Better Business Bureau

I am extremely dissatisfied with the Better Business Bureau. "Re: Case # *******: SFI Marketing Group Dear Mr./Ms. Babcock, Thank you for following up with BBB regarding your position in the above-mentioned dispute. We understand you are NOT satisfied with the business's response, and have noted your dissatisfaction in our files. While we regret we were unable to reach your desired resolution, the business has provided BBB with its position. This matter is now closed in BBB files, and will appear in the company's BBB Business Review as: "Answered - the business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer remains dissatisfied." Please note, the text of your response may be publicly posted on BBB's website. BBB reserves the right to not post in accordance with BBB policy, and we may edit your response to protect privacy rights and to remove inappropriate language. We appreciate the opportunity to be of service, and sincerely hope you will contact us for pre-purchase information.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann R
Dispute Resolution Specialist"
I contacted BBB to get the PSAs that I paid for. For doing this SFI terminated my account in front of BBB's very eyes. I have lost over $10,000 and 5 years of hard work because of this. BBB did not resolve the dispute; BBB made it worse! The BBB has condoned SFI's behavior and knowingly has become complicit in SFI's elaborate scam.

The Better Business Bureau has been around a long time. Although it can't represent you, it can help you. As a consumer with a legitimate complaint against a large business I've found it to be helpful in forcing a responsible business to respond. However, the responding business often misrepresents the facts or outright evades some aspects of your complaint, or responds with statements with gaping holes, and the BBB acts strictly like a sideline moderator on autopilot. Ultimately, this turns into a back and forth rebuttal volley until either the BBB drops the complaint or the victimized party that presents a more logical argument finally gives up in disgust. This is a real dilemma since the BBB is understandably not your lawyer. The problem is paying a lawyer is far more costlier than it's worth.
The BBB should adopt standards that force the business to respond fully to address the components of any complaint from the complainant or the complainant logically address the response from the business since many people filing complaints are also liars. If the BBB merely notified either party that their response is inadequate, in the absence of action, the complaint is either placed for public review against the business as "unresolved", or stricken from the record.
There is also one BIG hidden problem: the Consumer Protection Division of your State Attorney General only represents non-business consumers. If you're a small mom and pop sole-proprietor of a business, they advise you to deal with the BBB. If you're a sole proprietor dealing with a business, you are in fact a single consumer, not a business. Many businesses understand this and realize that legal action is not economical. It's a gaping loophole they exploit which overloads the BBB. The BBB should work in conjunction with the Consumer Protection Divisions and receive funding for that endeavor. That would be a win for consumers and small businesses.

The BBB is a self-serving, outdated, bloated organization that markets accreditation status to businesses and protects them, rather than the consumer. This "non-profit" supposedly impartial organization receives huge amounts of funding and representation from big business. How's this for a quote:

"Smart Money magazine ran an exposé of the U.S. Council of Better Business Bureaus in which it details the private organization's "too cozy" relationship with some of the businesses it claims to monitor. According to the article, the 112 U.S. BBBs collected $131 million in dues in 2007, comprising 90 percent of their total revenue [source: Parmar]. Perhaps more surprising is that 90 percent of BBB board members are corporate executives from industries that generate large numbers of BBB complaints [source: Garrett]."

Perhaps this is one of the reasons the BBB, Inc. is becoming increasingly irrelevant as a useful forum or service. Like many self-serving non-profits, it has failed to keep up with innovation and grown very insular while lining its own pockets. Look at see how many reviews you'll find there compared to Google or Yelp. Look at all the A+ ratings. Then stop wasting your time with BBB, Inc.

It must be tough watching the steady erosion of what was once almost exclusive control of public opinion in the business sector and a diminishing position of respect and authority.

I would encourage all businesses to stop supporting BBB, Inc. by refusing to buy their once vaunted accreditation status and recognize it for the not-so-subtle form of extortion that it is.

I would also encourage all consumers to use more effective, honest, consumer-based forums for reviews and feedback that are not in bed with the businesses they claim to evaluate.