BBB Better Business Bureau
A prepaid advertising scheme

I don't know if anyone has ever noticed but the Houston Better Business Bureau seems to be nothing more than a prepaid advertising scheme. They go through great lengths to portray themselves as a neutral and unbiased source of fair and accurate information by stating the following disclaimer after every phone report and even on the literature they send out: "The Better Business Bureau does not endorse, recommend or disapprove any product, service or company." Yet every time I get literature from them read an article they've written in the local papers, they're always steering you towards various companies who just happen to be members of the BBB.

Now I'm not the brightest person in the world, but when the BBB says they don't recommend any product, service or company and then steers you towards companies who just happen to be members and who, by the way, paid a fee for such membership, it sure looks like recommendation to me.

I even asked them about this and they flat out denied they were recommending, rather they were just giving out information. (On companies who happen to be members.) So basically they were saying to me they don't recommend, then recommend, then deny they just recommended. Now I don't know what you would call it where you come from but where I live we call it plain old fashion lying... And if someone is going to lie to me, at least make it intelligent enough so I don't feel insulted.

I feel the Houston BBB is nothing more than an advanced fee membership scheme whose only goal is to promote the companies who have paid a fee for just that reason. Has anyone else ever noticed this about the BBB either in Houston or in their area? I'm curious if this is an isolated event or if it's as widespread as I think it is.

Company: BBB Better Business Bureau
Country: USA
State: Texas
City: Houston

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