I find your stories concerning the BBB very interesting.
I too, found the BBB NOT to be helpful. Several years ago, I hired a heating "expert" to put a radiator in an addition on my house, attaching it to my existing heating system. After completion, the radiator never worked correctly. I had no heat from the radiator and had water spurting out the top, similar to a whale spouting water.
When I contacted the BBB they said I needed to file a complaint I decided first to try mediation through a local community college. Little did I know it was a student handling my case. He never contacted me, and when I called him after 2 months, he took sides with the plumber and said I didn't have a case! It is forbidden for mediators to take sides, but he did just that.
At this point, I had not filed a complaint with the BBB, but I proceeded to take the heating expert to small claims court and I won even though he hired a lawyer and I represented myself with no attorney!
Then I contacted the BBB in writing with copy of my victorius win from the court. However, the BBB didn't do anything about making the public aware of this because "unfortunately I hadn't filed a claim first." So when I go to their website now and see that this plumber is in good standing, it makes me angry. He is not an honest and reliable person.
Now, when I go to the BBB's website, I take any reports about the quality of companies with a grain of salt. I also have little faith in the BBB, their policies, and the way they rate companies.
I applaud your efforts and wish you well in your endeavor.
P.S. I also feel similar about my State Attorney General's Office here in Massachusetts. I have had different problems over the years and they always refer me to the community college mediator program, which is a joke! No wonder there are so many unscrupulous companies in operation. Little is done about them unless there are hundreds and hundreds of complaints and the
Attorney General's Office files a class action suit.
For small rip-offs, the consumer is at the mercy of these dishonest "businessmen, " unless of course, you have money to hire a lawyer which will cost more than the job that wasn't
done right!
Sincerely
DLF
aol5-24
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