I am the owner of Smith Construction & Remodeling, Inc. Located in Destrehan, Louisiana and I was a member of the Better Business Bureau up until about a year ago. After droping my membership with the BBB I have been harassed by them almost every month to become a member again. These calls keep comming from a Ruth Swanson at 504-464-4137 and 504-616-3235. First off they pull the old bate and switch trick to start with. They call and leave a message on my answering machine asking me to give them a call back as it is real important that they hear from me. When I get these messages I always think that someone has reported my company to the BBB, so being a good company owner I call them back to try and fix whatever problems they may have with my company. Now here comes the bate and switch. When I contact them they always tell me that no one has complained about my company. They go on to tell me that someone has contacted them about my company and that they have no information on my company to give to these people. They go on and tell me that if I were to pay The BBB $250.00 and reinstate my membership they would have information on my company to give to these people who are inquiring about me. I keep telling them that I don't want to reinstate my membership and would they please take me off of there contact list and to please remove my phone number from there files. They go on and insure me that I won't receive these calls from them again. But the next month the calls start again with the same message and the same bate and switch. I get tired of telling them that no one is contacting them about my company. I try and tell them that I know my customer base better then they do and I know for a fact no one is inquiring about my company. You see, every bit of work I have completed in the last five years has been repeat customers. I haven't bid on new work in over five years because my customers keep me very busy without having to look for new work. I go on and tell them that I don't do any advertising nor do I pass out my business cards as I have a full customer base to work from. I ask them how does someone inquire about my company when I don't advertise for new customers and I only do repeat work. They can't explain it to me other then someone is inquiring about my company and if I were to reinstate my membership they would have information to give out. I am sick and tired of the bate and switch, I am sick and tired of the slamming, I am sick and tired of the harassment and I am sick and tired of the miss leading messages they keep leaving on my answering machine. Who do I call to report the Better Business Bureau to I ask them? Do I report the BBB to the BBB? Do you think they would do something about what they are doing to me? I doubt it as the phone calls keep comming in. I try and explain to them that when they start calling me to become a member of the BBB I am no longer a company to them, but a consumer. And as a consumer they should treat me as they treat other people who have complaints against companies who bate and switch their customers. The bottom line is the Better Business Bureau wants my $250.00 and it looks like they will stop at nothing to get it. The Better Business Bureaus actions are misleading and deceiful by concealing the truth about why they are calling me. They need to practice what they preach and stop the harassing phone calls. MichaelDestrehan, LouisianaEDitor's Note:
This courageous businessman reports a trend reported on the consumer complaints about the Better Business Bureau. Hopefully other business people will come forward and the BBB will be revealed for the unethical practices incorporated by this racket.
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