Better Business Bureau accused of" Pay for Play Scheme"..High Ratings to Payers. Low to Non Payers.

[Stuart G]

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/business-bureau-best-ratings-money-buy/story?id=12123843

ABC NEWS...
Terror Group Gets 'A' Rating From Better Business Bureau?
By JOSEPH RHEE and BRIAN ROSS
Nov. 12, 2010


The Better Business Bureau, one of the country's best known consumer watchdog groups, is being accused by business owners of running a "pay for play" scheme in which A plus ratings are awarded to those who pay membership fees, and F ratings used to punish those who don't.

To prove the point, a group of Los Angeles business owners paid $425 to the Better Business Bureau and were able to obtain an A minus grade for a non-existent company called Hamas, named after the Middle Eastern terror group.

"Right now, this rating system is really unworthy of consumer trust or confidence," said Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal in an interview to be broadcast as part of an ABC News investigation airing tonight on 20/20.

In an official demand letter sent to the national headquarters of the Better Business Bureau Thursday, Blumenthal called on the BBB to stop using its grading system, which he said was "potentially harmful and misleading" to consumers.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I heard about this the other day..I just researched it, and evidently TV stations all over the country are doing quick research similar to what ABC TV did, and finding similar results. Those that pay get higher ratings than those that don't pay.

Here is link to a Portland OR. TV story posted today .. KATU.com
Better Business bribes? Rating group under investigation
http://www.katu.com/news/local/108197969.html


Here is a follow up report also today by ABC News...Probably will be on TV tonight..
How the Ritz Carlton got a rating of F by BBB
There is a very long story associated with this link. Very interesting...

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/business-bureau-ritz-carlton/story?id=12151154

This short story says that Connecticut's Attorney General is trying to change BB B's system

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9JEN33G0.htm

[UrbScotty]

1. I have NEVER known a company to buy itself

a good reputation, or a few politicians, or anything of that sort!

:sarcasm:

Really, who's surprised by this? Not me.

[tridim]

2. More proof that EVERYTHING is a scam.

At least it seems that way.

[Stuart G]

3. I heard about this over the weekend..and

I really couldn't beleive it.
These assholes have lived on a reputation that must have died years ago...And it looks like it is all over the country
... "Pay for Play" as old as business itself..

[struggle4progress]

4. Good time to contact media if you've been ripped off by BBB-accredited scam

as many people have

[wtmusic]

5. Waiting for similar news about Consumer Reports.

Sometimes their "review" of a product flies in the face of all the anecdotal reviews I've heard.

[4_TN_TITANS]

6. Just yesterday while sitting in at the switchboard...

they called to solicit our general manager to buy accreditation. That organization is rotten to the core.

[MedicalAdmin]

7. When we opened up our new clinic the BBB came a callin'.

And they asked us to join and told me about all sorts of dire things that happened to companies that didn't join and how no one would trust us if we weren't members.

It was a laugh riot. Almost a big a joke as when the new Walmarts community relations officer showed up smoozing and asking me what I thought. I told her she didn't want to know, but she insisted so...