BBBlog

Here’s something I don’t tell many people: I worked in the layaway department of a major department store to support myself while attending college. Even though this was many moons ago, it was an experience I’ve never forgotten. Why? Many reasons come to mind, but mostly many of the people who used layaway and what they purchased.

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The 2010 Census is months away, but that hasn’t stopped a flurry of questions from consumers. Many call the BBB with concerns about giving away information that could allow their identities to be stolen.

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Are you keeping an eye on the snow at work? Wondering when to call it a day? Will your employees be able to make it to work tomorrow? Or the next? What if roads are closed and they can’t go home? What if power lines go down from the weight of heavy snow? How will your business be affected?

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Not too long ago I met an older couple caught in the web of a 419 scam. Their “grandson” called saying he was stranded in a foreign country and needed several thousand dollars to get home. They wired the money.

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What’s the number one vehicle stolen in your state? If you think it’s the latest snazzy new model from any of the major automakers, you’d be wrong. In Colorado it’s a 1995 Honda Accord and in Wyoming a 2005 Dodge Ram Pickup, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Click here to find out the Top 10 Most-Stolen Vehicle Lists for both states.

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Flu season is off to an early start this year. College campuses already report high number of students with confirmed cases of H1N1. Businesses are sure to be next.

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Many people dream of working from home, especially in these challenging economic times when layoffs come at a moment’s notice. So when you run across an e-mail or ad that claims you can start making a profit in three hours — and there are a ton of such promises out there — it gets your attention. And there it is in black and white, BBBReviews.org says the the business is “ranked No. 1.” All you need, the ad claims, is a computer and an Internet connection!

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Loan modification and foreclosure rescue scams show no signs of going away. This means consumers must put aside emotions and do their research with eyes wide open.

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Craigslist lets you go shopping without leaving the comfort of home. And it’s addicting. Very, very addicting. Need a break from work? Check out all the cute cats and dogs waiting to find new homes. That’s what I do and that’s how I ended up spontaneously adopting two of the sweetest cats to walk this earth. But every once in a while you run across an ad that makes you stop and ask, "Is this for real?"

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Cash for Clunkers is history. But — statistically speaking — it’s still an interesting story. What kind of cars and trucks did consumers race to cash in on? What kind of vehicles did they purchase?

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It wasn’t that long ago when the BBB warned about falling for work-from-home jobs advertised on telephone polls, in newspapers and on fliers. And now we have to add social media sites to that list!

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Wanna know what the latest scams and schemes are? Take a peek inside your e-mail junk and spam folders. That’s what I do. And on any given day, I have offers to: Erase Your Debt! Get Free Government Loans! Earn a College Degree Online! Extend Your Auto Warranty! And of course, a plethora of health and diet aids and prescription medicines designed to improve this or get rid of that.

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“We were tough competitors. It impressed me that a competitor, who we fought hard against over the years, did something like that. I don't think most guys would have done that.”

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What happens when a consumer and a business can’t agree how to fix a purchase or service gone awry? BBB arbitration has proven time over time that a solution does not have to be laborious, expensive and emotionally draining.

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Rain. Wind. More rain. Strobe-light lightening (after midnight, of course). Torrential rain. Hail. Gentle rain. Heavy rain. Hail. Thunder. Gully washers. More lightening. Dark, brooding clouds. More rain. Weather forecasters are getting a summer workout — and so are home-repair contractors, many of them skipping to their banks and skipping out on you.

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It comes as no surprise that some products carry claims that sound a little too good to be true. And sometimes way lots. Who determines when an ad crosses the line between substantiated claims and unsubstantiated?

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Garage sales and summer go hand-in-hand. Great deals abound — even a few “steals.” That’s how I picked up a little-used year-old cordless electric mower for a fourth of the price of a new one.

But some items are illegal to resell in a store, an auction Web site or your front lawn as a result of the the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act signed by the president in August 2008.

The CPSIA does not require you to test your products for safety, but resellers cannot knowingly sell products that do not meet the new law’s requirements. What can’t be sold?

• Products that have been recalled.

• Toys and other articles intended for use by children, and any furniture, with paint or other surface containing coatings containing lead over specified amounts.

• Products primarily intended for children age 12 or younger with lead content over a specific amount.

• Certain toys or child-care articles that contain any one of six prohibited chemicals known as phthalates, which are primarily use as plasticizers.

• Other products that violate CPSC’s safety standards, bans, rules or regulations or otherwise present a substantial product hazard.

This is a lot to know. Each year, the CPSC recalls several hundred consumer products ranging from nursery furniture to toys and from clothing to power tools. To make it easier to determine what items and products can be resold, the Consumer Protection Safety Commission has prepared a “Handbook for Resale Stores and Product Rellers.”

Have you spotted — or unknowingly bought — any now-illegal items at garage sales or online classified sites?

Small print. 

It’ll get you almost every time.

How many of us — be honest now — take the time to read all of the fine print before we check that tiny box indicating that we have indeed read the terms of service or terms of business or however they’re labeled and agree to all of them. 

I know I’m guilty. 

When dealing with a trustworthy business, you’re not going to have to stay awake at night wondering if you’ve agreed to something you shouldn’t have. But that still isn’t an excuse for our laziness.

What’s the big deal?

It’s in the small print where you learn that “free” CD chock-full of information on how to get government grants or leads on college scholarships or how to make a mint working from home — all for just a small shipping/handling fee! — enrolls you in a program with monthly fees that show up on your credit card.

So you can just call and cancel, right?

Sure, provided the “company” has a legitimate phone number. And a person to talk to. More commonly, however, you’ll get voicemail and no way to talk to a real person. Chances are there isn’t a real street address, either.

One Northern Colorado consumer learned that the only way out of the mess he inadvertently gotten himself into was to cancel his credit card. It’s a solution thousands of others are using as well.

To prevent small-print surprises, the best solution is to take the time and read it. All if it! And then get a BBB Business Reliability Report at www.wynco.bbb.org. It’s easy to do and it takes just a couple minutes online (or you can call us, too, at 970-484-1348 or 1-800-564-0371). Also, don’t discount BBB’s sage advice: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

After doing all of this, and you still want the item or service, then — and only then — should you check that little box.

What about you? Have you been a small-print victim?

The dog days of summer are upon us. As temperatures soar and we wilt, it’s easy to get careless, lethargic, even lackadaisical.

We maybe even do stuff that we know isn’t good for us. Like taking that silly IQ quiz on Facebook, even though it asks for our cell phone number. Or, when no one is looking, we jump for joy when we get a letter in the mail (sadly, no longer from Ed McMahon) informing us that we’ve just won a sweepstakes that we don’t remember entering. And, silly us, we don’t bother reading the fine print when we order info about ‘free” grants.

It might be summer, but it’s no reason to put common sense on autopilot.

First, about that Facebook IQ test. I’ve gotten several “messages” stating that “friends” have taken the test and challenge me to do better! I have gone so far as answer a couple of questions on the test but stopped when asked to input my cellphone number in order to have results texted back. A red flag went up and I quit the quiz not caring if I was going to best my Einstein friends.

Turns out that was a good thing to do. Those who play all the way — and not bother reading the fine print — soon learn that they’ve agreed to monthly mobile phone “content” that includes wallpaper, ringtones, etc., at $19.99 a month.

OK, now we all like to win something, even if it’s a white elephant at the holiday party. But when we get an authentic-looking cashier’s check for thousands of dollars with promises of millions — if we send in a small fee to cover taxes and handling — it’s easy to start mentally buying that new car, touring Greek islands, maybe starting a business.

Problem is, that check is almost always counterfeit. If you follow directions and deposit it in your own checking account and wire the fee, you’ll never see the winnings and you will be personally liable for any funds spent.

And speaking of “free,” “free grant” scams are proliferating, especially since the Economic Stimulus Package was signed in February. If you’re offered a “free grant” for personal use, business or education, you’ll end up paying big time because part of receiving the “grant” is providing your checking account number so it can be electronically deposited. Other times you might be asked to pay a free upfront to get the grant, or to pay a fee for information on how to obtain free grants.

Everything you need to know about grants — and the federal government does indeed give billions in grants — is available at www.grants.gov. 

Does any of this sound familiar? If so, we’d like to hear your stories!  

People visit pawn shops because they need money and they need it NOW! 

Here’s how it works: You bring in an item or items as collateral and the pawn shop loans you money. When you repay the loan plus interest, you get your items back. You can pay the loan back after the first month or negotiate to make monthly payments. In many instances, interest rates can be exorbitant.

If you don’t repay the loan, the pawnbroker keeps the collateral and puts the item or items up for sale.

Before heading out to the pawn shop, consider alternatives. Can you sell the items yourself? Can you get a no-interest or low-interest loan from family, friends, employer or credit union? Have you contacted the Consumer Credit Counseling Service in your area?

If the pawn shop is your only solution, look for one that is BBB Accredited.  And do your due diligence. Visit several pawn shops to get a feel for their merchandise and pricing. If you’re looking to pawn jewelry or other valuables, get an appraisal first. It will give you more power in the negotiating process. 

Pawn shops, as a rule, don’t want your furniture, antiques or other large items. If you must sell those, look for other outlets.

Keep in mind that, while there is room for negotiation on price, you will not get top dollar.  And make sure you understand all of the costs, including interest rate and other fees.

Tell us about your experiences with pawn shops!

Do you have an old gold necklace or bracelet that you haven’t worn for years? And do you have a utility bill or loan payment coming due and you’re wondering how you’ll pay it? 

With gold prices fluctuating between $900 and $1,000 per ounce on any given day, many people are looking at exchanging gold bangles for greenbacks. And the plethora of TV and magazine ads, special weekend events and the infinite number of Web sites set up to help make the exchange is a good indication that a lot of consumers are looking for ways to cash in.

While many Web sites and businesses are legitimate — some are BBB Accredited Businesses — there are just as many or more that are scams. So before you rush to join the gold for cash frenzy, it’s important to know what you’re dealing with and what you can expect in return.

If you want to sell your gold, it’s important to do your research and request a business reliability report from your BBB at wynco.bbb.org. It’s equally important to know what you’re selling. To get the best price, determine the value of the jewelry as a whole and not just the scrap value of gold. Some estate pieces — your grandmother’s broach perhaps — might fetch more “as is” than for its gold content alone. 

Dental fillings, gold teeth, bridges and crowns are usually 16 karat gold and can be resold as well. Some dental gold contains platinum as a hardening agent, and that boosts the value even more. Gold knickknacks and medallions are candidates for resale, too.

Keep in mind that not all gold is created equal, which is why you first need to know your karats. The Federal Trade Commission requires that jewelry sold in the U.S. describe a karat fineness of the alloy. One karat equals 1/24 of pure bold by weight, which means that 14 karat gold is 14 part gold and 10 part other metals. Jewelry less than 10 karats cannot be legally sold as “gold jewelry.”

If you’re mailing jewelry pieces, photograph the pieces, including any identifying marks. Make a written list of the items as well and keep one for yourself and put a copy in the envelope. And be sure to insure the items so you can recover the value if they are lost in transit.

Your BBB also suggests to beware of large “expos” set up by out-of-town businesses to buy old jewelry. Advertisements for these events include a sense of urgency or limited-time offers and claims that they pay the highest available prices. But if you don’t do your homework, how will you know?

And, your BBB advises that consumers should stay away from online scam artists who quote consumers high prices for gold items and then instruct them to send them to an “escrow service” or pay advance fees for the transaction via a money-wire service. Oftentimes these scams are operated overseas.

Have you sold gold items recently? Did you get fair value? What advice would you give others?

Next: Pawn Shops

Tornadoes. Hail storms. Floods. Power outages. Blizzards. Fires. 

No one is immune from any one of these disasters-in-the-making. Unfortunately, no one can predict when disaster — man-made or weather-related — is headed our way. And that’s why it’’s imperative to have a disaster plan for you, your family and your business. 

If you don’t have a disaster plan, your BBB suggests that you take time now to put one in place. It doesn’t haven’t to be complicated or lengthy. But it should include the following: Get a kit, make a plan, be informed and get involved

Get a Kit

When preparing for a possible emergency situation, think first about survival basics: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.

Your emergency kit should include: 

     • One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation

    • At least a three-day supply of nonperishable food — and don’t forget about your pets

    • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both

    • Flashlight and extra batteries

    • First-aid kit

    • Whistle to signal for help

    • Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place

    • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation

    • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

    • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)

    • Local maps

Have a Plan

A family emergency plan lets everyone know what to do and where to go when disaster strikes.

An out-of-town contact might be in a better position to communicate among separated family members. Make sure each member of the family knows the number and has coins or prepaid calling cards to call the emergency contact. Be patient if phone lines are down.

Be Informed

Take time to learn about the different types of disasters common to our area and the best ways to respond to them. In addition, learn about emergency plans established by state and local governments.

Get Involved

After preparing yourself and your family for possible emergencies by getting a kit, making a plan and being informed, take the next step and get involved in preparing your community.

Know Who to Call

If disaster does indeed strike and you need help repairing your home or business, look to reliable BBB Accredited Businesses to help you get the job done. 

Have you experienced a disaster? What will you do differently if it happens again? We’d like to hear about your experiences!

It doesn’t take much for fluffy, billowing clouds to turn into dastardly  cumulonimbus clouds capable of pelting our roofs with shingle-damaging hail. And if not hail, then gale-force winds can — and often do — send shingles flying.

Although weather events are among the most common reasons for replacing a roof, by no means are they the only ones. Sometimes roofs wear out. Sometimes they leak. And sometimes it’s simply time for a cosmetic overhaul.

Whatever the reason, sooner or later you’re going to want to find a roofing contractor in Colorado and Wyoming. 

When you’re in need of roofing repair, your Better Business Bureau warns that you should never pay for a job up front and you should never sign a contract until you are ready to hire a roofing contractor. 

What should you do? The BBB, along with the National Roofing Contractors Association, offers the following tips:

• Obtain bids from several contractors and check them out first by requesting BBB Business Reliability Reports at wynco.bbb.org, 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371. Look for a company you can trust and that has a proven track record complete with client references and a list of completed projects. Call referrals and ask if they were satisfied with results.

• Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax I.D. number and business license. If the roofer arrives at your doorstep unannounced and operates from a pickup with out-of-state license plates, tell him you’re not interested. Itinerant roofers spend warm-weather months traveling state to state and many cheat hapless homeowners out of thousands of dollars supposedly for upfront costs of the job. They take the money and never come back to do the job.

• Insist on seeing copies of the contractor’s liability insurance coverage and workers’ compensation certificates. Make sure the coverages are in effect through the duration of the job.

• Make sure the roofing contractor is properly licensed or bonded.

• Insist on a written proposal and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and specifications, including approximate start/finish dates and payment schedule.

• Check to see if the roofing contractor is a BBB Accredited Business and/or a member of regional or national industry associations, such as NRCA.

• Be skeptical of low bids. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Although price is important, professionalism and quality workmanship should also be considered.

School’s out! And depending on your perspective — and your activity calendar — it’s either going to be a very long three months or simply not long enough. I’m hoping for somewhere in the middle.

As a kid, I remember many a lazy summer day spent reading, watching classic black-and-white movies, riding my bike for hours, lounging by the pool (lathered in iodine-laced baby oil), and even chasing the mosquito spray truck.

Life, in retrospect, was simple back then. 

Fast forward to 2009. The first thing my son does — and probably yours, too — is head for his video games followed by time on the computer all while staying on top of several concurrent text conversations. 

It’s a dangerous world out there, but there are things we can do to keep our kids safe over the summer — and all year long. First, make sure your computer is up-to-date with patches and updates. Same goes for your antivirus software. Make sure it’s the absolute latest version. 

Then, to protect your family from online scams, make a list of rules that all computer users must follow. Depending on ages, your rules might include:

• Do not download anything without parental approval;

• Do not click anything inside a pop-up window;

• Do not share any personal information on Web sites or with strangers;

• Only visit parent-approved Web sites;

• Do not open e-mail from a stranger; and

• Do not forward e-mails to mass groups.

If your children are old enough to download programs, music and games from the Internet, find out which sites are trusted sources for this information. If your children have e-mail accounts, help them learn to recognize spam and scams with this entertaining game from the FTC. Find out about the social networking sites your child may be a part of and about the related risks.

Emphasize the risks of posting personal information and pictures on social networking sites, and tell them what to do if they view inappropriate material online.

You might also want to limit the amount of time your kids can spend at the computer or playing video games. Encourage them to instead shoot hoops, ride their bikes or play hopscotch, even catch butterflies. That’s what summer’s all about!

It’s a dog’s world. Seventy-five million canines of all sizes, colors and breeds have squirmed their way into our lives — and our homes. The U.S. Humane Society reports that in 2008, 39 percent of Americans owned at least one dog, 25 percent had two, and 12 percent of had three or more dogs. 

Increasingly, Max, Jasper and Bella are heading to work every morning with their masters.

The benefits are many. A survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association shows that dogs help create a more productive work environment and lower employee stress and absenteeism. Many employees willingly work overtime so long as their dogs are by their sides. 

We asked our BBB Accredited Businesses to weigh in on the pros and cons of bringing pets to work. Kate Shively, who owns Shively Construction Co. in Steamboat Springs with her husband, John, was among those who responded positively.

“I am a pet owner and guilty of having them at the office all the time. When I got Kylie she was 9 weeks old and since it was hard to run home to let her out all the time, she came with me to work.  John was a little worried because we have a strict ‘no pets’ policy at our construction sites, but she was an adorable yellow lab and won everyone over immediately.  About a year ago, our daughter’s ‘college dog,’ also a lab, came to live with us, too.

“We have had only a few negatives with them being here. Every now and then we get someone who is scared of them, but for the most part they are well received. Many of our clients that we are building homes for look forward to seeing them when they come into the office. 

“I personally think of pets as great stress relievers. They are never in a bad mood and don’t talk back! The other advantage for me is it gets me outside, away from the phones and computers, several times a day no matter what the weather is. They don’t care if it’s pouring rain, they want someone to throw the tennis ball for them. My office employees also enjoy taking them out periodically. 

“I am sure there are some liability issues, but so far we have been lucky.”

But not everyone enjoys being greeted at the door by furry creatures. Judith Powers, owner of the International Dredging Review in Fort Collins, offers this perspective:

“I have had experiences of going into offices of my vendors and having dogs and cats all over me, something I don't even allow from my own pets. 

“My thought on having pets in an office or other place of business where the public, vendors or other customers come in is that though I love animals, I don't like to have strange animals pushing against me or licking or nuzzling me. Cats often jump into your lap or rub against you, which I dislike. Dogs will jump up on you, smell you, lick your hands, something else I don't enjoy. Both of my children are severely allergic to cats and wouldn't be able to be in a room where a cat has been, much less be subjected to a cat's overtures. This is a common allergy, and so cat owners need to keep their cats away from their colleagues and customers.”

What have your experiences been like? Do dogs or cats belong at work? Has your office instituted “petiquette” policies? If so, what are they? Share your comments — and funny stories! — with us. We’d love to hear from you!

A delivery truck has come and gone. He did not leave my package. Instead, he left a note on my patio door requesting a signature so the delivery can be made tomorrow.

But I was home! He would have known that had he gone to our back door (which is really our “front” door). It has a doorbell. Had he used it, the dogs would have gone bonkers and I would have raced to quiet them.

In doing so I would have gotten my bathroom hardware or wireless phones.

Instead I will have to wait till tomorrow.

Do I complain? The thought crossed my mind. And in fact, I twittered my plight. And now I’m writing this blog. That’s probably all the complaining I’ll do because, in the grand scheme of things, I can wait till tomorrow. 

We’ve all had situations where we wonder, should we complain? Is it worth complaining about? What do we hope to get out of lodging a complaint? Compensation? Or the satisfaction of being right?

And is there a best way to complain? Should you do it in person? In writing? Via a quick e-mail to the CEO? There is no right or wrong method. You take what seems the most appropriate — and direct — path at the time. 

How the company responds to your complaint speaks volumes about its trust factor. BBB Accredited Businesses are committed to making good-faith efforts to resolve consumer complaints. They also agree to mediation when necessary.

In fact, your BBB makes it easy to file a complaint online.

If you’re on the receiving-end of a complaint, Janelle Barlow and Claus Moeller, authors of “A Complaint is a Gift,” offer eight steps to take when responding to consumer complaints: 

• Say “Thank you.”

• Explain why you appreciate the complaint.

• Apologize for the mistake.

• Promise to do something about the problem immediately.

• Ask for necessary information.

• Correct the mistake — promptly.

• Check customer satisfaction.

• Prevent future mistakes.

Have you read the latest headlines? Madonna has caught swine flu! And the flu is overtaking Hollywood! Maybe you even went so far as to open the e-mail — or the dozens of e-mails clogging your in-box — with these jaw-dropping proclamations to find out more about this dire news.

Gotcha! E-mail spammers are having a heyday capitalizing on fears that you may be next to come down with swine flu. 

So far the spam e-mails do not appear to carry malware or viruses. They do, however, link to online pharmacies where you can purchase any number of products and gimmicks to prevent an outbreak in your home.

F-Secure Corp., an online security company, reports that more than 250 Web sites with the term “swine flu” were registered within the first few days following the announcement of the outbreak. One of those Web sites is already selling a “Swine Flu Survival Guide” PDF for $19.95.

You can take steps to stave off the flu — wash your hands, wipe surfaces with disinfectant, stay home if not feeling well — you can also protect yourself from the onslaught of swine flu-related scams and spam.

First, don’t open e-mail from unknown sources, don’t click on links in the body of the e-mail and don’t open any attachments.

Secondly, don’t fall for offers for vaccinations against swine flu. None exist. Visit www.cdc.gov/swineflu to learn what can be done.

And third, make sure your anti-virus and anti-spyware software is up to date and all operating system security patches are installed.

Seven businesses. Seven mission statements. Seven bottom lines. 

One shared goal.

Doing the right thing.

For employees, for stakeholders, for customers and clients, for the business.

It’s not always easy.

But it’s always rewarding.

Congratulations to our  2009 BBB Torch Award winners:

• A Thru Z Document Destruction Company, Cheyenne

• Professional Finance Company, Greeley

• McWhinney, Loveland

• Chapel & Collins, Fort Collins

• Colorado CustomWare, Fort Collins

• Poudre Valley Health System, Fort Collins

• Vaught Frye Ripley Design Inc., Fort Collins

What does it mean to be an ethical business in today’s business climate?

For Mike Shoop, co-owner of PFC, it’s treating people with dignity and respect. Donna Chapel, co-owner of Chapel & Collins, says it’s always stressing to do the right thing for the client. Donna Schlotter, owner of Colorado CustomWare, says it means operating from a place of authenticity and strong ethics. For Merrie Ellsberry of A Thru Z it means  becoming involved in the community. Pam Brock, vice president of marketing and strategic planning at PVHS, says it means conducting “ourselves and our business in a way that helps our customers trust us.”. And Chad McWhinney, co-founder and CEO of McWhinney, says practicing the “golden rule” in every customer interaction — internally and externally — is vital to success. 

Doing the right thing. Maybe it’s not so difficult after all.

We believe it’s important to advise you that while Colorado SB 273, which would have forced Pinnacol Assurance to surrender $500 million to the State Treasurer, is off the table, SB 281 is still under review in the State House. An  amended SB 281 is expected between now and Monday. It will then move to floor debate where it could be voted on sometime between Monday and Wednesday.

As currently written, SB 281 would take away Pinnacol Assurance’s ability to operate as an independent insurance company and strip away its ability to set rates, issue dividends, control its assets or work for the benefit of its policyholders.

In fact, if SB 281 is passed, the state would explore the sale of Pinnacol to a third party, completely removing Pinnacol from its status as a Colorado-owned business.

Pinnacol insures more than 58,000 businesses across the state. In four years, it has reduced its rates by 10% to 12% each year, resulting in a savings of $212.5M to business owners.

Since 2005, Pinnacol has returned general dividends totaling more than $227M to Colorado businesses and is getting ready to issue a fifth dividend.

Pinnacol Assurance is the backbone of Colorado’s workers’ compensation system, a system that is essential to a healthy economy. 

Your BBB is in full support of Pinnacol Assurance and asks that our state legislators take SB 281 off the table as well. in We urge you to let your legislators know that you oppose SB 281 and that they should, too.

Pamela King

President/CEO 

Better Business Bureau

Serving Northern Colorado

The Better Business Bureau serving northern Colorado supports Pinnacol Assurance and its position on retaining full and complete control of its asset base and operating funds, in order to able to provide a superior standard of workers compensation insurance coverage to Colorado companies and their employees.

The proposed legislation raiding Pinnacol Assurance assets is bad for Colorado taxpayers, bad for Colorado businesses and bad for Colorado’s injured workers and their families.  It is a violation of the intent of the 1991 legislation which created Pinnacol to assure that workers’ needs will be met.

We are extremely concerned that one bill (SB 273) not only would force Pinnacol to surrender $500 million to the State Treasurer, but would also cancel its status as a domestic mutual insurance company owned by its policyholders.  Yet another bill (SB 281) would explore the sale of Pinnacol to a third party, completely removing Pinnacol from its status as a Colorado-owned business.

There needs to be a realization that the raiding of Pinnacol’s assets will ultimately come out of the pockets of Colorado’s small and medium-sized businesses.   A vital segment of business, small and minority-owned, will be disproportionately hurt. This is in essence a hidden tax in the form of increased rates and reduced dividends.

Pinnacol insures over 58,000 businesses across the state.  In four years, it has reduced its rates by 10% to 12% each year, resulting in a savings of $212.5M to business owners.

Since 2005 Pinnacol has returned general dividends totaling more than $227M to Colorado businesses and is getting ready to issue a fifth dividend.

During these tough economic times, businesses are struggling and cannot afford higher workers’ compensation costs. The raiding of Pinnacol assets imperils the promises it has made to Colorado’s injured workers, who will have no one else to turn to in the company’s absence. These assets are needed in times of natural or man-made disasters, for catastrophic events involving mass injuries, to pay claims for injured workers and their dependents for decades to come and to account for medical inflation. No one is standing behind Pinnacol to pay benefits. 

Pinnacol Assurance is the backbone of Colorado’s workers’ compensation system, a system that is essential to a healthy economy. Raiding its assets does irreparable harm to a workers’ compensation insurance system that has been a model of fairness, stability and supportive of economic health since the sweeping reforms of 1991. 

Raiding Pinnacol’s assets reduces its ability to invest in workplace safety and keep employees safe. 

THEREFORE, we, as members of this organization, the Better Business Bureau serving northern Colorado and greater Wyoming, do hereby resolve that we offer our heartfelt and complete support to Pinnacol Assurance, and urge members of the General Assembly to find new and creative approaches, which do not adversely impact Colorado businesses, as a method to balance the state’s budgets.

People who weren’t planning on being “downsized,” “laid off” or even “furloughed” — along with many others looking for ways to supplement their incomes — might consider those postcards they get in the mail from a company they’ve never heard of inviting them to attend a business seminar at a local hotel or restaurant as the ticket back to solvency.

Various companies travel nationwide presenting slick get-rich and business seminars at local venues with the intention of selling you expensive goods and/or services. And then they skip on over to the next town.

Such is the case with StoresOnline Inc., which is inviting Weld and Larimer County residents to attend 90-minute seminars April 8 in Greeley and April 11 in Fort Collins. Attendees are promised that not only will they get a free meal out of the deal, but an MP3 player, too!

Maybe you’re wondering what’s the catch?

Simply put, the 90-minute seminar provides only enough detail to lure you into signing up for the full-day workshop that requires a registration fee. At the end of the workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase services provided by the presenter. Ka-ching.

So maybe you’re still wondering what’s the catch?

When you learn you have a limited time to make a purchase or sign a contract — and at the moment you’re thinking you really, really need that item or that service — you sometimes forgo the usual precautionary steps that should include checking the company out with the BBB. Business Reliability Reports provide information that lets you decide if the company is trustworthy and reliable and one that you want a relationship with.

In the case of StoresOnline, the BBB of Utah has an extensive report showing 646 complaints filed in the past 36 months; 272 complaints were closed in the past year. The complaints concern information provided at the workshops, the company’s refund policy, customer service and optional coaching servings. The BBB serving Utah further details 12 legal actions filed in 11 states and Australia against StoresOnline, which also does business as iMergent Inc., Galaxy Mall and Galaxy Enterprises.

April Fool’s Day.

It’s usually a lot of fun with a lot of harmless pranks pulled on us by friends, families, even colleagues.

One day and it’s over — until next year.

Unfortunately, in scammer land, April Fool’s Day is every day. And the joke is on us! Why? Because we fall for their schemes over and over and over.

Here are three especially popular scams making the circuit:

You’re a winner! Yep, that letter from Publisher’s Clearing House finally landed in your mailbox announcing you’re a mega-million sweepstakes winner. Problem is, it’s not from THAT Publisher’s Clearing House that for years we’ve associated with Ed McMahon. In fact, they announced their $5,000-a-week-for-life winner back in February. This scam, so far, has been reported in 12 states and victims have lost up to $15 grand.

You’re a winner, part 2! So many other sweepstakes schemes are clamoring for your hard-earned money, too. It works this way: You get a check in the mail announcing you’ve won a huge amount of money, but first you have to send in a “fee” to cover handling fees and maybe even taxes. Hmmm. You have to pay to win? Those who send  or wire the fee — it’s usually small, say $36 or so — never receive their million-dollar checks. What they do get is a mailbox full of similar sweepstakes offers.

You’re a winner, part 3! Guess what! You’ve just won a foreign lottery! Or at least that’s what the e-mail states. And we’re talking a huge chunk of change. But before they can send your winnings, you have to, yes, wire a fee to cover handling charges and taxes. So what’s the problem? First of all,  you can’t win a lottery if you didn’t enter. Second, foreign lotteries are illegal in the United States. So unless you visited Canada (a popular location for these schemes) or another foreign country and physically purchased a lottery ticket, there is no way you can win.

So, now that you know three scams to avoid, you can play a joke on the scam artists by not becoming their victim!

Busy business people don’t have time for scams. Get caught in one and it can take hours — if not days and a lot of money — trying to undo the damage.

Smart business people take a few minutes to learn which scams to watch out for. 

Your BBB is making it easy for you by offering this list of the latest top scams making the rounds. Read, digest and beware!

Overpayment scam. An out-of-state customer (usually an out-of-the-country scam artist) places an order, sends a phony check or uses a stolen credit card to make the purchase and makes the amount for more than the goods. He requests that you wire the extra bucks back to him. Whenever anyone requests that you wire money, consider it scam-speak for “give me your money, sucker!”

TTY scam. Similar to the above but the transaction is conducted via a TTY operator, a service intended for use by the hearing impaired, not foreign scam artists. They usually order a large quantity of goods and request that it be sent out-of-state or overseas. If the transaction progresses, they’ll use a stolen credit car, pay more than the amount and request that the overage be refunded via a wire service. If you follow through with the sale, you’ll be out both the goods and the money.

Tax refund scams. January through April are dominated by tax-refund scams, but they happen year-round. You’ll get an e-mail purportedly from the IRS declaring you’re entitled to refund, or that there are issues with your return and you’re entitled to more than you declared. You’re asked to click a link that takes you to a page requesting personal financial information. Don’t click through. The IRS rarely if ever e-mails businesses and citizens. If they have an issue, they will contact you via snail mail.

Phishing. How many times have you scanned your e-mail and noticed “account verification” tag lines from companies you may or may not have ever heard of before? If you open them, they ask that you verify financial account numbers and other personal information in order to keep you account active. Delete the e-mail. It’s bogus. Your bank, your credit union, your online pay service and all the others you have relationships with have your account information and do not need to verify it. If in doubt, call the business directly using a number from your own files, not the e-mail (it too will be bogus).

Advance-fee loans. The Internet is rife with Web sites promising business and personal loans with the caveat that first you must pay a “loan processing fee.” Those who have paid the fee often find that that’s the last they hear from the “lender.” If you need a loan, the best route is the traditional route. If you’re working with a lender unfamiliar to you, request a BBB reliability report. 

Anglers know spring is synonymous with fishing.

And scammers know phishing is synonymous with raking in the moolah.

Obviously there’s a big difference.

Do you know what it is?

Let’s take a quick test.

1. You check your e-mail and see something from Bank of Little America. You have an account with Bank of America so without thinking you open it. You’re told to “verify” account information including Social Security, checking and credit card numbers or your account will be closed within days. You’re thinking this is legit so you comply.

Big mistake. Phishers — most of whom call Nigeria, Russia and other foreign locales home — like to trick you into handing over financial information so they can steal your identity and beef up their own bank accounts. They send you “account verification” notices from businesses that sound like those you might have relationships with and oodles of those you don’t.

Whatever you do, don’t fall for this scam. Never ever hand over personal information online unless it’s a reliable, trustworthy company that you’ve checked out first. You can do that by requesting a BBB reliability report.

2. Let’s say you’re shopping online and find a great deal on sports equipment or designer heels at an outlet you've never done business with before. You're ready to check out and you're not paying much attention to the URL (that’s geek speak for Web address) and you don’t notice that instead of www.myfavoritenewstore.com the address is more like www.0123AbC.myfavoritenewstore.com

Is that a bad thing? Yes, it’s a very bad thing. Because you’re being scammed. You will not be getting those golf clubs or sexy stilettos. And you will be losing money — potentially lots ’n’ lots of money — if you do provide your financial information and check out. 

So what can you do to protect yourself? Business owners, employees and consumers all need to become savvy phish detectors. Oh, you think you’re pretty smart already? Then we invite you to test your skills against Anti-Phishing Earl, a cute underwater creature whose aim is to make us all more aware of phishing scams. The game was created by the folks at Wombat Security Technologies. Click here to test your wits against Anti-Phishing Phil.

Social media — Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, ad infinitum — is everywhere and everyone’s talking about it and doing it. What’s all the ruckus about? Is it worth doing? And do we really need another distraction from real work?

If you’ve joined the Web 2.0 bandwagon, then you know there are two camps: Those who expertly mine the new media and turn their connections into business opportunities and others who don’t have a clue as to how to get started.

Two things are for certain: It’s not going away. And it can be addicting.

That’s why the BBB serving northern Colorado and greater Wyoming is exploring ways to take advantage of social media. But rather than just test the waters, we’re diving in. Head first.

If you have a LinkedIn account, come on over and join our group, appropriately called “Northern Colorado & Wyoming BBB.” If you’re not LinkedIn, we invite you to do so. It’s a great tool to connect with people you know and to build a network of thousands. Around the globe. Literally.

We want the BBB LinkedIn group to be a forum for lively discussions on any and all consumer and business topics, be it scams, ethics, consumer tips or alerts. One group member suggested we offer more positive news. We couldn’t agree more! 

Click here to check out our new LinkedIn BBB group.

And if there’s something you’d like to see, let us know!

Red flags. They’ve become synonymous with that gut instinct telling you that something isn’t kosher, that maybe a business opportunity or consumer service is a scam and you best step far, far away.

Most scams reported to the Better Business Bureau have one or more of the following red flags:

• You’re asked to pay an upfront fee, whether it’s for information on work-at-home job, scholarships or loans. Scam artists take the money and are never heard from again.

• You’re asked to send money via a wire service. This is a great way for scam artists to hide their identities and locations.

• You’re overpaid for goods or services by an out-of-state customer and asked to refund the difference via a wire service. See above.

• You’re a winner! To receive your windfall, you’re instructed to deposit the check for partial winnings, then send in a fee to get the remainder of the winnings. Not so fast. The scam artist is betting that you’re anxious to receive your sweepstakes check and won’t wait to make sure the phony check he sent clears your bank. If you write a check, the money comes out of your funds and you’ll never see it again.

• You receive an e-mail or letter that’s filled with enough spelling and grammatical errors to make you cringe.

• You get an e-mail warning that you must verify financial and credit card numbers or your account will be closed. Take a good look. Do you really have an account at that institution? Or business? Probably not. If you question it, call the business using a number you have in your files.

It’s too good to be true. Yep, it really is that easy. 

It’s that wonderful time of the year when millions of us will be — or have already — submitted tax returns to Uncle Sam. Tax season is a prime phishing hole for scam artists who want your numbers: credit card numbers, bank account numbers, Social Security numbers. And they do just about anything they can to lure you onto their hooks.

Scenario Number One: An e-mail, supposedly from the IRS, states there’s a problem with processing your refund and that you need to provide your Social Security number and bank account number for verification.

Problem With Scenario Number One: The IRS never e-mails citizens. If there’s a problem with your return, you’ll hear about it the old-fashioned way: snail mail.

Scenario Number Two: An e-mail, again supposedly from the IRS, states you’re owed a refund! It directs you to a phony IRS Web site that asks for your financial account numbers so that it can be processed.

Problem With Scenario Number Two: Once again, the IRS will not send you an e-mail, only scam artists pretending to be the IRS will do so.

Unfortunately, phishing isn’t limited just to tax season. Scammers bait unsuspecting victims year-round with e-mails purporting to be from legitimate businesses and organizations that you routinely deal with, such as banks and online payment services. They request personal financial information to “validate,” “verify” or “update” records. Some phishing e-mails threaten a dire consequence if you don’t respond. Almost always the messages direct you to a Web site that looks like a legitimate organization’s site — but it’s bogus. 

What to do? Delete, delete, delete. If you have concerns that the e-mail might in fact be legitimate, phone the business or organization directly using the phone number you have in your records, not on the e-mail. Also, tax-related e-mails can be forwarded to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov.

“Back in the day.” “Tipping point.” “Synergy.” “Thinking outside the box.”

These are all buzzwords. Catch phrases, if you will. And all are overused.

Should we add “transparency” to this list?

Everywhere you turn businesses, politicians, the media and probably your boss are talking about the need for “transparency.” You can’t watch the evening news without hearing this word used at least once. Senators call for “transparency” in the auto manufacturers bailout plan. The president sites the need for “transparency” when he discusses the multibillion stimulus bill. And you can’t get away from pundits from almost every talk show using the word “transparency” on just about any subject one can talk about.

Transparency is, in fact, a very good thing, and the Better Business Bureau has long championed the need for transparency in its own business practices as well as those of accredited businesses.

But will frequent use of the word water down its meaning? In a few short months will it become just another buzzword we choose not to use? Or will the word have staying power?

What do you think?

Not too long ago I was at a bed and bath store and proceeded to write
the store’s initials on my check. The cashier kindly asked that I instead spell out the store name as there’s some other business -- the better business something or other --  that uses those same letters.

Sure thing, I said.

It got me to thinking about all the different ways people refer to the BBB, especially as consumers increasingly turn to the Internet to do their research.

Officially we’re the Better Business Bureau serving northern Colorado and greater Wyoming. That, admittedly, is a mouthful. And because we serve such a large geographic region -- 55,000 businesses and half a million consumers in 38 counties -- not everyone knows what to call us. We discovered that people frequently search for “Colorado Better Business Bureau,” “Wyoming Better Business Bureau” and even “Estes Park Business Bureau.” You can add just about any other town or city name and we’ve been Googled that way as well.

We also discovered that “bureau” is not an easy word to spell. If there’s a variation, we’ve seen it. For example, “buerer,” “buearau,” “buero” and -- our favorite -- “burro.”

To be sure you can reach us when you need us -- either to request a business reliability report, peruse our consumer tips and information, or even to file a complaint -- bookmark www.wynco.bbb.org and we’ll always be just a click away.

Report cards.

Love ’em or hate ’em, one thing is for sure: There’s no guess work when it comes to knowing how your student (or perhaps even you!) are doing in school. A’s are cause for celebrations while C’s might elicit words of encouragement about doing better next time. And D’s and F’s can result in enforced study hall and no more late nights with friends.

But what about pass/fail grades? There’s no accounting for levels of learning. No in between. Someone who excels in the subject gets the same grade as the student who puts in only enough effort to pass.

Up until now, that’s how the Better Business Bureau has rated businesses: satisfactory or unsatisfactory. No in between. While a business scamming consumers would have an unsatisfactory record, so could a legitimate company that delivers on promised goods, but takes too long to process rebates.

That has all changed. And for the better.

BBB Reliability Reports now include letter grades from A+ to F to help you more easily identify which companies can head to the front of the class and which need time in study hall. These new grades better represent the BBB’s degree of confidence that the business is trustworthy and will make a good-faith effort to resolve customer concerns.

How are the letter grades different from consumer-review sites? BBB ratings are based on standards and developed using objective information and actual incidences of a business’ behavior that are verified and evaluated by BBB professionals.

The letter grade provides a way for you to easily understand a company’s track record for customer service and integrity. And they’re an even better way for the BBB to point consumers toward trustworthy businesses and more clearly communicate exactly why some companies don’t make the grade.

There’s no better time than the present ensure a business makes the grade by checking out their reliability report at www.wynco.bbb.org.