The Better Business Bureau, one of the country’s best known consumer
watchdog groups, is being accused by business owners of running a “pay
for play” scheme in which A plus ratings are awarded to those who pay
membership fees, and F ratings used to punish those who don’t.
Errors seem to abound at the Better Business Bureau. As reported by
an anonymous blogger the BBB also awarded an A minus rating to a
non-existent sushi restaurant in Santa Ana, California and an A plus to a
skinhead, neo-Nazi web site called Stormfront. Each listing cost $425.
Better Business Bureau: Pay for Play?
Yet, as part of the ABC News investigation, an ABC News producer with a camera was present as two small business owners in Los Angeles were told by Better Business Bureau tele-marketers that their grades of C could be raised to A plus if they paid $395 membership fees.Terri Hartman, the manager of a Los Angeles antique fixtures store, Liz’s Antique Hardware, was told only a payment could change her grade, based on one old complaint that had already been resolved.
“So, if I don’t pay, even though the complaint has been resolved, I still have a C rating?”
Hartman then read off her credit card number and the next business day the C grade was replaced with an A plus, and the one complaint was wiped off the record.
It is dishonesty like this that causes most folks not to do Business on-line or even around the corner from their own homes. Please be careful out there and don't forget to check out COOL Folks with Great Music at Devotions Recording's Blog.
