I have a huge problem with the BBB. They have certainly outlived their usefulness, just like the phone book. I throw my phone books in the garbage.
I joined the local Chamber of Commerce, which to me, is being a good corporate citizen. I used my street address for my mailing address, rather than the PO Box that I use for everything else.
The BBB sent me mail to the street address, wanting me to join. I called the people up, and it was $350 a year to join, and get this, they tried to extort me by saying if I did not join, I would only get a “C” rating. I told them they just better not give me any rating because if they did, they were looking at strong litigation. I cannot believe those folks. Also, these clowns denied mining the Chamber list to get new leads. Wow.
In order to be an accredited BBB company, you have to pay money and hang a sign in your office. Then you are accredited. OH, if you want to be an accredited online business, that is extra money. What a rook.
Most people think that the BBB is some sort of quasi-governmental non-for-profit watchdog agency. They are not. They are for profit and not associated with the government.
Dispute resolution! I am proactive in my dispute resolution. If someone has a problem with my fee, I return it to them, no questions asked. I just will not do business with them in the future.
The search giant, Google, had an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB in 2008. Huh? Why? Two, read that 2, unresolved complaints over the past 3 years. I bet a billion dollars that those 2 were absolute lunatics anyway. Incidentally, Google was named the “Top Global Brand” that same year.
Now, someone explain to me how an offer to buy mineral rights be a scam or bait and switch? I suppose if they violated Texas State Law, it could be, such as not disclosing in 12 point type that executing this agreement conveys all or a portion of your mineral rights. But, if could not read and understand the agreement, you would probably miss that also. What would they bait and switch you to? How would they scam you? By offering you a lower price than another might have done given the same circumstances?
If you say that is the case, then how the heck to you buy or sell anything, if there might be a better deal out there.
As to phone numbers – that is pretty much antiquated in my way of thinking. I have two VoIP phone lines in my office. My TOTAL phone bill is $54 per month for two lines, including everything, even calls to Spain or Italy (both where I have relatives). So not having a listed phone just proves that they are smarter than the average consumer.