Tri-State Better Business Bureau False Reporting of Local Businesses Evansville, Indiana

I have a local business (which has been closed for 3 years now). The BBB contacted my business a number of years ago to try to get me to sign up for their services. We declined. I didn't think much of it until recently.

I was Googling my name to make sure there weren't any negative comments/information floating around the internet about me...and to see all the good stuff too. I found a listing for the BBB for my business that was closed 3 years ago.

I contacted the BBB and asked who authorized them to list this company, and why it was listed when the company has been closed for 3 years (oh, and the rating was a A-...not sure how they determined that).

The only response I received was a rude comment about the BBB already being tested in court, and that they have the right to pretty much do or say whatever they want with regard to a business.

I simply asked them to remove the listing because (a) they did not have any authorization to list the company, (b) there was never a single complaint against the company, and (c) the company had been closed for 3 years.

Instead of removing the listing, the BBB searched out 2 of my new companies that were not listed on the BBB website (I checked to make sure at the time I found the 1st business) and have now listed those 2 companies on the site as well (no ratings yet, which should be interesting to watch).

How can a business list another businesses information without reason or authorization?

Why would they do it? There is a simple answer to that because I quickly received a letter in the mail to the 2 companies this BBB listed on the website. The letters stated that "potential customers have been making inquiries about doing business with" our company. Really? Because we don't do business locally for starters!

They clearly are using the listing as a marketing scam. They list the company, then contact them with a bogus letter like I received. They solicit money from the company to become "accredited" by the BBB and to improve the rating on the site. It's also used as a scare-tactic. They want me to sign up, and if I don't, my rating "could suffer".

Additionally, the Attorney General of the State of Indiana refuses to look into these actions stating they only protect "consumers" against businesses...not other businesses against businesses. Really? How about you protect anyone and everyone from being screwed over by a business!

Finally, the Council of Better Business Bureaus has, to date, failed to even respond to my many requests to discuss this matter.