The Better Business Bureau is Bad for Business.

The BBB charges businesses money to join. It appears to this writer that the primary benefits are that they offer a back link for the business, increasing their web visibility; suggest a badge of credibility, and offer an avenue through which customer complaints can be addressed. However, it is in this last function that the BBB actively serves to harm businesses.BBB receives complaints. It then approaches a business to see if the complaint can be resolved. However, sometimes complaints cannot be resolved, such as when they are based on fabrications or conclusions not based in reality. For example, a consumer may believe that a roof fan installed by a vendor caused mold to grow on her roof. However, that conclusion might have no valid scientific basis and thus the vendor can do nothing to remedy the complaint. Nevertheless, BBB will post that complaint on their website, thereby harming the business. The business may respond in writing, but the complaint against them stands.It is this writer’s understanding, after speaking with BBB, that their position is that they will post any complaint by a customer about a business service. They will not do anything to establish whether that complaint has any basis in reality or not. That position serves to actively harm the businesses that support BBB, as it gives disgruntled consumers a sounding board to complain from. It can also assist a consumer in extorting money from businesses. I have seen letters from consumers in which they nakedly demand rebates or refunds in exchange for not complaining on-line.I have cancelled my membership with BBB because I don’t want to support an organization that can easily be used to damage my business. I suggest you think long and hard about your relationship too.