COMPLAINT FORM Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon & Western Washington Your privacy is important to us. Our privacy policy can be found at www.bbb.org or by contacting us. Your Better Business Bureau recommends filing your complaint online at www.bbb.org. New Complaint. This form is to file a complaint concerning services provided by a BBB. If your complaint concerns services provided by a business please use the correct form by clicking here. BBB Search Page. Please enter the City and State/Province of the BBB about which you wish to leave feedback. Please click here if this complaint is.
1 What Do I Do if I Feel I Was Unfairly Reported to the Better Business Bureau?
2 What Agency Takes Reports on Unethical Business?
3 Deal With the BBB Without Paying
4 Process for an EEOC Complaint
The Better Business Bureau, or BBB, is a non-profit corporation that uses an Accredited Businesses system to assign rankings to businesses, charities and non-profit organizations. The BBB stores data about companies and uses dispute resolution procedures established by the Council of the Better Business Bureaus. Local BBBs administer procedures designed for consumers to file complaints against accredited and non-accredited businesses.
Customer Complaint Initiation
After a complaint is filed with the Better Business Bureau, it determines whether it is an issue that they can handle. For example, the BBB does not deal with pricing, policies, employer or employee disputes, or anything concerning professional procedures or a government agency. If the dispute concerns a clear business transaction, they will send a copy to the business referenced to get its input about the matter.
Resolving Customer Disputes Directly
The Better Business Bureau encourages companies to answer customer complaints that were filed with it. Businesses have 30 days to respond before further steps are taken. When a dispute is handled to each party's satisfaction, the BBB should be notified so that it can close its file. The BBB will contact the customer to ensure that the issue was resolved, so businesses need to keep accurate records of their attempts to resolve complaints.
Dispute Resolution Proposals
Businesses may answer customer complaints with resolution proposals, which the Better Business Bureau will submit to the customer. Once the customer is in agreement, the BBB will close its case. The resolution is then reflected on the BBB business reliability report positively. If a business has made an attempt to resolve the issue, or feels it was not at fault, the complaint will enter an arbitration or mediation process.
Mediation and Arbitration
If the matter goes to mediation, a neutral third party will work with both sides until they come to a mutual agreement. A professionally trained mediator will guide the parties through the process. If arbitration is chosen, the arbitrator will weigh the evidence presented to come to a conclusion. Meeting locations will be chosen by the BBB at mutually convenient times for each party to have confidential sessions, typically for two to three hours.
During these confidential meetings, the problems are clarified to discuss solutions. Mediators strive to help both parties reach an agreeable legally binding solution, whereas an arbitrator will make that decision similar to a judge in a court of law.
BBB Business Record
While the BBB is not government sanctioned, nor has any state, federal or local government affiliation, it is a resource that consumers regularly use to make purchase and service provider decisions. Because the BBB archives information about businesses, unanswered complaints are considered unflattering by consumers. Therefore, it is advisable that companies deal with complaints to keep their business records clear and so that it doesn't dissuade future potential customers.
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About the Author
Susan S. Davis is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the L.A. Press Club. She was managing editor of 'The Hosting News' and a columnist at Online Dating Magazine. Davis attended Chicago's Medill School of Journalism, and holds an A.A.S. in radio broadcasting from Minnesota Business College and a certificate in paralegal studies from University of California, Los Angeles.
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S., Susan. 'What Happens to a Business When There's a Complaint With the BBB?' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/happens-business-theres-complaint-bbb-26071.html. 12 March 2019.
S., Susan. (2019, March 12). What Happens to a Business When There's a Complaint With the BBB? Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/happens-business-theres-complaint-bbb-26071.html
S., Susan. 'What Happens to a Business When There's a Complaint With the BBB?' last modified March 12, 2019. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/happens-business-theres-complaint-bbb-26071.html
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