Here is my point: The BBB, when you truly delve deep enough into it, misleads consumers searching it’s engine by wordsmithing their marketing to sound like they have some kind of government or legal ability and backing…to open “cases”, to “report”, to “rate”. The list goes on and on if you truly read what they sell.

The reality is, the BBB is a company that sells franchises. No different than a fast food franchise, etc. These individually owned branches of the BBB and the corporate BBB have no legal authority. They have no government backing. They have no law enforcement ability nor do they have any legal help that they sell, they have no “counseling” for businesses other than a stable full of form letters and consumer tips. None of which I would have any problem with, if the work they do was not tooted up to be “under their first right amendment to free speech”.

As a business owner and as a consumer, I see nothing but harm to both parties, the consumer and the business, in utilizing the “services” “offered” by the BBB. Amounts to nothing more than an online tabloid format for either the customer from a dark place to rant and vent with no true verification of facts and reality and/or a business who may either be a victim of that client (or) be a shoddy company…..to ultimately be harmed. In closing, please know that a simple search online will bring you many, many consumers who feel similar ways and who have no trust of the BBB having been either in it’s sights (or) know someone who has. You might be much, much better off, rather than trying to get their logo next to your name, to spend your time distancing yourself from such an organization.

The point I am trying to make is that online businesses should not have to pay an additional fee to be able to represent the fact that they are members when the only way they can do so is via their web sites. It was a bad policy to begin with and still is.

As far as “breaking the law” that is stretching it a bit, don’t you think? As BBB members, we have the right to use the trademark on print advertising as well as television but cannot on a web site unless we pay additional fees? That’s just bad policy and discrimination in my book. I pay member dues and have the right to allow people to know we are members, whether I do that in print, in person, on television or online. I shouldn’t be forced to pay additional fees because as you allege, the BBB spends more man hours with online businesses.

Why not charge construction companies higher dues then because they generate more complaints? Or charge companies that receive complaints fees on top of their member dues because “BBB man hours” have been spent dealing with the complaint? Ridiculous!

As for the admitted breaking of BBB rules & regulations: If I had my druthers, I would like to see the BBB sue the said company for trademark infringement. In fact, such unabashed trademark infringement and blatant deception qualifies, in my book, this company as operating fraudulently and with the intent to deceive. Ironically, this very unethical behavior is precisely why the BBB exists. Can you imagine if everyone who didn’t “feel good” about a law that they “felt” was unfair, just ignored such laws and acted as a rogue and narcissistic person? Our society itself would be imperiled by such chaos.

The BBB has its rules for very good reasons, and if you don’t like the rules, then DON’T participate. The BBB is a voluntary organization that is used by more than 110 million consumers annually and more than 250,000 satisfied members.

The above crooks should be glad that I do not know who they are, because again, I would pursue with rigor a lawsuit against such brazen, white collar criminals!

I did business with a carpet company (actual name removed). It bears a BBB endorsement. Only problem, there is no company by that name registered with the State of Florida. I brought this to the attention of the BBB of NW FL and received written communication from their president. He wrote “Thank you for the interest in BBB files and reports. I spoke with the company owner and he indicated he would have the Inc removed from company name on the web site. When this change occurs I will consider this issue over.”

Over? He is now endorsing another unregistered Florida business. According to the Florida Division of Corporations’ web site, there is no registration of the company, a fictitious name or a DBA under the name of the owner.

Add to the above the web site’s claim that they had been in business since 1987 which the BBB did not seem to take exception with in spite of the fact the company did not register with the State and the only company I found registered to the owner was registered in 1995 not 1987. So I guess claims that are unsupported are okay too.

Trust the BBB logo at your own risk. They obviously don’t do business reviews in NW Florida.

I like BBB for credibility, but when you really look into the credibility aspect, they don’t offer much.

I like the fact that the BBB does a business review before accepting a company into the program.