BBB Under Scrutiny

Link: http://bbbroundup.com/LosAngelesBBB.html

I admit it. I'm old school. I'm a child of the 60's. I know where I was when both Kennedy's and Martin Luther King were killed. I thought the war in Vietnam an abomination. I voted against Nixon even though the alternative was pathetic. But I never joined a protest march or signed a petition because nobody was offering a viable solution. Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out was not a viable solution to me. Love Everyone was not a viable solution to me.

If you've been reading bbbroundup to date, you're no doubt aware that I have issues with their new letter grading system. I have issues with their complaint handling process as well which will be dealt with in upcoming articles. I also have issues in particular with the BBB of Southland, the greater Los Angeles Better Business Bureau. I've never had any personal encounters or problems with them, but I have witnessed first hand their inconsistencies in treatment of similar businesses, and have encountered a lot of fear from the businesses I've talked to. The vast majority refuse to go on record as they are afraid of retribution from the LA BBB. I've come across numerous horror stories posted online about the Los Angeles BBB while doing my research. It's pretty clear that the LA BBB is the rogue cowboy in the outfit. Oddly enough, in normal circumstances, I'd root for the rogue cowboy--I like people who shake things up....but in this case, I think there is an element of malice and greed that is beyond acceptable.

On the one hand, I'm discovering evidence of things being rotten in the Los Angeles BBB in particular, and by turning a blind eye the Council of Better Business Bureaus has involved themselves in the rot as well. But, as I mentioned in the beginning, I'm the kind of guy who looks for solutions. Things are still percolating, but the outlines and definition is beginning to emerge on how to right the Better Business Bureau. I believe it possible for the Better Business Bureau to learn from the current criticism that I and other journalists have been making public and emerge a stronger, more meaningful, more relevant, more worthy organization that can contribute in far greater ways that previously. I am on the record as saying I don't have a problem with the Better Business Bureau. That doesn't mean that I don't think some of the things they are currently embarked on are misguided and wrong because I do. It doesn't mean that I don't think there's room for improvement because I do. But I firmly believe that the Better Business Bureau has the capability to be an enormous resource, far, far greater than they've ever been with a few adjustments and modifications. The current plan is to offer solutions in the 9th report in this series. It is my hope that the Better Business Bureau will put away its pride and arrogance long enough to listen and consider. Let's see what happens in the weeks ahead.