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AN INVESTIGATIVE NEWS SERIES ON THE STANDARDS AND PRACTICES OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU START WITH TRUTH |
| V 1.4 Feb 2010 | ||
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| CONFESSIONS
OF A FORMER BBB EMPLOYEE |
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| Just
wanted to let you know I worked for the BBB. Yes, they will ONLY give
businesses who are members an A+ it's not about points being raised,
it's about the fact NO non-accredited business can get an A + without
becoming a member. They also say that they do not recommend businesses to consumers, or show impartial to consumers in regards to non-accredited businesses vs. accredited businesses--another lie! In our script, a popular rebuttal was- "Well, if the consumer can't get the information they're looking for on your company they will get it with your competitor." People will often say: "So, if I don't become a member, you will tell consumers I'm a bad business." We didn't say yes, or no. We said "Well, we actually drive consumers to accredited businesses because we know they uphold our BBB standards of trust, we don't know how a business that isn't a member operates". How is that being impartial? Or not siding with one business to the other when it is in terms to accreditation status?? Makes no sense! Also, I am currently working with a credit repair company. When employed with the BBB I asked if they had any references that I could use in order to find a good company in the credit repair industry, to do business with. They told me that they don't typically accredit those businesses because of their reputation, and if they did it takes months and months of paper work for them to get approved. Well, I found a lady, my friend used her, and she's wonderful! Well, after I said I worked for the BBB when she was obtaining my information, she said oh wow! They're the mafia! I said what do you mean? She said well, I've always told consumers to go to the BBB's website, that I was not a member, however, I had no complaints. She said she was startled one day when a customer called back and said that he was unsure of her because she had an "F" with the BBB. She said she called them and gave then "what for!" She said they raised her grade to like a B, I think. She said as soon as she signed up with them a couple of weeks later that they gave her an "A+"! What is THAT! I asked her how long it took to get approved for accreditation she said "Oh, not long, maybe a couple of weeks!" So, I got lied to by the BBB, as an employee of the BBB? I thought it took MONTHS! So, all-in-all, they do discriminate, they false advertise.. Just like we say you can't get accredited if you have any government actions against you,. Well, I signed a business up who did, and it was my boss that told me to. I was only there a few days, and unsure if what she was saying was a government action, my boss told me no, and I found out later on, it actually is a government action. WOW! I really don't know what to say about them. The BBB is always a company I looked to for advice, and thought they held high standards for themselves, and made their members hold high standards, along with ethics, and integrity, etc. I suppose not! I could not stand lying to anyone anymore. We were always told when they said they couldn't join because of the economy, or whatever else, that "Money is rarely the reason." If that's the case. why were cards declining, etc. Businesses are hurting just like us, they're no different than us consumers trying to make it right now. |
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| Editor's note: Neither I or this website have a problem with the Better Business Bureau. Indeed, there is a need for a consumer advocacy group that the public can turn to, and in most cases, the Better Business Bureau fulfills this role adequately. What we do have a problem with is the BBB's "A-F" grading system. It is demonstratively biased, based on hearsay, weighted in favor of dues paying members and offers no recourse when the BBB makes an error. It is obvious the Better Business Bureau does not now, nor ever will have, the resources to fully investigate the four million businesses in their database, much less grade them with any sense of accuracy. It's an impossible job, and to think otherwise is a mistake that the BBB should acknowledge so they can get back to their reason for existence--protecting the consumer. There's an old saying, "who will watch the watchers" and it applies here as the BBB has set themselves up to be above the law. We are simply here to help the Better Business Bureau do a better job so that they may properly serve the consumer, the business community and themselves. | |
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