I recently got the controversial letter above, sent to me via email.
I’ve reprinted it here, in its entirety – though I’ve censored it in order to protect the identity of the organization that sent it to me.
So…
Can you see why I’d suggest that this letter was controversial?
It came to me courtesy of an organization that’s supposed to be a consumer watchdog group.
In fact, this organization is well known in the area of protecting consumers from unethical business practices.
In many cases, this organization is the first place a consumer goes when they feel they’ve been wronged in a business transaction.
Yet, as you can see, they actively solicit money from business owners, and offer said business owners memberships in the organization.
Hmmmm.
Makes you think, doesn’t it.
Now, I’m certainly not going to be the one who makes unfounded accusations.
But I sure did think that this would make for some really interesting discussion.
While this particular letter isn’t asking for money, this organization DOES actively solicit business owners, asking them for money, in exchange for membership in the organization.
So, my question is this:
Do you think that an organization that’s funded by business owners can give non-biased information to the public in regard to those business owners?
Can they give non-biased information to the public in regard to the business owners who have chosen not to give them money or be a member of the organization?
What are your thoughts?
Post them below.
Dedicated to your success,
Kevin Thompson
“The Automatic Income Coach”
Hi Kevin,
I would say that you are right in what you are thinking.Too much of wanting power,control,whatever.
Wishing you and yours the very best,
Glenna
The print was so small I could not read it.
I have been less than impressed when working with this organization. They are paid by the businesses and they give preferential treatment in the form of better ratings to the companies that pay the highest membership fees. So much for consumer advocacy, they are only loyal to their paying customers. Yet that is not how they promote themselves.
Hi Georgia,
I got the letter reformatted in a larger font so you can read it.
Hope this helps.
Sounds kinda shady to me. Anyone that asks for this kind of information from me always gets my spidy senses tingling. Any organization that solicits you for anything before you join is subject to scrutiny. I’ve gotten these kinds of solicitations via email and snail mail and I avoid them like the plague.
Not seeing whatever you’re seeing here. How do you get “…actively solicit money from business owners” when the letter clearly states this is NOT such a solicitation? Somebody’s got serious reading comprehension issues – and it’s NOT me.
Kevin, stick to doing it your way. The only “report” of importance, is the one we get directly from you. As to the “management” or “nature of your business”, I think your integrity speaks volumes to those points. This letter is creepy and intrusive, and the threat this letter makes that your noncompliance may affect your potential customers is full of hot air. You are REAL, and all of us know it!! ROCK ON!!!! Beverly Riedl Independence,MO
I live in the South. I’m sorry to say I don’t quite get the drift of what you’re saying Kevin. I can only think of one non-governmental national organization I would canvass for help when subjected to a business inequity, but, to my knowledge, no financial gain is involved.
I appreciate how very nice you are by not retaliating by publishing the solicitor’s identity. I must add, that if I had a workable on-line or brick and morter business, and received such a letter, I’d have to bridle my emotions and walk away from the issue for a while to cool off. It has not only an intrusive, but a threatening slant.
Am I missing something? The letter says that it is NOT soliciting money or membership.
Am I missing something?
How do YOU think the Better Business Bureau should be supported? Taxpayers?
The letter is not controversial. The letter clearly states that it is NOT a solicitation for money or membership. The BBB is a business like any other. All they seem to want is some information about your business. At this point, it seems like free advertising. I’m sure, just like your business, that they’ll try to market their goods (i.e., BBB membership or use of their seal in advertising) and services to you. For that matter, their letter is the equivalent to one of your opt-in pages. I don’t see what the fuss is all about.
Kevin, you blocked out the name so my comment can not be construde as referring to the same company. That being said, I have long maintained that the BBB is a maffioso type organization extracting “protection” money from the business community. Unfortunately many consumers assume that they are a governmental agency. Just ignor them; they will ask for money!!!
Sounds like “Big Brother” wants to be looking over your shoulder somewhat like Big Government would like to take over your business!!!
Marge
I’m confused by the message they are sending. On one hand they seem to imply that it is a service for your future consumer but did you have any customers unsatisfied by doing business with you? On the other hand they will put a note that will send message that you didn’t comply so induce a doubt in people’s mind. Doesn’t seem right…
Cosidering soliciting… I do read they don’t solicitate…
I see the same thing that Phillis sees — the letter says
they ARE NOT soliciting monies or membership.
Looks to me as if they are saying; IF we get an inquiry about you / your company What facts should we give them? it seems to be a request for background info on someone{’s) / business they just became aware of. The Solicitation to join will come later!
Hi Kevin:
Sounds like the BBB. As a consumer if this is the organization,
I’ve only received good results and good information about
companies that I choose to do business with before sending
any money. Because of this organization, was able to recover
$2,000 from a very well known million dollar mailorder Guru.
Without this organization who wrote communications on my behalf,
would have been out $2,000 of hard earned money by this scammer.
If it’s true about businesses being bribed to become members in
order to receive good reviews, then I would say that is wrong.
Kevin, Thank you for your integrity. I have a great respect for the BBB and what they do to protect the consumer from fraud. I know they are a private business and not part of the Federal Government. They sholud not put anyone on their black list unless they have complaints from the Public that they have been wronged. I guess what I am saying is I am glad that someone other than big daddy Government is looking over our shoulders and reporting on our good business practices as well as on those that are out to rip off the public. If we would all follow The Golden Rule and do unto others as we would have them to do unto us there would be no need for the BBB or any other watch dog organization.. From what I have seen Kevin, You don’t have anything to worry about. Paul Smith
I know exactly what you’re saying. It’s like all these heatlhy eating sites talking about what to eat, and what not to eat, yet the other side of the page has all these ads selling what you’re not supposed to eat.
Or some sites will skew the content in favor of the advertisers. Instead of saying, you have a good chance of having a heart attack if you try this diet, or – this product is full of GMOs – well, you can’t if those are the products pyaing the bills…
Not making a judgement here. It’s a tough spot to be in. Someone has to pay the bills, whether its the advertisers, or it falls back on the subscribers or members. Will people be willng to pay enough to keep truthful information coming without advertiser influence?
I was a victim of fraud from an investment company that had the BBB’s (Florida based BBB) seal of approval. How did they get this seal of approval? By paying the BBB off that’s how. This all came out in the trial.
Have I seen BBBs use strong arm tactics (leaving reviews saying a request for information was not responded to, implying they have something to hide) to get companies to join? Yes, I have.
Did Kevin ask if he could supply the BBB with information in regard to his company & business? I doubt it. The BBB sent their request for information without Kevin asking for it. I see that as solicitation, saying it is not in their letter does not change the fact that a request to give information about a company was not given to the BBB.
The BBB is a company trying to turn a profit. That’s ok. I personally do not respond to un-requested demands for information about my business or personal finances. I just do not believe the BBB offers the kind of value I would pay them for under any circumstance.
frankcanhoop
Hi Kevin,
Used to belong to this organization. Couldn’t see where the cost was worth it. If you aren’t a member and they have have no complaints against you, that’s all they have to say. Neither a good or bad endorsment, but good is infered with no bad marks. Make sense?? Thought so!
Alan
I have to agree with several of the comment made regarding money or membership solicitation – the last paragraph is VERY clear on this. Therefore I do NOT see the problem with this at all!
Dear Kevin,
I was recently and very strongly solicited by a Utah
corporation for a very expensive coaching program. I
was somewhat suspicious because the referral came through
a spam communication from a third party. The company
rep called me on the phone and spent a lot of time telling
my why I should join. He sent me to one of the company
websites and directed me to a link to the BBB. The
company had an A+ rating. Later, I whent to the BBB
site directly. The company had an F rating ! I didn’t
buy the course. Who am I to believe? I think the BBB
should be VERY careful of its reputation. It should
never accept money from from the businesses it reports
on. Never. Stephen
I’m not seeing a solicitation for money or membership, either. I read “this is NOT a solicitation of money or a request for membership.” Wanna do a Radical Forgiveness session anyone who’s thinking there’s some ulterior motive here?
im seeing things both ways here what i see is someone asking for info they have no right to but they are clearly at the same time not asking for money or membership thats what i see
Years ago a California businessman told us that the beginnings of the BBB were by the Mafia in Las Vegas – whether or not this is true, I don’t know. We should “google” it and do some research! I do believe the letter they sent you was a manner of threat or intimidation.
Also, apparently SNOPES is a liberal viewpoint website that only reports back to us information they have sought out online, and Rip-Off Report changes their opinions on people/organizations they have formerly criticized when they receive money to revise the status of those people/organizations. It’s hard to know who is trustworthy!
My husband and I were duped twice into the mentoring/coaching programs of a Utah company -as Stephen mentions above – but they go by a variety of different names and keep changing them. Their primary interest is in how much available money you have on your credit cards to spend on their program, usually for a 6-month period. They initially asked us for between $14,000 – $17,000. Of course, we didn’t do anything nearly this expensive, but they still got us for a few thousand. Any program now that comes out of Utah arouses our suspicions! Unfortunately, a number of the gurus in Internet marketing use them!
Reminiscent of paying for protection? The local little stores pay out to dirty cops, the mob, gangs, whoever to keep the others at bay. It’s as if this org. is saying-you need to send us your info or else… they don’t quite define “or else”. And the gong or mob or dirty cops are monitoring themselves. Creepy.
I realize this org. does do a lot of good, it is private and therefore has to make money somehow-but a org. that is supposed to protect consumers from scams and/or bad business practices that makes its operating money from businesses is a conflict of interest!
an organization that’s funded by business owners
cann’t give non-biased information to the public,
i mean they can, but they are not going to do it.
I do not believe them.
Okay people…Keith said that this is a “membership organization” NOT the BBB. While the letter itself does not ask for money or membership, to be included in their files, you have to pay a fee. DUH. This IS a marketing tactic, plain and simple. Most of you would have gotten “hooked” by it because you are not reading between the lines, nor paying attention to everything Keith wrote. They present themselves as consumer advocates, but it’s more like a Club for the merchants…who pay membership fees. This is just a way to get potential businesses attention by saying “there was an inquiry”. People are naturally curious, so they want to know what it was and who. But, the business owner won’t be able to find out without joining. Chances are, there wasn’t one at all.
I see it both ways too. Although this would get me upset when they put in that if you do not respond…would make it out like you are a bad company. I am learning to be skeptic as in my business I have had smiling, slick haired salespeople come in my front door and take my money and do a partial baked job. Then no refund, just use my name and show the next victim my work that they did not do correctly, that I hired someone else to finish the job correctly. I also have had those mailed forms for the wall…you must comply and purchase these forms for your employees…a joke, when you can go to a website, download the same ones for free. They want you quake in fear to get them to do what they want. Not what I call good business practice. Each of us can take it for what we want but buyers beware of anything you give away, information or $. Once gone, hard to retrieve.
Kevin,
Years ago, I ws defrauded by the Better Business Bureau. They started a Yellow pages and the company they contracted to do the publication took off with everyone’s money. Everyone who had paid for their advertising (this was the one year I had paid in full in advance) had to sue them in a class action suit.
I also had a chance to do a job interview with them at one point. The sales associate trainer told me to go after the big companies because they charge per employee for membership and the commissions would be higher. My question is what do they really do for the business, and do they do more for the companies that pay more?
I think we all know the answer. And the BBB in my area now even charges the prospective clients for more than basic information about the company. I believe the BBB is a shell of an organization that does little if anything for anybody.