Monthly BBB Hit Parade
Naming Names is not about revenge or vindictiveness, it is about accountability. The BBB enforces business standards and holds both accredited and non-accredited businesses accountable.
Naming Names is a monthly release of the BBB’s complaint handling activities 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 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 a high volume of complaints for the month that, as a result, drove its industry to the top ten (whether they resolved the complaints or not, and whether they are accredited or not).
PLEASE NOTE: Companies named in the top ten monthly categories can be both accredited and non-accredited businesses. BBB Accredited Businesses can be cited for having a high volume of complaints for the month, but can't have unanswered complaints, a pattern of complaints, nor be "unable to be pursued" and still 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 review.
NAMING NAMES APRIL 2011
(New Feature: Click on Company Name that is active, and it will take you directly to their BBB Business Review)
TOP TEN COMPLAINT INDUSTRIES
1. AUTO SERVICES AND REPAIR took the number one spot last month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Fingar’s Automotive of Whitefish, MT, Mobile Transport of Spokane Valley, WA., Mobile Mechanics of Spokane, WA, and National Power Supply, Inc. of Yakima, WA each had one complaint closed unanswered. NAO Auto of Spokane, WA had one complaint closed disputed. Accurate Auto Repair Inc. of Bozeman, MT had two complaints closed unable to be pursued. Auto Plaza Sports & Marine of Billings, MT, as well as Doctor Performance of Kellogg, ID each had one complaint closed unable to be pursued. Complaints for this industry concerned billing, repairs, delivery, and service issues.
2. CONTRACTORS took the number two spot once again last month. For this category, we take into account those contractors who offer repair and labor contracting services, such as electrical work, plumbing, roofing, etc. All but the following complaints were closed resolved in this category: Year Round Tree Care of Sunnyside, WA and ABC Locksmith of Spokane, WA each had one complaint closed unanswered. BBB NOTE: Only two complaints unanswered for a top two category? Good going, contractors! Complaints for this industry mostly concerned service/workmanship, contract and guarantee/warranty issues.
BBB NOTE: Do research and know that your contractor is currently and properly registered to conduct business in your state.
3. RETAIL took the number three spot once again last month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Elements Salon and Wellness Spa of Wenatchee, WA, Blue Glass Enterprises, LLC of Butte, MT, Born Again Upholstery of Spokane Valley, WA, 1880 Western Wear of Colville, WA, U-Save Cleaners of Spokane, WA, CoiNuts of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Insyders Music of Spokane, WA each had one complaint closed unanswered.
BBB NOTE: Homegymclearance.com of Manhattan, MT had one complaint closed unanswered. Here’s why: This is an online scam that was using an unknown address in Manhattan, MT to purport its scam. As you can see by the review, the scammers shifted to using another bogus address to purport the scam. BEWARE. Follow directives in the review for filing complaints.
Dried Poppies Direct of Pasco, WA had one complaint closed disputed. Complaints for this category concerned product, service, delivery and refund issues.
4. FINANCIAL SERVICES took the number four slot once again this past month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Little Loan Shoppe America of Spokane, WA had one complaint closed unanswered. Complaints for this category mostly concerned billing, service, and contract issues.
5. MAGAZINE SALES took the number five spot once again last month (three months in a row) mostly due to two Montana magazine sales companies consistently on BBB’s radar: U.S. Magazines of Lolo, MT, which had a total of 14 complaints, all closed resolved, and Countrywide Periodicals, Inc of Hamilton, MT which had 5 complaints, all closed resolved. Universal Reading Company of Helena, MT had one complaint closed unable to be pursued. Complaints for this industry mostly concerned billing, refund, customer service, and selling issues.
BBB NOTE: Check first with BBB about any magazine sales company pitching you at: www.bbb.org prior to signing. Do the real MATH before you agree to sign up for magazine sales pitches via random calls, and be wary of too good to be true incentives to try to get you to sign up.
6. AUTOS-NEW took the number six spot once again last month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Dave Smith Motors had two complaints closed unanswered. Complaints for this industry mostly concerned service, contract, and selling practices.
7. MEDICAL SERVICES took the number seven slot this past month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Pomeroy Pharmacy of Pomeroy, WA had one complaint closed unanswered. Complaints for this industry mostly concerned billing, service, and contract issues.
8. AUTOS-USED took the number eight slot last month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: PM Auto Sales of Spokane, WA and Car Connection of Spokane, WA each had one complaint closed unanswered. Complaints for this category concerned refund, selling, contract and service issues.
9. HEALTH SERVICES took the number nine slot last month mostly due to Global Fitness of Spokane, WA, which had 5 complaints closed unanswered. BBB NOTE: With Global Fitness taking over Stroh’s Fitness in the Valley, there have been contract issues that have come to the attention of BBB over the past couple months. If you have an unresolved issue concerning this company, we urge you to file a dual complaint with the WA AG for resolve.
For other complaint activity in this category: 123 Fit of Moses Lake, WA had one complaint closed unable to be pursued. Complaints for this category mostly concerned billing, contract, and customer service issues.
10. ELECTRONICS took the number ten slot last month with all but the following complaints closed resolved: Convertec Solutions of Cda, Idaho and WebGrowth Solutions, LLC of Spokane, WA, Rescue Geeks of Bozeman, MT each had one complaint closed unanswered. Bulldog Information Technologies of Moses Lake, WA had one complaint closed unable to be pursued. Complaints for this category mostly concerned product, service, and billing issues.
CLEARING THE AIR
If there is a correction to make with any previous Naming Names releases or if there is an error that needs clarification or re-address, our policy is to post it and make it known in the next month’s Naming Names. We call this “clearing the air.”
