photo credit: wili_hybrid
With so many thriving businesses already set in place and those that are newcomers to the business world, it is no wonder why the BBB was set in place in 1912 in order to help consumers find the right business for them. Inc.com recently did a post regarding the businesses that received an “F” grade from the BBB during 2008, sort of a warning on the one’s to watch out for.
Access to government grant programs is a really big sector that receives a ton of complaints from customers on the BBB website. So much so that many of these programs have been blacklisted by the BBB in the past year.
Enticing consumers with poor credit, Baltimore-based BlueHippo advertises computers and electronics that can be purchased through installment financing plans. The company asks consumers to pay one upfront fee, followed by 52 weeks of layaway payments. The product will be shipped within two or three months, the company says. But miss a payment early on, and you might not get your purchase — or a refund, according to customer complaints. Consumers “find themselves strapped for cash and want to stop the charges, but the company makes it very challenging,” says Angie Barnett, president of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland. More than 3,000 BlueHippo customers have issued complaints with the Greater Maryland BBB, and more than 1,000 reported that they have not heard any response from the company.
What are your thoughts on these misleading companies?