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The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private agency that helps consumers by publishing business trustworthiness reports, reducing fraudulent business activity, educating companies, providing information about charities, and resolving disputes. It has no regulatory power over companies, but membership requires dispute resolution. The BBB is successful in reporting frequent consumer complaints and listing charities that spend the most money on their charitable causes. However, it is less successful in dispute resolution, and disputes involving mismanagement of large sums of money are best resolved in civil court. The BBB also provides educational videos and can be a useful resource for both businesses and consumers.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private agency formed in 1912 that operates in both Canada and the United States. Its goal is to help consumers by publishing business trustworthiness reports, reducing fraudulent business activity, educating companies and businesses about rights and responsibilities, providing information about charities, and resolving disputes.
Because the Better Business Bureau is a private organization, it has no regulatory power over companies. Businesses must sign up and pay for membership; however, consumer and charitable dealings are not limited to member companies. In addition to membership, companies must agree to dispute resolution in order to maintain or apply for membership.
In its best efforts, the BBB does well as an agency that reports frequent consumer complaints. However, complaints, unless the company is a member, remain without foundation. If you are evaluating which companies are most likely to be ethical in their treatment of customers, one or two unsubstantiated complaints may not be considered enough evidence to convict a company. However, if there are a lot of complaints about a company’s business practices, this information is likely to be very helpful.
The Better Business Bureau is also successful for those looking to make charitable donations. The agency lists charities that tend to spend the most money on their charitable causes and have a known history of economic accountability. Choosing a charity from this list likely means you’re giving your money wisely.
The organization is less successful in its area of dispute resolution. No company should file a dispute resolution unless the company wishes to remain in good standing with the agency. Disputes involving mismanagement of large sums of money are best resolved in civil court. However, when a consumer observes a company engaging in fraudulent advertising, the best action the consumer can take is to fill out a Better Business Bureau report, which takes only a few moments on the internet. The agency sends reports in the United States to the Federal Trade Commission, which can take action or at least investigate large numbers of reports.
Since 1995, the Better Business Bureau has developed a group of videos covering a variety of topics, such as information on auto repair, identity theft and childcare. These videos are distributed to public libraries, where they can be checked out or viewed by interested consumers. Such education can be invaluable to consumers.
While not all agency intentions are equally fulfilled, the organization can be a useful resource for both businesses and consumers. Local representatives tend to be accommodating. Consulting agency can help provide information to people when they are considering building a new business or purchasing any type of unfamiliar product or service.
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