Rip-off Report.com ripoff report diseminates incorrect information based on ignorance and biased opinion Internet

BBB Shut down in Toronto, president of the Toronto BBB actually diverted funds to an Carribean Island's

Several years back, the BBB in Toronto was shut down due to fraud and internal theft. The president of the Toronto BBB actually diverted funds to an Carribean Island's Gov't. which treated him like a king on his visits. Please remember that the BBB is a business like any other, only "who is watching the watchers"??? It's amazing that so many people think that the BBB has legal or government authority when it is just a business like any other. The only thing any consumer needs to know is Caveat Emptor: - buyer beware!

Far too many people have depended on the BBB to give them the unbiased truth about a company.

They were given the green light to go ahead when they should have been told to approach with extreme caution.

Then, they lost both their time and their money! If that's your idea of better business, you live in the twilight zone.

At least here, you can read for yourself and judge how the business treated the complainant.

If I had to choose the BBB or the BADbusinessbureau, I'd choose this site consistently. It not only covers a much wider range of fraud, but it provides a far more accurate picture of exactly what a suspect business is involved in.

In addition, it's much more accessible. That means more people are likely to use it consistently.

Try to search the BBB. I just did. I went to the main BBB website, and attempted to search for usight, a major fraud that has scammed thousands of victims nationwide. Result? I clicked on company search and was told that page was not found. My first, and probably last, use of the BBB website.

Try it for yourself and see. Pick any fraud company listed here. Now, go to your files and see what advice the BBB would give.

Once you see fraud here, you know something is wrong. Especially when there are multiple complaints.

In addition, where else can you turn to find the latest bank scams? See which crooks are abusing their customers with excessive fees? Find out which computer companies are selling trash? It's all here, in these pages. This site is a freakin' gold mine of useful information. The BBB really doesn't have anything comparable.

Granted, the BBB was once accepted as the gold standard in business evaluations. However, smart people have come to recognize their limitations, and now turn to sites like this for more concise information.

Best wishes to you as well!

My two cents worth... BBB is worthless!

Lona,

I will also chime in here. Back in April, I had dealings with a local Talent Marketing company. Being the sceptical person that I am, I checked with the BBB website, and guess what I found? That's right, a satisfactory record. No other information was provided except that they were a member in good standing.

Based on the BBB's rating, I decided to do business with them, and lost $685 (which through this website, and my own efforts, I eventually got back. Thank you Rip-Off Report!). There are now over 30 reports on this site regarding this company. If only I had seen it before.

I have seen other BBB pages from different states that show the number of complaints, whether they be resolved or not (BBB of Central Indiana for example). Why don't all BBBs do this? I think it's because if a company pays their membership dues, they don't want the BBB to share that information.

By the way, you forgot to mention the selling tactics (scare tactics is more like it) used when a company that's been reported to the BBB does not have a membership.

It is rare that the BBB is an assistance to the average consumer these days. We now have to rely on the Attorney General, FTC, FBI and the wonderful Rip-Off Report to get any satisfaction from a company that has ripped us off.

Like Paul, I also went to the main BBB website and looked up some of the major fraud companies listed here. Most were either all complaints were resolved, or that company had a satisfactiry record. Everything I checked has dozens of unresolved complaints on this website.

The BBB Reliability Reports are not very reliable if you ask me.

Screening process is simple

They do have a screening process. It's called "did the check cash yet?". That's about it. My first dealings with the BBB was in NC. A customer complained about her transmission not working after I rebuilt it. I actually rebuilt it for another shop, so the woman was NOT my customer. The shop I built it for didn't want to handle it so they sent her to me. The problem with the transmission was actually the cooling system on the engine was failing. The car drove perfectly untill the engine got HOT and that of course overheated the tranny. She got her lawyer involved and even he told her the water was BOILING in the engine while they were standing in my parking lot. No case for him, sorry. She did not want to hear about the cooling system being bad. SHE knew what was wrong. They always do. Whoever made up that idiotic marketing campaign about "the customer is always right" should be shot for screwing everything up. Anyway, she complained to the BBB and they sent me a letter asking for info on this case. I sent all I had and they called me back a few days later telling me the good news. I had done nothing wrong. What a shock! Within 2 weeks, I was deluged with mailers asking me to join the BBB because of my fine, upstanding business credentials. The basic gist of the letters was simply "send us a check and you're a member". I knew shops that had pages of judgements against them at the courthouse and were all members of the BBB. Good screening process. "Did the check cash yet?"

BBB - Show Me the Money .. BADbusinessbureau wins hands down.

Lona,

Until recently, I too believed in the goodness of the BBB. Due to a recent experience and what I've read on this site, I now question the BBB's ethics - especially when the BBB rates a company as unsatisfactory, then changes the rating to satisfactory once the company joins the BBB. (See my complaint regarding the BBB of Central Florida.)

I'm in complete agreement with Paul that given a choice between the BBB or the BADbusinessbureau for useful information, the BADbusinessbureau wins hands down.

I Concur

BBB is absolutely worthless. The company should be liquidated and the proceeds given to charity where some good could evolve.