear that it is legit. These investments appear lucrative, but often involve more hype than substance. The promoter convinces investors that they can be part owners of an exciting investment portfolio, provided that they enlist new recruits. The promoter may even offer promising commissions in cash and bullion.
QUICK TIP: In reality, this could be an illegal pyramid scheme. The new capital brought on by new investors is keeping this imaginary investment afloat. Get the facts. If you attend an information session, be sure to collect business cards and promotional materials
8. Cashback Fraud
Cashback fraud usually begins when you advertise something for sale, such as a car. A buyer agrees to pay your asking price, but sends you a cheque or banker’s draft for a larger sum. The person asks you to bank his cheque and send him a money transfer for the difference. Sure enough, his or her cheque bounces a few days after your money transfer has left your account. You’re now out of pocket and looking for a bogus buyer who’s out-of-reach.
QUICK TIP: Criminal cashback works because cheques take longer to clear than electronic bank transfers. Do not ever wire money to a stranger. Do not allow greed to be your guide – be careful of offers higher than the asking price.
9. Hidden Cell Phone Charges
If you own a cell phone and see new and unexplained charges on your bill each month, it may be due to premium text message services. People complain that they did not realize they were signing up for this service when they agreed to play an online game or to take an IQ test. In the end they receive monthly billings which do not come from their cell phone service providers, but through other third-party companies.
10. Mystery Jobs Scams
The scenario sounds too good to be true, and it is. You have been led to believe that you will be paid to mystery shop via a wire-transfer service. You receive a cheque, which you are told to deposit, keeping a small percentage of the money as your wage. You are then asked to send the back difference via a wire transfer and to complete a survey on the service you encounter. In the end, the cheque bounces and you lose all your money.
QUICK TIP: Be skeptical of mystery shopper ads in newspapers or online. In most cases these are bogus services requiring you to pay money upfront. Avoid companies that promise guaranteed jobs, and that sell directories of companies that provide mystery shoppers
Action Line: How the Better Business Bureau complaint process works
Posted by: | CommentsI recently filed my first complaint with the Better Business Bureau regarding a problem with dry cleaning. I carefully submitted every detail of the problem and sent copies of all my receipts and pictures of the ruined items with the complaint. I did receive a less-than-satisfactory response from the company and responded back to them, but never heard anything else.
When I followed up today, I found the company had been given an “F” rating for ‘failure to respond to complaints,’ but they wouldn’t tell me who had made the complaints so I don’t know if mine was included. Why wasn’t this company forced to replace my comforter and pillow shams? What good does it do to file a complaint if the company doesn’t have to fix the problem?
The Better Business Bureau complaint process is based on fairness, to both the consumer and the business. We accept comments, both complaints and compliments, about any business regardless of size or industry. We appreciate consumers like you who supply us with comprehensive information in your complaint, including pictures of the damaged items in question. At the same time, we also want to give the company an opportunity to respond to your complaint thereby starting a dialogue that will, hopefully, result in resolution of the problem. In your particular case, the company chose to end the dialogue after receiving your follow-up response and to ignore further efforts at communication. When that happens, the complaint is closed as unresolved and most likely will result in a negative impact on the company’s grade. The complaint will remain on the business’ Reliability Report for 36 months, our standard reporting period.
If the company had belonged to the BBB as an accredited business, their membership would have been terminated. BBB accredited businesses are held to a higher standard and sign a contract committing to excellent customer service and resolution of consumer complaints at the time they join the BBB.
The BBB is not a government agency and cannot compel a business to either respond to a consumer complaint or to provide adequate customer service to resolve the issue at hand. What we do is offer a free process that provides consumers and other businesses with the opportunity to talk with each other and share their views and concerns. The results are recorded in the company’s Reliability Report and provide neutral information for future inquiring consumers or businesses. While your complaint did not result in a satisfactory ending for you, that company’s report now reflects that they have failed to resolve a customer service issue. That information is shared with people calling or going online to check on that company before making a decision to do business with them. (Your name, contact information and complaint specifics are not shared with anyone for privacy reasons.)
I wish I had a solution to change the results of your complaint process. However, as a result of your actions, you have helped protect future consumers who might face the same problems with that company.
Rocky Boy lending business in confusing world of complaints
Posted by: | CommentsA new local business has embroiled the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in a confusing world of complaints and investigations. The Better Business Bureau assigned the online payday loan company PDL Ventures — which Neil Rosette, the executive administrative officer for the Chippewa Cree Tribe, said originally was named Rocky Boy Technologies and Rocky Boy Ventures — 90 complaints filed in 13 months, with more complaints coming in during September and October. “This group doesn’t only draw a lot of inquiries, but also a lot of complaints,” said Zan Deery of the Spokane Better Business Bureau, which covers eastern Washington, northern Idaho and Montana. “It is probably in our top three complaintgetters.”
The bureau reports that some complaints were resolved by PDL Ventures, but 82 complaints remain unanswered. Rosette said new procedures were being implemented to make sure the staff members at PDL Ventures at Rocky Boy respond to complaints and also keep the Tribal officials informed. “We’re not doing anything wrong,” Rosette said. “The more information and discussion we provide to people the better.” In the first conference call, Belcourt said the online business was started to promote economic development. “We look after the interests of the Tribe,” he said. At least one complaint appears to Be connected to the Tribal business. Michael Lee of Rochester, N.Y., said he had “a terrible experience” with Rocky Boy Technologies.
Lee said he suddenly saw unexplained activity on his bank account statement — someone had deposited money into his account without his permission, then debited payments back out. Even after receiving some repayment from Rocky Boy Technologies, Lee said, with bank fees and charges he still has lost money. “I am at a loss of $390 due to this company,” Lee said. In a letter faxed to the Havre Daily News after the second conference call on Oct. 23, Rosette wrote that the Rocky Boy company does “not provide payday loans to residents of Rocky Boy, Havre or in the state of Montana for that matter so we are very confused as to why you want to publish a story of this nature in the first place.” Rosette did not respond to messages asking why the Rocky Boy business did not provide loans to Montana residents.
Payday loans go online The concept of online payday loans raises questions about the payday loan business — already under increasing scrutiny — to a new level. Payday loans are short-term loans made against the borrower’s payday, typically using a check written by the loan applicant to the lender at the time the loan is awarded as the only security.
Complaints say diet drug hCG is being sold outside pharmacies
Posted by: | CommentsUtah officials are receiving an increasing number of complaints that a popular prescription diet drug is being sold outside pharmacies.
The hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), is found in women who are pregnant and normally triggers the burning of fat cells for energy to help the fetus grow. However, the hormone is now being used in conjunction with a 500-calorie-a-day diet, causing the burning of fat cells when they would normally be stored.
Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Director Mark Steinagel said he is actively looking into several allegations of improper prescribing. He said the division first started receiving complaints in May, fielding numerous calls on a weekly basis. Steinagel said only a doctor or nurse practitioner can prescribe the drug and only a pharmacy can legally distribute it.
“Our biggest concern is that people need to have the right prescription for them,” he said.
“Pharmacies have restrictions on how products are stored, who has access (so that) it’s more difficult to taint a drug,” he said.
Steinagel said the division is investigating the complaints, along with several classified ads, and he feels action will soon be taken against some of the companies, in the form of fines and possible criminal action.
Jane Driggs, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau, said complaints have been filed on four companies selling hCG, but none of the complaints had to do with the hormone being sold without a prescription. Driggs said all four of the companies have opened within the past six months, and two opened in September.
Consumer protection agencies are also concerned about an increasing number of classified ads from businesses and individuals selling the hormone in varied forms at prices ranging from $29.99 to $250.
HCG was popularized by the book “The Weight Loss Cure ‘They’ Don’t Want You to Know About” by Kevin Trudeau. Since the book’s publication in April 2007, people have been flocking to the hCG diet. Doctors are still debating the risks associated with the hormone.
Dr. Wayne Askew, professor and director for the Division of Nutrition at the University of Utah, said that the hCG hormone is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. “It triggers the use of fat storage when increased energy is needed for a developing fetus to grow,” he said. Askew said when the hormone is given to a person who is not pregnant, it causes the body to rapidly use fat for energy. The hCG hormone is most commonly injected daily, but companies also sell it in a droplet form placed on the tongue, as an oral pill and a spray. The hormone is prescribed along with a 500-calorie-a-day organic diet.
“I don’t view this as particularly desirable. If a person is on a low-calorie diet he is going to lose weight anyway,” he said. “Studies don’t seem to show that it does that much, or that it increases weight loss. We would call it a fad diet that someone is trying to popularize.”
After 24 Years of Unusual Complaints, BBB Leader to Exit
Posted by: | CommentsThe woman who complained about the lack of curls atop her cone of Dairy Queen ice cream stands out.
Then there was the one about the Athens rancher who believed the government used fertilizer as a mind-control weapon.
During her 24 years as the president of the Better Business Bureau in Tyler, Kay Robinson has seen the unusual, the funny, the frightening and the tragic.
Now, Ms. Robinson has her sights set on retirement, which she announced this past week.
“I think I worked myself out of a job,” she joked Friday from her Old Bullard Road office. “The staff knows how to do everything. They don’t need me anymore.”
Ms. Robinson, 73, signed on as the BBB office’s president when it was created in 1985.
Today, the office boasts 1,823 members spread across 19 East Texas counties.
The office also has seen its share of scoundrels and scams, carried out by shady business owners taking advantage of the gullible.
Bond Dinettes complaint: furniture store owner needs to provide better service
Posted by: | CommentsFor a small-business man, Stephen Pawlak Jr. is unaware of several crucial facts about his Newington store, Bond Dinettes of Fairfield.
Pawlak said he was unaware that his company has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau for failing to respond to some complaints.
He said he’s unaware that there are judgments against his company from Connecticut small claims court that he hasn’t honored.
And he said he doesn’t understand how some customers can complain about waiting for months for special orders when he and his salespeople fully explain the possibility of delays because of factory problems overseas caused by the recession.
He insists that he has responded to every complaint filed with the Better Business Bureau and has paid all judgments in small claims courts. The data must be incorrect, he said Wednesday. He said all calls are returned.
Yet every few weeks I receive complaints from customers saying they’ve been misled by promises that their furniture will arrive within a certain time frame.
How to write a complaint letter – To obtain the results you want
Posted by: | CommentsHave you been double-charged on your credit card? Did the poor service at that restaurant ruin your special evening? Were the flowers you ordered delivered to the wrong address?
Then it’s time you write a complaint letter that gets the situation resolved to your satisfaction:
Make your opening sentence a positive one and get to the point in the first paragraph. (The flower shop doesn’t need to know this was your grandmother’s 90th birthday, but they do need to know that you’ve been their customer for five years. )
Beginning on an upbeat note will let them know you want to continue doing business with them. Tell your story precisely and in as few words as possible. (You don’t need to tell the restaurant that you were hosting a business dinner with your new boss, but rather this was a special evening to celebrate an important occasion.)
State specifically what went wrong, such as the food was cold or they neglected to bring the appetizers until the main course was served. Be humorous if possible- this wasn’t brain surgery even though it was important to you.
Don’t threaten. Swearing to never shop there again or to call the Better Business Bureau just makes you appear out of control.
No one will be in a hurry to handle your problem. If you act respectfully, you can expect the same behavior in return.
State exactly how this mistake cost you (time, money or embarrassment) and what result you want (refund, free meal or gift certificate).
Be reasonable in your request- you won’t get unlimited free meals for life because the waiter spilled coffee on your new suit. However, you may get a free bottle of wine on your next visit.
Provide a copy of your receipts, correspondence or contracts with your letter. If you had a contract with a caterer and he didn’t provide the desserts you ordered, having the agreement to prove it will further your cause.
When the matter has been resolved, be sure to do the company a favor in return. Telling your friends about the flowers that were delivered to the wrong hospital and how the florist personally took a fresh arrangement to the patient himself shows how far the merchant was willing to go to provide excellent customer service.
Remember, the purpose of business is to keep the customer coming back. How you let the company know about their mistake is just as important as how they remedy the situation- it can be a win-win solution for both parties.
Rip Off Report: Musick Loss Management, Inc. Highest Ethics
Posted by: | Comments
We only work with businesses who we trust and believe in. Our clients are pre-screened to determine if they are eligible for our program. If a company is determined to have unethical or questionable practices, Katz Recruiters will not work on their behalf!
Musick Loss Management is a highly reputable emergency services company with zero complaints with the Better Business Bureau! If it can happened to a company like MLM, then it can happen to any small or medium sized business. Many Courts have interpreted Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act as giving immunity to ISPs and online forum hosts from liability for the speech of their users.Visit www.OrganicRankingSystems.blogspot.com for tips on how to promote and protect your company’s online reputation or call Katz Recruiters at 630.269.3723.
Author: OnlineReputation
Keywords: rip-off ripoff rip off Musick Loss Management Company Emergency Services
Added: August 29, 2008