Better Business Bureau

I am extremely dissatisfied with the Better Business Bureau. "Re: Case # *******: SFI Marketing Group Dear Mr./Ms. Babcock, Thank you for following up with BBB regarding your position in the above-mentioned dispute. We understand you are NOT satisfied with the business's response, and have noted your dissatisfaction in our files. While we regret we were unable to reach your desired resolution, the business has provided BBB with its position. This matter is now closed in BBB files, and will appear in the company's BBB Business Review as: "Answered - the business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer remains dissatisfied." Please note, the text of your response may be publicly posted on BBB's website. BBB reserves the right to not post in accordance with BBB policy, and we may edit your response to protect privacy rights and to remove inappropriate language. We appreciate the opportunity to be of service, and sincerely hope you will contact us for pre-purchase information.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann R
Dispute Resolution Specialist"
I contacted BBB to get the PSAs that I paid for. For doing this SFI terminated my account in front of BBB's very eyes. I have lost over $10,000 and 5 years of hard work because of this. BBB did not resolve the dispute; BBB made it worse! The BBB has condoned SFI's behavior and knowingly has become complicit in SFI's elaborate scam.

The Better Business Bureau has been around a long time. Although it can't represent you, it can help you. As a consumer with a legitimate complaint against a large business I've found it to be helpful in forcing a responsible business to respond. However, the responding business often misrepresents the facts or outright evades some aspects of your complaint, or responds with statements with gaping holes, and the BBB acts strictly like a sideline moderator on autopilot. Ultimately, this turns into a back and forth rebuttal volley until either the BBB drops the complaint or the victimized party that presents a more logical argument finally gives up in disgust. This is a real dilemma since the BBB is understandably not your lawyer. The problem is paying a lawyer is far more costlier than it's worth.
The BBB should adopt standards that force the business to respond fully to address the components of any complaint from the complainant or the complainant logically address the response from the business since many people filing complaints are also liars. If the BBB merely notified either party that their response is inadequate, in the absence of action, the complaint is either placed for public review against the business as "unresolved", or stricken from the record.
There is also one BIG hidden problem: the Consumer Protection Division of your State Attorney General only represents non-business consumers. If you're a small mom and pop sole-proprietor of a business, they advise you to deal with the BBB. If you're a sole proprietor dealing with a business, you are in fact a single consumer, not a business. Many businesses understand this and realize that legal action is not economical. It's a gaping loophole they exploit which overloads the BBB. The BBB should work in conjunction with the Consumer Protection Divisions and receive funding for that endeavor. That would be a win for consumers and small businesses.

The BBB is a self-serving, outdated, bloated organization that markets accreditation status to businesses and protects them, rather than the consumer. This "non-profit" supposedly impartial organization receives huge amounts of funding and representation from big business. How's this for a quote:

"Smart Money magazine ran an exposé of the U.S. Council of Better Business Bureaus in which it details the private organization's "too cozy" relationship with some of the businesses it claims to monitor. According to the article, the 112 U.S. BBBs collected $131 million in dues in 2007, comprising 90 percent of their total revenue [source: Parmar]. Perhaps more surprising is that 90 percent of BBB board members are corporate executives from industries that generate large numbers of BBB complaints [source: Garrett]."

Perhaps this is one of the reasons the BBB, Inc. is becoming increasingly irrelevant as a useful forum or service. Like many self-serving non-profits, it has failed to keep up with innovation and grown very insular while lining its own pockets. Look at see how many reviews you'll find there compared to Google or Yelp. Look at all the A+ ratings. Then stop wasting your time with BBB, Inc.

It must be tough watching the steady erosion of what was once almost exclusive control of public opinion in the business sector and a diminishing position of respect and authority.

I would encourage all businesses to stop supporting BBB, Inc. by refusing to buy their once vaunted accreditation status and recognize it for the not-so-subtle form of extortion that it is.

I would also encourage all consumers to use more effective, honest, consumer-based forums for reviews and feedback that are not in bed with the businesses they claim to evaluate.

I work at Walmart and as I was leaving work there was a nice young and her baby getting into Rainbow Cab 851. As the cab driver was helping her load her groceries, he was fussing at her and she was looking very afraid and sad. I asked him why was he talking to her like that he told me to shut up and mind my f. King business. After he told me that him another guy got into an heated argument about him talking to me and young lady the way he was. He kept jumping in and out his cab keeping up the argument. He made the baby cry the mother had to unstrap her out the car seat. And stand outside the cab to console her. I asked the lady was she ok, she said she really didn't want to ride with him but I guess she was to afraid to unload her groceries. Then the cabdriver started taunting me saying you come pick up this case of water and put it in my van. I told him he was being silly and that I was going to report him. He started talking about people in America and jumped into his cab and drove off. This cab driver looked as if though he was leaving the parking lot but came back around to me and the other guy and said "YALL SOME $#*!S THATS WHY WHITE PEOPLE TREAT YALL LIKE $#*!S!" this man I believe to be Somolian He work for Rainbow cab out of Minneapolis MN, company Driver 851, Plate# VVU976. Im very upset that Rainbow Cab Co. Have someone like this representing their business this way. THIS IS NOT OK!
Im so glad Walmart have cameras because its all on video. Tracy F.

Dear Tony Lucchesi (of Unlimited Heating and Cooling Inc. Elmhurst, Ill.),

Susan and I are very much pleased with the new furnace/air conditioner installation work you did at our home on April 5th of this year (2019). Prior to that day, your initial visit to our home to inspect the sites (outdoor and indoor) was complete and brief. Your bid for the job came to us two days after. Our reply, and the final signed agreement happened with you within one week, and allowed for the April 5th start.

On the job, you, your adult son, and his assistant all applied the obvious skills of many years in managing the home site HVAC work. You also were all in good humor in your dealing with one another and with us during the work at our home (including managing kindly and well our dog's initial curiosity upon your entering our home). The inside removal/installation labor in a somewhat tight furnace location spot was done well, timely, and also very cleanly. That you had a team of three made it possible to simultaneously do the job's outside compressor removal/installation/venting work in a timely way. You personally attended to the final paperwork in advance of the work done (including the two significant Nicor & ComEd rebate forms ---a nice savings for us!) in such a way that made for an un-rushed and tidy job completion.
The day had begun with you at 7:45AM, and you were done at 3:00PM (if not maybe a little sooner). This was very much how we anticipated things to go time-wise. We are very pleased with your work and enjoyed engaging with you throughout the day. We thank you for your help getting our home ready for the summer heat, and the coming fall/winter's chill. We wish you well in the busy summer work season for your company.---Jim and Susan

The BBB has survied for decades soley on their misleading name. They are neither Better nor a Bureau - not a government bureau as most consumers mistakenly believe. The BBB is an unusual not-for-profit franchise.

Local offices buy a franchise and the financial benefits go to the local President who is usually paid well over $250,000 and gets huge bonuses based on how many businesses he can make fall victim to his telemarketing scheme.

The scam is easy, when anyone asks them about a business they call the business implying that consumers wants the business to be evaluated. Then the business is offered an approval by paying a huge membershp fee. Or they can pay more to become Accredited Member.

The trouble with the BBB is that it ONLY allows complaints, so no alternate views can be considered. In 2009 the BBB switches to a grading system but they won't tell anyone how it is determined and businesses can't earn an A+ without being members. That's kind of like a teacher who won't give a kid a A+ unless he is of the same race.

The BBB has been dropping in value for years because other online complaint websites are offering an open system of compliments along with complaints. Plus they have a variety of ratings from zero to 5. The BBB takes only complaints. Its new grading system is a futile attempt to resurrect a system that is self serving and was never of value to business or consumers; at least not consumers who take a minute to figure out that the BBB is the least honest business in the world.

The BBB scam is biased and designed ONLY to create membership income. Last year the BBB extracted $250 million dollars in fees for naieve business owners. No smart consumer or business person cares a wit about what the BBB thinks.

There are many investigative website reviews out there that reveal the dispicable tactics of the BBB. Search and you'll be amazed - if you dare.

I am afraid fo using binding arbitration from the Better Business Bureau at this point.
1. I filed my honest complaint against my contractor who performed work against code, using wrong materials, was in violation of the contract, never called for inspections, did not call for electrical or roofing permits, the flat roof deck had inadequate structure and the electrical was a fire hazard according to the city and DTE
2. My complaint was answered without facts and merely an assassination of my character. No resolution was offered.
3. I did not accept the non-resolution and wanted the money he took returned when his work resulted in destruction and reconstruction of everything he did.
4. The Better Business Bureau abruptly closed the case stating a) My complaint was past the 12 month statute of limitations (they read my complaint wrong the contractor did not quit until September 2018 and my complaint was filed in the Beginning of May 2019. They said on the phone the complaint has to be filed when the contract is signed. What? How would I know about the faulty work and no inspections the first day I signed the contract when work had not yet been done.
5. The other reason the Better Business Bureau closed the case was stated as, "The company said they resolved the issue with you" "The company said that you fired them hired a new contractor. The woman even suggested I go to "small claims court" in spite of my repeating that this conflict is worth over $90,000?
6. The Better Business Bureau, when asked, admitted that they did not ask for any proof about any statements made by the company. They just accepted the company's word as fact.
7. When I went in personally with an entire binder of texts, emails, contract, pictures, inspector reports, cost to redo everything the business had done, they acted like they were doing me a favor by re-opening the case and going straight to arbitration. How can I trust people who do not really ask for facts? How can I trust people when a great deal of money is involved.
8. I know that the binding arbitration would be in the hands of a lawyer but they pick from a list. How do I know whether the lawyer has any expertise with contract law and code violations. I have spent weeks and weeks putting things together and they give you a limited time to present your case. The company's attorney just makes arbitrary statements meant to confuse which are unsubstantiated and waste time.

UNPROFESSIONAL! NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE! NO ETIQUETTE! PRETEND PLUMBERS! LAZY! READ OTHER REVIEWS ON YELP AND GOOGLE!