In many reports we see that the Federal Trade Commission has referenced the Better Business Bureau. It appears that the Federal Trade Commission is using this private business as an example and potential justification of their on-going rule making and regulation in many industry sectors and categories. Some feel that any association with the Better Business Bureau is bothersome in that if they are in constant alliance with the Federal Trade Commission then the Federal Trade Commission, is not watching their potential abuses or manipulations in the free market.
We had done a report approximately three years ago to find out exactly what the Better Business Bureau was all about after a decade or more of what we believed were to be questionable practices as they attempted to interact with our Independent Contractors, Company Owned Units, Franchisees, Customers, Consumers, Business Associates and Chambers of Commerce in which we or our associates were members of.
Here is what we found:
We had found what we believe to be Better Business Bureau Fraudulent Sales Practices. We asked our contacts in the 23 states we have set up franchises in if any other small businesses had a problem with the Better Business Bureau and there sales practices? We have for quite some time. Our franchisees are required to join the local Chambers of Commerce as part of their franchise when one exists in their exclusive territory. But as soon as they do the Better Business Bureau calls up and says;
"We have been getting a lot of calls about your service, but we did not know what to tell those customers who inquired about you with The Better Business Bureau?" Then the pitch goes on? "for about $300 plus dollars you will receive?."
I contacted the Washington D.C. head office of the Better Business Bureau and they denied that any such incident has ever occurred and referred me to the fact that they are a 90-year old organization. Maybe, but as it stands have been and probably still are breaking the law. This has occurred five times in sales calls to me personally from Better Business Bureau representatives.
I feel these sales techniques are fraudulent and disreputable. I am also concerned with the "Boomerang" closing techniques when the Better Business Bureau sales person gets a negative response to join.
"We will not be able to tell the people who call us that you are a reputable company."
Implying that the consumer will assume the opposite, that you are disreputable company. This in itself maybe good for Better Business Bureau sales, but it is an extortion technique. Asking small companies to fork over $300 plus dollars is unnecessary and they will receive little if any benefit for their Better Business Bureau membership. Perhaps the plaque displayed may be of value to customers in a store, but the way in which they attempt to sell it is dishonest. The Federal Trade Commission is hereby on notice that these alliances if gone unchecked mean that the Federal Trade Commission is a clear and present danger to the consumer and accessory to fraudulent sales tactics and misrepresentations.
The Better Business Bureau works closely with the Federal Trade Commission and after contacting the Better Business Bureau to make a complaint about their sales tactics, the gentleman in charge told me I was wrong, and that I did not know what I was talking about and that the Better Business Bureau would never do such a thing? Which is also a falsehood since I have experienced it first hand. When I told them that I might have to contact the Federal Trade Commission in this matter, they said go-ahead knowing their strength in alliance with the government. Knowing that they were considered beyond reproach? So the saying: "Absolute power corrupts, absolutely" again has a home at both the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau in my opinion. Maybe you have a different opinion on this; Do you think something should be done about it?
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs
professional maid services Park Ridge ..In order to build a stronger, more self-sufficient America, America... Read More
With gasoline prices at the pump climbing strongly into the... Read More
Legislation is getting legs to further curtail your use of... Read More
I heard on the news this week how America continues... Read More
Every conflict has its economic moments and dimensions. The current... Read More
Iran has threatened to raise America's fuel prices again. They... Read More
Heaven, Hell, or some sort of Purgatory.I cannot seem to... Read More
Visible remnants of the world's eldest democracy can be seen... Read More
It looks overall like the liberals are advocating for no... Read More
The recent first round of the Iranian elections somewhat resembled... Read More
Businesses advertising alcohol either in TV or non-broadcast format need... Read More
The recent scathing remarks by High Court Judge Richard Mawrey... Read More
On June 16, 1972, a security guard at the Watergate... Read More
Bosnia-Herzegovina (heretofore "Bosnia") is an artificial polity with four, tangentially... Read More
In the words of a secret agent who has signed... Read More
The blogosphere has been jumping around the story like crazy... Read More
The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) is interested in the... Read More
Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, has... Read More
After 9-11 insurance rates on Independent Truck Drivers and smaller... Read More
Most politicians are completely out to lunch and totally Machiavellian... Read More
Often we see protests at the sites of global leader... Read More
The Right's defense of John Thune in the Dan Nelson/MetaBank... Read More
Back-Dooring the CSIS:The US and Israel have admitted they back-doored... Read More
In today's Rants from Lance session I address the question... Read More
America has some monetary issues, which need to be addressed.... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..Recently on C-SPAN, there were two gentlemen debating free trade... Read More
Sodomy is against the law, yet goes on every day... Read More
After 9-11 insurance rates on Independent Truck Drivers and smaller... Read More
Some call it the "unofficial" or "informal" economy, others call... Read More
Well having studying the need for decreasing America's dependence on... Read More
In the previous article, we described the various methods developed... Read More
The CBR taxes the Pakistani source income of nonresident individuals... Read More
After arranging the Armistice that ended or settled outstanding issues... Read More
Sarbaines Oxley was probably the easiest way to destroy free... Read More
Water Conservation in larger cities is less of an issue... Read More
Due to the bizarre weather patterns this winter California got... Read More
Yes, Bush is two-faced. The two sides of the faces... Read More
Journalism, as it is often said, is the 'fourth branch... Read More
Freedom is in the eyes of the beholder. In Communist... Read More
You know now that North Korea is backing down on... Read More
Every conflict has its economic moments and dimensions. The current... Read More
I read an interesting article in foreign Affairs magazine last... Read More
I. The FactsJust days before a much-awaited donor conference, the... Read More
PolicyFederal Fair Housing accessibility requirements for new multifamily buildings should... Read More
I've been thinking again. I know some of my readers... Read More
Do you really want to get ahead in your life?... Read More
The most exciting event in Slovenia last week was when... Read More
Perhaps a silent revolution is taking place, this time more... Read More
Osama bin Laden probably needs to get a pay raise,... Read More
Please read through this quick thought and discussion as if... Read More
Political |