The exponential growth of the Internet has been both good and bad for consumers. Good in that the number of businesses we as consumers have access to is infinite. Bad in that that many scammers pose as legitimate online businesses.
Enter the Better Business Bureau. Your BBB likes it — yes, likes it! — when consumers have concerns and complaints about businesses, whether online or brick and mortar. Our investigators take a look at the business and, if warranted, warn consumers about shady business practices and scams.
That’s what happened with Peel Inc., the Evanston, Ill., Internet company that sells a variety of home products under multiple names and Web site addresses. Through Jan. 6, 2010, the company has received more than 1,640 Better Business Bureau complaints nationwide — 51 of those from Colorado. These complaints earned Peel Inc. an “F” rating from the BBB. According to its Web site, Peel Inc. is currently not accepting new orders but is accepting refund requests.
Consumer complaints to the BBB allege undisclosed or unauthorized charges, lack of clearly disclosed shipping and/or membership fees, and deceptive advertising. Consumers further allege receiving multiple orders of merchandise that have not been ordered and/or authorized, and subsequent difficulties obtaining refunds.
One complainant said she placed an order online for five pounds of coffee for $5 with Seattle Coffee Direct. She was charged $38 for two pounds of coffee. “When I called to complain, they told me that just by signing, I automatically signed up a $38 shipment of coffee every three business days. I did not sign up for this. I canceled and asked for a refund. They told me to return the product and I did, by certified mail. I finally got the refund after I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.”
The lesson here? Had she checked the company out first with the BBB, she would have seen that they have an F rating due to 2,848 complaints filed with the BBB and a failure to respond to 670 of them. Most likely she would have not made the original purchase.
The BBB offers the following advice to shoppers on how to help prevent billing issues and other unexpected surprises when shopping online and in a store:
• Check out the business with the BBB at
www.wynco.bbb.org. The BBB has more than 4 million business reliability reports on companies nationwide and in Canada.
• Read all policies, agreements, guarantees and instructions before signing.
• Do not be pressured into signing an agreement before you are ready.
• Make sure you understand all terms and conditions.
• Make sure all oral promises are put in writing.
• Be wary of vaguely worded provisions, exclusions or limitations that could pose a problem later.
•Be cautious when there is contradictory information in any agreement.
• Never sign a contract with sections left blank.
Don’t go a day without your BBB. Follow us on
Twitter,
Facebook, and
LinkedIn. For more consumer information or to check out the
BBBlog, visit
wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 128 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving northern Colorado and Wyoming reported nearly 1 million instances of service to consumers and businesses in 2009. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
Luanne Kadlub, BBB Media Specialist, 970-686-9307, lkadlub@aol.com