Hearthlist Digest #156 - Sunday, June 21, 1998
 
re: BBB
  by "Noel Gilmore" <[email protected]>
 

(back)
Subject: re: BBB
From: Noel Gilmore <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 1998 16:29:48 -0400
 
Aha! I had a similar problem, only when they contacted me about their name
being on my web site (along with the other "fine organizations we belong
to"), they did so via a letter from their attorneys threatening legal
action if I did not comply. So I did, and then did not renew my membership.
A few months later there was a story in our state business mag about the FL
BBB, its bad management and its offending members and its new web site
"membership." The next month the mag printed my letter recounting my story
and my withdrawal from the organization because of it. Pay twice to be
permitted to tell the world via Internet of my membership in the BBB? It's
hardly worth it. Happily for me, we did very well without the BBB for the
first seven years of our business; I joined because they recruited me and
figured, "What could hurt?" I found out!
 
Any business which uses tactics like this to try to FORCE more money out of
you is a business of which I want no part, assuming I have a choice. And if
members agree, they vote with their withdrawals from the organization till
it gets the message.
 
You done good, Rod.
 
Noel Gilmore