Contact:
Sue McConnell, Sr. VP
216.623.8960
sue@cleveland.bbb.org
For Immediate Release – January 4, 2012 - Consumers in the Greater Cleveland area filed over 8,200 complaints with BBB’s nationwide in 2012.
Consumers report a “disconnect” with cell phone services.
Cell phones and related services topped the list and generated just over 650 complaints from local consumers last year. This isn’t surprising considering that cell phone ownership continues to grow. Pew Research Center reported recently that 85% of adults own a cell phone.
Cell phone contracts can be quite lengthy and rates for data usage, texts and other features may be confusing. Most of the complaints submitted to BBB concerned problems related to phone service and billing errors.
The remaining top ten complaint generating types of businesses in 2012 in order of complaint volume were:
Auto Dealers – New Vehicles
Cable TV & Satellite services
Collection Agencies
Auto Dealers – Used Vehicles
Remodeling & Construction
Auto Repair & Service
Banks
Roofing Contractors
Furniture Retailers
BBB helps buyers and sellers resolve purchase disputes for businesses located in North America – regardless of the company’s BBB accreditation status. Complaints can be submitted at cleveland.bbb.org or by phone at (216) 241-7678. Written complaints can be sent to BBB at 2800 Euclid Ave., 4th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44115.
The BBB grade rating for a business is determined, in part, by the volume of complaints filed and how the disputes are ultimately closed (i.e. whether the matter is resolved, unresolved or unanswered).
Read Complaints and Company Responses - Since September, 2011, BBB has published the details of complaints filed online. This includes the text of the initial complaint from the consumer as well as the company’s response. To date, BBB has published over 6,000 complaints.
Consumer Reviews – BBB also offers consumers the opportunity to post reviews – good and bad – about local businesses. Reviews are displayed in a company’s BBB Business Review and both the business and other consumers can respond to them.
