BBB - Better Business Bureau BBB ONLY DEFENDS THE BUSINESS NOT THE CONSUMER!!! Colton, California

From the BBB's FAQ...

If your funding comes from businesses, how can you be fair to the consumer? The purpose of the BBB system is not to act as an advocate for businesses or consumers, but to act as a mutually trusted intermediary to resolve disputes, to facilitate communication, and to provide Reliability Reports on companies. Businesses have supported the BBB for over 80 years because an ethical, self-regulated marketplace is in everyone's best interest.

I have no problem with the "intermediary" aspect as they do seem to help in some situations.  Not every complaint is legitimate.  I am sure that the people who think that the BBB is great had a resolution in their favor, and the people who think that the BBB is only for the business didn't have a resolution in their favor.   I also don't feel that having to "prove" your complaint is a RipOff.

Now, I do feel that their is a "problem" is with their ratings.  Even though they are a "non-profit" organization they need to pay their overhead.  How do they pay for it?  By having companies pay for membership.  Whether related or not.  There are many times when I have seen a company that is not a member of the BBB have no complaints and have a B-D rating.  Yet a company that is a member and has dozens of unresolved complaints has an A rating.  This can make it appear(true or not) that by paying for a membership you are paying to get a better rating. 

Just take as comparison Consumer Reports (CR).  They take no payments or advertising from compaines.  How many complaints about them and their ratings have you seen?

Perhaps if the OP would give the specifics of their case it would help explain their position.

My personal opinion can be taken with a grain of salt, as it is only my opinion. But I do notice at times, companies I know for a FACT have been flat out ripoffs, skate by the BBB ratings. When you look up the rating,,the BBB sometimes will post "NR" which means no rating.

Now if they give a rating as "NR" when we all know d**n well they have been reported for ripping people off, you have to wonder if there is something else to it.

If I am wrong in my opinion I welcome someone to set the record straight. There is a chance I may be overlooking something, I can openly admit that and have an open mind to be educated if I am wrong in my opinion.

You said "Lastly, after making a complaint, the consumer is expected to "prove" their complaint. "

Of course, if people didn't have to prove their complaint what good would it be? 

I personally feel sorry for the folks who get the email at BBB and have to give them applause for staying sane. 

I think it's completely acceptable that they protect the businesses views over the consumers. If the company has very few complaints, why should they drop their rating to a low standard especially if they are paying the BBB to keep their company at a high rating. If you had a company wouldn't you want to protect yours? Not every customer is going to be satisfied in every situation. How many complaints have you filed anyway? If you complain often, I'm not too sure they're going to take you all that serious anyway. And they want you to provide proof of your complaint so you in fact are not the one ripping off the company.

I have used the BBB with different things in the past.  I put my complaint down and any proof that I have against the company I am filing a complaint with.  Almost all my complaints have been handled in my favor. 

I am not sure what company you filed agaisnt or what your situation was or proof.  But I think they do a rather good job getting things done.  Not every complaint will go in your favor.