BBB Under Scrutiny

Link: http://bbbroundup.com

Following is an internal BBB email regarding bbbroundup.com that was provided to me by my source in the LA BBB. Following their memo I have put my comments in CAPS.
Jimmie Rivers
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BBB PR: For BBBs - Investigative Web site Critical of BBB System
Cox, Steve scox at council.bbb.org
Thu Mar 19 10:54:02 CDT 2009

Colleagues,

Bottom Line: You need to be aware of a Web site call "bbb Roundup" -
http://www.bbbroundup.com/.

Background: Following is as much information as we have about the site at this time. We are continuing to research the site, and will provide additional information as it becomes available.

* The site is principally an attack on the BBB system - and
specifically cites some BBBs by name.
* The site specifically attacks BBB Ratings along the lines of
inconsistent/illogical grades, and not necessarily points for
accreditation (although that issue is raised in parts of the site)
* The site also specifically attacks our member-funded business
model
* The site also includes a host of other BBB system criticisms
that span a range of topics
* The site operator/editor uses the pseudonym "Jimmie Rivers" and
claims to be a former journalist
* The domain was privately registered on March 4, 2009
* The Web site is hosted abroad in Singapore/Australia
* The site lists a 310-497-4806 phone number which is in Santa
Monica, CA - the number appears to be a cell number from Sprint

Assessment: While it's always concerning to see public criticism, the
value and credibility of this site is greatly diminished by the use of
the pseudonym and inability to verify sources. Essentially the site is
not legitimate or transparent: its creator is unwilling to publicly
disclose identifying information and, for this reason, I do not expect
mainstream or legitimate digital media to use or reference the site.

This said, we will certainly be keeping a close eye on the site to track
whether the site is being marketed in any way (to this point, it is
not), and whether the site is gaining any traction in online
communities.

Media Relations Guidance: This site represents one of those issues that we must literally communicate with "one voice" on. With this in mind, I would ask the following:

* If questioned about the site by any media, please refer them to
me for comment.
* Recommend you inform your Boards of the site's existence - i.e.,
let's ensure our internal audiences are aware of the site, but ask them
to consider such information confidential and not for external audiences
* Please do not personally publicize the site to any external
audiences - i.e., do not distribute any press releases attempting to refute comments from the site - and do not refer to the site in any interviews. Use caution in forwarding electronic messages concerning the site - once you forward something, you lose the ability to control where the message may go from there.

We'll provide more information as it becomes available.

Steve

Stephen A. Cox | Vice President, Communications

Tel: 703-247-9311

Fax: 703-525-8277

Email: scox at council.bbb.org

www.bbb.org | Start With Trust

Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

4200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800

Arlington, VA 22203

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THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ATTACK AND LEGITIMATE CRITICISM. MY GOAL IS NOT TO BRING THE BBB DOWN, BUT TO HAVE THEM ELIMINATE THE SENSE OF IMPROPRIETY THAT PERVADES THE ORGANIZATION AT THIS TIME. THOSE IN PUBLIC SERVICE MUST BE HELD TO A HIGHER DEGREE OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAN THE NORM, AND IT IS HERE THAT I BELIEVE THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU FAILS. (IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO REFORM GUYS!)

I FIND IT ODD THAT THE BBB CHANGED SOME OF THE MORE ILLOGICAL GRADES (DISNEYLAND AND LA TIMES GRADES CHANGED FROM "F" TO "A" IN PARTICULAR) WITHOUT INFORMING YOUR BBB OFFICES THROUGH THIS EMAIL. THIS IS FAR FROM BEING TRANSPARENT TO YOUR REGIONAL BBB OFFICES. FEAR NOT HOWEVER, WE WILL GET TO THE ALGORITHM AND THE HOW VARIOUS ASPECTS OF BUSINESSES ARE JUDGED BY THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN FUTURE SEGMENTS.

TRUE. I DO FIND THE MEMBER BIASED GRADING SYSTEM UNFAIR. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF THE STUDENT NEXT TO YOU HANDED THE TEACHER A $100 AT THE BEGINNING OF A TEST? DO YOU THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE A BETTER GRADE ON THE TEST THAN YOU WOULD IF YOU DIDN'T ALSO COUGH UP $100?

YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT "JIMMIE RIVERS" AND OFFSHORE HOSTING, ETC. ARE ALL TRUE AND DONE FOR A REASON. AS STATED IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THIS WEBSITE, I STARTED THIS SITE WITH MY EYES WIDE OPEN, KNOWING I WOULD BE A TARGET OF THE BBB AS THIS INTERNAL EMAIL PROVES. THERE IS NO LAW SAYING I HAVE TO MAKE MYSELF AN EASY TARGET.

ACTUALLY, I HAVE BEEN STRAIGHT UP AND FORTHRIGHT. I AM AT LEAST AS TRANSPARENT AND LEGITIMATE AS THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN THEIR DEALINGS WITH THE PUBLIC, THE PRESS AND BUSINESSES. ALSO, I HAVE QUERIED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU DIRECTLY AS TO WHY THEY CHANGED THE GRADES FOR DISNEYLAND AND THE LA TIMES FROM A "F" TO AN "A" AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THE BBB KNOWS MY EMAIL AND PHONE BUT HAS CHOSEN TO HIDE RATHER THAN COME FORWARD. IRONICALLY, I'M PRETTY MUCH FOLLOWING THE MODEL ESTABLISHED BY THE BBB IN HOW THEY DEAL WITH BUSINESSES WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS. NO WONDER THEY DON'T LIKE IT. BY THE WAY, GEORGE GOMBOSSY OF THE HARTFORD COURANT HAS TAKEN UP THE STORY. LET'S SEE IF MORE "MAINSTREAM OR LEGITIMATE DIGITAL MEDIA" START JUMPING ON THE STORY.

STEVE: YOU HAVE MY EMAIL AND PHONE NUMBER. I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS THINGS WITH YOU ON THE RECORD OR OFF.

JIMMIE