I’ve been targeted by the Better Business Bureau to pay for their ratings for years.
They’ve even sent me creepy mailings telling me things were unsatisfactory on my website (even included printouts of pages with markup!). They direct me to an application form that is nothing more than a profile setup page which, after I fill it out, requires a $465 payment.
They set themselves up as an authority when that’s not what they are at all. They’re a company with salespeople who suck at disclosing to the public that members with high ratings also financially support BBB.
I’ve always suspected they only care about the money, and it annoys me when I receive the occasional email asking me why I’m not listed — to know they could give me a low rating that essentially bullies me into paying for a good one is infuriating.
The stories in this article about companies being forced to pay $375 to raise their grade prove my suspicion… as do the other testimonials from business owners who share my feelings about the BBB.
I do not trust the BBB, and neither should anyone else.
As a consumer, I gave up on the BBB some thirty years ago, when I discovered they were utterly useless either in resolving consumer complaints or in providing accurate and reliable consumer information concerning a business. I agree with your decision not to engage them.
As a consumer and customer I feel that businesses that invest and take the time to be rated by the BBB are more credible and that if I make a complaint, they will try to resolve it.
Caitlin prides herself on a high level of customer service, especially to her students. If someone has a complaint about Proofread Anywhere, we would do our best to resolve it.