Back in mid-April of as the income tax season was winding down, I was solicited by the BBB of West Florida to become a member. The gentleman on the phone gave me their standard sales pitch of how ethical they are and how they only allow businesses with the same high standard of ethics and a track record of at least 3 years to join.
After some thought, I agreed to start the "accreditation" process, which also required a form of payment for the dues should I be accepted. At this time, I was also in negotiations with another business that I felt would allow me to expand my income tax service and provide year around income stream while remaining in the financial services sector.
A week later, those negotiations came to fruition, but meant that I would not be able to continue the tax service due to a conflict of interest wrt the use of short-term Refund Anticipation Loans. Although I had not utilized these loans with most of my customers, the franchise I was a franchisee with still offered them which put me in a bind. Since the franchise had never really taken off and I was losing money, I decided the new opportunity was overall a better way to go, but thought I would try to get a reprieve since I did not personally use RALs at my location over the last year or two.
It just so happens that I was contacted later that day or the next by the BBB to complete the accreditation process. They were in need of proof that I had been in business for 3 years. At that time, I informed Sal of the predicament I was in and that I would like to put everything on hold. He agreed.
Another week went by and I was contacted again by Sal. Again, he indicated that the BBB needed confirmation of the length of time in business in order to proceed. I reminded him we had put everything on hold and he said he did recall that. At this time, I told him to just cancel the request because I was not going to be able to continue in the tax business as a franchisee. Again, he indicated this would NOT be a problem.
A few weeks later after closing up my store front, I was reviewing my credit card statements and found that the BBB had charged me $400 dollars back in April. When my next statement came later that week, there was no reversal.in the meantime, I had received a couple voice messages welcoming me to the BBB. I called and left a message for Sal asking what was going on, to refund my CC immediately, and to remind him that I had not only cancelled, but never sent him the "REQUIRED" information on the length of service that he had said the BBB must have before completing the process. Furthermore, I had received a contract from him early in May that I NEVER returned signed!
By July, I had not received any calls from Sal, nor a refund, so I sent a certified letter explaining the sequence of events as best I could recall them. I would never have guessed one would need to keep meticulous records for dispute against the BBB and their supposedly high moral standards! But, apparently you do.
Still, I never received any call or letter from the BBB concerning their honoring my request from April, so I contacted my credit card company and had them reverse the charges. The BBB fought this repeatedly over the next 6 months and despite NO CONTRACT having been signed and my request prior to approval to cancel the process, the credit card company finally said there was nothing they could do and returned the charge to my account.
Only then, did I get a call from the BBB and it was inquiring if I wanted to place a banner ad on their website with Tax Season approaching!!! WHAT NERVE!
That was the final straw and I explained to them I really didn't know who to complain to about a business that is in the business of settling consumer complaints, but that I would be coming to this website as well as contacting my local TV News department and their "8 on Your Side" consumer division. I will also be writing my State Attorney General to file a complaint. Upon coming to Usa Consumer Complaints.com, I see I am not alone as there are several others complaints against various BBBs.
My advice to any consumer or business is to not trust the BBB for anything. Not only do they not practice what they preach about morals and ethics, I find it strange that it is essentially a membership club for businesses, which makes me wonder just how effective and non-biased their consumer protection really is.
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