BBB Under Scrutiny

Link: http://www.bbbroundup.com

I have grave concerns with our Minnesota BBB chapter and the new BBB rating system.

After many months of waiting with the promise that our "grade" would go to an "A" in April 2009, and having held off on special marketing efforts while we waited, we were told we would have to wait until next year before the grade would change. We were informed of the decision near the end of April.

Having canceled our membership our grade went from an "A-" to a "B+". See the email below for my question as to why, and their response. What troubles me is that we divulged information that we do not make publicly available, given the promise our "grade" would increase to an "A" if we gave them this additional information. We were undoubtedly deceived.

This deeply betrayed my trust in the BBB and I question whether this new grading system is truly good for consumers and businesses alike.

It's clear that should one fail to give the BBB money, they will subject the business to a biased letter grade and deceive the public with their powerful slogan, "Start with Trust." This is nothing short of extortion.

The public has a right to know the truth behind the BBB and their "Start with Trust" marketing strategy. The founders of the BBB (from my home state) would roll over in their graves if they knew what the "non-profit" organization has evolved into.

I continue to meet business owners who have experienced the new grading system at the BBB, and all agree on one thing, it is biased. However, the "Vision, Mission and Values" section on our local chapter's website claims otherwise:

"BBB ensures that high standards for trust are set and maintained. We exist so consumers and businesses alike have an unbiased source to guide them on matters of trust."

The full text can be found here:
http://minnesota.bbb.org/vision_mission_values

Now, I find it hard to believe the BBB ensures high standards when they cannot even answer with a solid explanation as to how their grading system works.