Better Business Bureau Eastern Washington, North Idaho & Montana April Newsletter

Monthly BBB Hit Parade

Naming Names is not about revenge or vindictiveness, it is about accountability. The BBB enforces Accredited Business standards and holds non-accredited businesses accountable by naming names in the top ten categories for the month.

Naming Names is a monthly release of the complaint handling activities of the BBB’s non-accredited businesses for the previous month. All complaints that have closed out in the BBB’s previous month’s timeframe are utilized to compile this monthly Naming Names. What warrants companies named in this release? Those non-accredited businesses that 1) don’t answer complaints brought to their attention by the BBB, 2) have a complaint closed disputed, which means that, despite attention to the complaint, the company did not resolve the issue, 3) are unable to be found and have mail returned to the BBB as undeliverable, 4) have had an unusual volume of complaints for the month that, as a result, drove its industry to the top ten (whether they resolved the complaints or not).

PLEASE NOTE: Companies named in the top ten monthly categories are non-accredited businesses ONLY. BBB Accredited Businesses are held to a higher standard of delivering trust, and as a result, no BBB Accredited Business is "named" in the top ten categories of the Naming Names list. BBB Accredited Businesses can’t have unanswered complaints, a pattern of complaints, nor be "unable to be pursued" and maintain BBB accreditation.

If any BBB Accredited Business fails to comply with BBB standards, their accreditation is suspended and sent to the Board of Directors for revocation, in which case they will then be "named" in a separate news release.

TOP TEN COMPLAINT INDUSTRIES

1. CONSTRUCTION, REMODELING, BUILDERS took the number one spot for March with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Rocky Mountain Design Center of Hayden, ID, George Calfrobe Roofing of Selah, WA, Scape FX of Pullman, WA., Independent Concrete of Mead, WA, JT’s Painting & Specialty of Spokane, WA each had an unanswered complaint. RL Oswalt Construction of Spirit Lake, ID, Top Coaters Painting of Clarkston, WA., and Three Brothers Painting of Pullman, WA. each had a complaint closed unresolved.

2. MAGAZINE SALES took the number two spot this month due to three magazine sales companies located in Montana well-known to the BBB: U.S. Magazine Service of Lolo, MT, America’s Choice Reader Service and Century Marketing of Helena, MT. with all complaints closed resolved. Complaints for this category mostly concerned billing/refund issues and selling practices.

TIPS: Never confirm or give your credit card information to a company you don’t know anything about, and if someone tries to hard pitch you to buy magazines, do the math to make sure you really ARE getting a bargain. BBB suggests that you choose magazines on your own accord, and by doing your own research, rather than via a cold call from a source you know nothing about.

3. AUTOS-USED took the number three slot this month with all complaints closed resolved. Complaints for this category mostly concerned contract, product and guarantee issues.

4. ONLINE SHOPPING took the number four slot due entirely to complaints filed from our service area against DVD Donkey aka DVD Avenue aka http://www.AllMyFavoriteShows.com located at: 123 Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90001, (213) 725-5232, (877) 788-7469, web site: http://www.www.TVDVDWorld.tv This company has an "F" rating with the Colton, CA BBB. For a full report, go to: http://www.bbb.org Complaints received allege defective and incomplete product and non-delivery of product. Customers not receiving what they paid for should contact their credit card company. It really pays to check out BBB reports for online companies PRIOR to doing business with them.

5. AUTOS-NEW took the number five slot this month with all but one complaint closed resolved. Rimrock Pontiac, Cadillac, GMC of Billings, MT had one unanswered complaint. Complaints for this category mostly concerned repair, contract and billing issues.

6. CELL PHONES took the number six slot last month with all but one complaint closed resolved. Alltel of Little Rock, AR (handles a high volume of cell phone service in Montana) had one unresolved complaint. Complaints for this category mostly concerned billing and contract issues.

7. AUTO REPAIR AND SERVICE took the number seven slot this month with all complaints closed resolved. Complaints for this category mostly concerned repair, contract and billings issues.

8. RESTAURANTS took the number eight slot in March with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Kentucky Fried Chicken of Yakima, WA and Rancho Viejo of Post Falls, ID. each had one unanswered complaint. Complaints for this category concerned service and product issues.

9. REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT tops the number nine slot in Naming Names this month with all but one complaint closed resolved: Zanco Properties of Spokane Valley, WA. had one unanswered complaint. Complaints for this category mostly concerned refunds, contracts and service issues.

10. FURNITURE-RETAIL took the number ten slot this month with all complaints closed resolved. Complaints for this category concerned guarantees, customer service and product issues.

CLEARING THE AIR If any company on this list ever responds to the BBB’s Naming Names list wanting to "clear the air," we’ll let you know about it in the next release of Naming Names.

Better Business Bureau Serving Eastern Washington, North Idaho & Montana http://www.spokane.bbb.org
152 S. Jefferson, Suite 200, Spokane, WA. 99201
509-455-4200 or 800-356-1007

Media Contact:

Zan Deery, Communications/Investigations
[email protected]
Direct: 509-232-0534
Fax: 509-838-1079

The Better Business Bureau | 152 S. Jefferson, Suite 200 | Spokane | WA | 99201