 |
          |
AN INVESTIGATIVE NEWS SERIES ON THE STANDARDS AND PRACTICES OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU START WITH TRUTH |
| V 1.5 Nov 2010 | ||
 |
||
| BBB BRAND TAKES A
HIT: BBB AT A CROSSROADS |
|
|
|
It's amazing what good journalism
and the power of TV can accomplish. As a result of ABC NEWS
coverage, the BBB was finally forced
to take notice of what we've known for a long time: there are
serious defects in the way the BBB conducts itself. Jimmie Rivers Talks With Brian Ross on Good Morning America I've been covering the BBB on this website for a year and a half. I've been researching the story going back two years.  Jimmie Rivers Points Out The HAMAS A- Grade from the LA BBB. Cost? $425. The HAMAS story was originally published on bbbroundup.com July 20, 2010 Here's my observations on where things are going. 1. Current and former BBB employees are coming out of the woodwork and blowing the whistle on the BBB practices. (Complaints ARE used as leads by the telemarketing arm of the BBB, contrary to what Steve Cox said in a statement immediately after the 20/20 report. The fact that complaints are relabeled as inquiries is a game in semantics, but does not alter the fact that complaints are used as leads.) 2. Previously, when a negative story on the BBB ran, the comments were roughly even between supporters and detractors. The comments posted across the Internet yesterday, starting the Good Morning America, are running about 95 to five against the BBB. 3. As called for by Steve Cox, the BBB Board of Directors will be meeting to determine what they need to fix. Whether the BBB realizes it or not, they are at a crossroads. If they follow past form, they will determine that while there are a few isolated problems there is nothing wrong overall. I don't think that answer will fly now. To me, there are only two things the Better Business Bureau can do to get back on track and regain the confidence of the public. 1) They can immediately take down all letter grades until such time as they find an algorithm that makes sense. 2) Since most of the examples in the ABC stories were from the LA BBB, the CBBB can decide to make a sacrificial case and throw Bill Mitchell under the bus. 4. There is not a lot of wiggle room for the BBB, as the clock is ticking on the 15 days Connecticut AG, Richard Blumenthal, has given them to address his concerns about the legitimacy of their grading system. 5. I've reached out to Steve Cox once again. In spite of everything that I've written and reported on bbbRoundup, I still believe there is a place for the BBB IF THEY FIX SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS. I actually have some good ideas for doing so. Balls in your court, Steve. You can reach me at editor@bbbroundup.com 6. If you are an employee, or former employee, of the BBB and are sick to your stomach of their telemarketing tactics and other practices you observed while working there, please don't hesitate to get in touch. You can make a difference. You can reach me at editor@bbbroundup.com |
|
| Editor's
note:
There
is
a
need
for
a
consumer
advocacy
group
that
the
public
can
turn
to, and it used to be that the Better Business
Bureau fulfilled this role adequately. No longer. 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. If they refuse to reform, then they must bear the
consequences. |
|
| ©
2009-2010 bbbroundup.com. all rights reserved. |
|