Is the Better Business Bureau a scam?? My opinion is "yes", it's a scam.
A place called PC Drivers Headquarters, a software seller in Austin, Tex. had more than 312 people file complaints about it with the Better Business Bureau in the last three years, but the Better Business Bureau still blessed it with an A-plus rating.But wait, there's more.
The way the Better Business Bureau works is to offer "mediation services" to customers whose disputes can't be resolved through talk, e-mail and reason. What you may not know is that the Austin area's Better Business Bureau charges consumers $70 a mediation.
One typical instance is a case where a man wanted a refund for a $39 download from PC Drivers Headquarters. He was told by the Better Business Bureau that it would cost $79 to "mediate" the case (with no guarantees). That's right. To get back your $39, you need to spend $70.
[/p]When customers say 'No, thanks,' the Better Business Bureau says 'Case closed,' and then puts the dispute in the "resolved" column, pretending that they successfully stood up for the consumer.[/p]A company called Empire Today based in Northlake, Ill. has had 1,166 complaints filed against it in the last three years.But according to the Better Business Bureau, Empire Today has settled each and every one of those complaints "to the satisfaction of the bureau". Really? In other words, they did noting and then marked it as "resolved".
[/p]Companies listed by the BBB pay money every year for their "services", which seem basically like a way to be able to scam customers and have the Better Business Bureau run interference for you.
[/p]In my book, that's a SCAM, plain and simple.
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