Complaint Review: BBB Of Metropolitan Houston - Houston Texas

I had a dispute with a siding company. Lawyers suggested that I contact the BBB. This was a mistake. To make a very long story short I ended up in Arbitration. I had asked for a little over 15,000.00 I spent weeks putting together photos, documentation. The first Arbitration was set. Both parties managed to show up at that time. We were informed that no one had botherd to tell the Arbitrator the correct date. I opted to cancel the Arbitration for that day and try for another day.

A second date was set but I was not able to make that particular date. I notified the BBB as soon as I could to reschedlue (you are only permitted to reschedule ONE time). Another date was set. The night before I was to show up for the hearing I received an e-mail from the BBB that the person from the company was not able to attend. I think that this was about 30 hours before the scheduled time. Another date was set.

This time I showed up at the local BBB only to find that the Arbitration had been canceled. The person in charge of Arbitration would not even come out to talk with me (12 hours notice was given to me and I did not recieve the e-mail until I returned home after being told the meeting was not going to take place).

I inquired as to what happened to only being allowed to re-schedlue one time. I was simply told that they would give me the same consideration if I was not feeling well (the company person was not feeling well for a number of months then). I should have won by default from what I can see. Anyway I was informed that a THIRD meeting would be set up. I did not hear from anyone for 2-4 weeks. I had to call the BBB in Deleware and make a complaint. Lo and behold I was scheduled for a meeting.

We had the meeting with the Arbitrator. I showed him the photos, he even went to my house along with the company I had a problem with to see for himself. I ended up with 2250.00 out of the 15,000 I had asked for.

I was mailed the arbitrators decision. My name was wrong. I had to send another e-mail telling the person at the BBB to send the information to both parties via e-mail and U.S mail. They did that. Then I saw that no date had been set for them to pay. Again I had to tell them to correct that (an e-mail was sent out to both parties). I did not get paid. The company had been listed as unsatisfactory.

Eventually I was told that they were giving up and it was up to me to get paid. I sent the company a letter stating exactly what I was going to do (take all of them to court). At this point they paid $1000.00 dollars of the settlement and came up with a schedule to pay the rest. As instructed I notified the BBB. The company never paid me the rest of the money. I checked to see how the company was listed and they now had a SATISFACTORY rating! I asked why. I was told that since I had sent an e-mail saying they were goint to pay me the rest of the money then theyt were meeting the requirments of the BBB!

A letter (U.S mail) was sent to the main office in Deleware (I think tha is the location). In the letter I complained that I did not see that me taking the company to court to finish getting paid justified the company getting a 'satisfactory' rating. The local BBB had told me nothing could be done, but after contacting the main BBB the listing has now changed.

The BBB misleads people into thinking that they are here to help consumers. I would have been better off just taking the company to small claims court in the first place. I would have gotten more money and had less problems.

Once you have gone to Arbitration (a private legal system) you are screwed. The BBB even states in the agreement that you sign that even if they (BBB) are responsible for the judgment not going in your favor (re-schedule 3 times) that you are not able to sue them. This is an orginizatin that should just be dissolved. If there is ever a class action suit against them let me know and i will join. I have saved all of the e-mail from the local BBB and myself so I am able to provide documentation.

Final note. I did ask for the person above supervisor that runs the mediation and arbitratiion section. I was told that if I had a problem with a person in that section or about her section then I should contact her. No offer was made to give me the name and e-mail, phone number of her supervisor.

Jerry

Houston, Texas

U.S.A.

STOP! ..before you think about using the Better Business Bureau (BBB)... CLICK HERE to see how other consumers were victimized by the BBB's false or misleading information. Don't be fooled! It has been reported, when there are thousands of complaints and other investigations underway by authorities, the BBB has no choice but to finally give an UNsatisfactory rating to a BBB member business that is paying the BBB big membership fees every year. When a business is reported that is NOT a BBB member, BBB files WILL more likely show an UNsatisfactory rating, then reportedly shake down that company to become a member of the BBB. One positive thing about the BBB is, either way, if a business has an unsatisfactory rating with the BBB, you can be sure, the business is bad. But what about all those BBB member businesses that had complaints filed against them? Consumers never get to hear about them. What about the BBB advertising to the public? Is this a false and misleading perception they are giving about consumer confidence when dealing with a business? Click here to understand more of what consumers and business alike are saying about the BBB. You decide. ..Remember. The BBB membership is not earned, it's paid for!