Is the Bigger Business Bureau effective?

[Joe_5859]

Is there is a firm that deals with discrimination claims as well as other claims. I can’t name what the company is, but I am pretty sure that my complaint ought to include this element of dissatisfaction, with the company. The BBB doesn’t seem to allow for these serious matters. I can’t imagine that companies get away with discrimination in the U.S, especially in the business sector. I hope not.

That I can’t answer. You’d probably have to talk to a lawyer.

 

[friardchips]

That I can’t answer. You’d probably have to talk to a lawyer.

‘Lawyer’ is so much more of a cooler term than ‘solicitor’ (non-consequential point ). Don’t really want to get that legal by having to get one.

The thing is, is that it still ought to come under retail and marketing, as it is not discrimination in itself, or rather, it is, but crosses the line into the marketplace. It is the whole caboodle.

Thanks for you responses in this thread, btw.

 

[friardchips]

I’ve found them useful in the past, I’ll choose a place based on the BBB grade or scale. It’s like yelp, for old people…

Okay, thanks. So they represent good/high standards and this is something important to the consumer. Starting to think that the BBB is not legal enough. Kind of need an organisation between lawyer stage and the BBB. I could try them anyway as a first resort.

 

[Xystus]

I purchased a repair manual for my car once. I needed wiring diagrams to help diagnose a problem i was having. The car is a 2010, which the manual clearly stated it covered but all the wiring information stops at 2005, (no, it was not applicable to everything after 2005) after paging through the book i realize all information stops after the 2005 version. After calling customer support to see what the deal was they promised to email the information, which ended up being a very fuzzy photocopied block diagram, not an actual schematic, which i needed. After contacting the company a few times more to try to get the information that was supposed to be in the manual it was clear they did not have the information avaliable and was basically told “sorry we cant help you”. I ended up filling out a complaint online with the BBB. one of the questions on the BBB form was something to the effect of “what to you want to get out of filing this complaint” with choices being something like “just for informational purposes” and one was “requst refund” which i selected (not my origional intent). a few days later the repair manual company contacted me asking me how much i paid for the manual and what address they can send a check too. I got my refund about a week later.

 

[Joe_5859]

‘Lawyer’ is so much more of a cooler term than ‘solicitor’ (non-consequential point ). Don’t really want to get that legal by having to get one.

The thing is, is that it still ought to come under retail and marketing, as it is not discrimination in itself, or rather, it is, but crosses the line into the marketplace. It is the whole caboodle.

Thanks for you responses in this thread, btw.

I didn’t mean you need to “get” a lawyer, but simply meant you could perhaps call one to see if he or she could recommend a place to contact that would fit with what you’re looking for (figuring that it would be an easier question for him or her to answer). I don’t know if that would pan out or not, but I thought I’d make the suggestion.

 

[Joe_5859]

I purchased a repair manual for my car once. I needed wiring diagrams to help diagnose a problem i was having. The car is a 2010, which the manual clearly stated it covered but all the wiring information stops at 2005, (no, it was not applicable to everything after 2005) after paging through the book i realize all information stops after the 2005 version. After calling customer support to see what the deal was they promised to email the information, which ended up being a very fuzzy photocopied block diagram, not an actual schematic, which i needed. After contacting the company a few times more to try to get the information that was supposed to be in the manual it was clear they did not have the information avaliable and was basically told “sorry we cant help you”. I ended up filling out a complaint online with the BBB. one of the questions on the BBB form was something to the effect of “what to you want to get out of filing this complaint” with choices being something like “just for informational purposes” and one was “requst refund” which i selected (not my origional intent). a few days later the repair manual company contacted me asking me how much i paid for the manual and what address they can send a check too. I got my refund about a week later.

Interesting. I suppose it makes sense. Far quicker and easier for them to cut you a check so that they can mark the complaint as “resolved” with the BBB rather than have an outstanding complaint against them.

 

[friardchips]

I purchased a repair manual for my car once. I needed wiring diagrams to help diagnose a problem i was having. The car is a 2010, which the manual clearly stated it covered but all the wiring information stops at 2005, (no, it was not applicable to everything after 2005) after paging through the book i realize all information stops after the 2005 version. After calling customer support to see what the deal was they promised to email the information, which ended up being a very fuzzy photocopied block diagram, not an actual schematic, which i needed. After contacting the company a few times more to try to get the information that was supposed to be in the manual it was clear they did not have the information avaliable and was basically told “sorry we cant help you”. I ended up filling out a complaint online with the BBB. one of the questions on the BBB form was something to the effect of “what to you want to get out of filing this complaint” with choices being something like “just for informational purposes” and one was “requst refund” which i selected (not my origional intent). a few days later the repair manual company contacted me asking me how much i paid for the manual and what address they can send a check too. I got my refund about a week later.

Thanks for the story. Glad you got your refund!

 

[friardchips]

I didn’t mean you need to “get” a lawyer, but simply meant you could perhaps call one to see if he or she could recommend a place to contact that would fit with what you’re looking for (figuring that it would be an easier question for him or her to answer). I don’t know if that would pan out or not, but I thought I’d make the suggestion.

It was an appreciated suggestion and might be worth the time asking for a legal opinion on the topic and/or whether they could suggest an avenue to walk down regarding this matter.

Thank you!

 

[pnewton]

I have filed one complaint and received zero response from the complaint. However, they did publish the complaint and many others use such feedback to choose companies, especially when they grope in the dark. It is the next best thing when word of mouth is not available. I would think that continual poor response to the BBB would bite deeply into any honest business, not that it helps us against the unethical businesses.

 

[friardchips]

I have filed one complaint and received zero response from the complaint. However, they did publish the complaint and many others use such feedback to choose companies, especially when they grope in the dark. It is the next best thing when word of mouth is not available. I would think that continual poor response to the BBB would bite deeply into any honest business, not that it helps us against the unethical businesses.

At present, while any action I take, by approaching the BBB, might not receive any positive feedback, I think it is really the only option I have presently, to hand. It might usher in a response of some kind if the BBB is an organisation to be taken seriously due to consumers looking to them as some kind of hallmark standard. At the very least, one is not being silent on the matter, and this might be enough to ruffle a few feathers in the direction needed, even if it doesn’t bring about an out-and-out successful result. If it doesn’t, I would have to take things further in yet another direction.

 

[DignumEtJustum]

First of all, check the BBB accreditation for the business. If they have a good BBB rating but their customer service seems lacking to you, it’s because their customer service is indeed bad but to save face on some level they do likely have some manager or department designated to dealing with public complaints such as those found with the BBB.

On the company’s BBB profile you can also view other peoples’ complaints and the company’s responses to them. Based off of those you should get a better idea of how your complaint might go. The online form you fill out can be as much or little detailed as you please. The part people will see though is the two paragraph areas you’re given to write your complaint out. I suspect claims of discrimination might get their attention.