How to File a Complaint against the BBB Today!

Source: http://bbbthetruth.com
Date: April 17, 2010

Many of you have shared your BBB grievances with us via email and the forum posts on here and we thank you for keeping us in the loop and keeping the discussion alive.  Now, you can take your complaints w/ the BBB one step further thanks to a great article by the BBBthetruth.com!

See below for all the details!

How to file a complaint against the BBB

First Stage:

Send a complaint to:
The Council of Better Business Bureau
4200 Wilson Blvd, Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1838
Phone:   703-276-0100
Fax:        703-525-8277

You can fax your complaint but you must also mail it Certified Mail and Return Receipt Requested.
The CBBB has 30 days to respond.

You must do it in order to have the correct “paper trail” for your next step.
We do not expect the CBBB to solve the issue but you gave them a chance to “control” their franchise.
If the issue is not resolved, escalate to the next stage.

Second Stage:
Send a complaint about:
Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices by the BBB
Address the complaint to:
The Office of the Attorney General

Each state has it own Attorney General.
The Office of the Attorney General of your state is well familiar with the issue.
They already received many such complaints about the BBB.
The Attorney General is not happy with the level of complaints about the BBB they receive.
The more complaints they receive, the more pressure they will put on the BBB.
Do not expect quick results, the Office of the Attorney General is usually overworked and understaffed.

The only way to make them attend to this issue is for the business community and the public to stand up for their rights, take action and submit such complaints when due.

Third Stage:
Send your complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Use their site:
https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/
Even though the FTC does not resolve individual consumer complaints
It is important to submit your valid complaint against the BBB
The following is the FTC note in regards to submitting a complaint.

Before You Submit a Complaint
The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, collects complaints about companies, business practices, identity theft, and episodes of violence in the media.
Why: Your complaints can help us detect patterns of wrong-doing, and lead to investigations and prosecutions. The FTC enters all complaints it receives into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database that is used by thousands of civil and criminal law enforcement authorities worldwide. The FTC does not resolve individual consumer complaints.

Fourth Stage:
If you cannot get satisfaction, and or demand compensation for the damages caused by the wrong doing of the BBB you need to take the BBB Franchise to court.
The franchise owner is relying on the fact that very few will go through with the expenses involved in such litigation.
Franchise owners may “close shop” to avoid paying compensation.
Check the corporation records of the BBB Franchise you intend to sue.
What is the track record of the owners? Any previous “Not for Profits” corporations?
It  is  best to appoint a legal firm that has experience in litigation and cases against the BBB.