Better Business Bureau

[CanuckInUSA 0]

Does anyone have any experience with the Better Business Bureau? I don't believe I am looking for any financial compensation here and instead I would just like to get the word out to future customers that the business in question is more concerned about themselves than their customers. The business in question is a property management company I hired from 1998-2006.

I understand that certain things will like carpets, paint on the walls and the ceilings, kitchens and bathrooms will show their wear over time as renters live in your property. But I have (or should I say I had) a really nice oak wall with cabinets in my family room as well as a oak wall in my basement games room that was defaced by one of the tenants (there is felt marker drawings and paint all over these walls, doors and cabinets). Plus to make matters worse one of the tenants painted the house and did a hap-hazard job not only selecting atrocious colors with no continuity, but they sloppily let the paint which was only supposed to be only on the walls and ceiling get onto the floorboards, the door frames and yes parts of my oak woodwork. And to make matters worse, the property management company let these tenants get away with defacing my property and are pretty much taking the stance that it was my fault as this never would have happened had I not decided to rent out the house.

So has anyone dealt with the Better Business Bureau? Are they an organization that deals with such disputes and do they work in a timely manner (I just filed my complaint, so time will tell I guess). Once again I'm not necessarily looking for financial compensation since I honestly don't know what my legal rights were as the property owner. I just would like to get the word out that this business does not care about the properties they manage and all they care about is how much money they can make (I never saw a penny of any damage deposit money ... likely because the property management company didn't think anything about the graffiti on my oak woodwork).

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[CanuckInUSA 0]

I've got tons of repairs and renos to do over the winter months to restore my house back into the nice shape it once was in. Some of these repairs are to be expected and some (like my oak wood work) have me really pissed off. I hope I can get this all done this winter (without breaking the bank) as I would like to do some jumping next summer once the ####ing weather warms up.

As far as the weather is concerned. Living in Canada in the winter months sucks (I guess this is what happens when you get exposed to the warmer climates down south). Who wants to play outside when you're dealing with temperatures below minus 20.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Skysurfer_Rob 0]

Did you have a contract with that company? I would read through that if I were you, see what it says about damages, security deposits, and so forth. Yes, tenants do damage rental properties, but that is what the security deposit is for, and someone should have to compensate you.

I have never used the BBB myself, but I do know most businesses do not enjoy being reported to them. I told a friend of mine, who had a legitimate complaint against a car company to threaten to go to the BBB. In the end, she got her car back, and a $25,000 check. Of course in her situation, she could have sued for millions, but she was happy with what she got.

"Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death, I Shall Fear No Evil...For I am at 80,000 Feet and Climbing."
SR-71 hangar entrance sign at Kadena AFB, Japan

[airdvr 210]

The BBB is a good place to report your concerns. I think it is becoming less relevant in the information age. Not many people check a company's report anymore prior to doing business with them.

There is also Angela's List or something like that. I guess it's some kind of ad hoc service reporting list of preferred businesses.

That being said...be a good American, hire an attorney and sue those sons of bitches

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[jayhfx 0]

The better business bureau is an association of members only. If the businesses that you want to report are not members then they will not take a report. You probably would be better served dealing with the residency tenant board to see if there are any avenues to explore with them

[jman 0]

I don't know a lot about them, but a company called Choicepoint, might be a place that could help you. If you know a business owner, mortgage broker, attorney, etc. they may have an account with them. They are a company that employers, landlords or anyone looking for background information will use. If someone can see what happened to you, they won't be renting these people anything.