Customer Questions for BBB
By Rod Davis, CEO, BBB serving Southeast Florida and the Caribbean
Every day consumers visit our local BBB site (BBB.org/SEFL) here in Southeast Florida and the Caribbean to check on businesses. In January of 2021, consumers checked over 21,000 BBB Business Profile Reports each day to make decisions about whether to hire or purchase from a business.
Many of the questions coming to us at BBB directly relate to what information is available to help consumers and how to use BBB information. Let’s see what questions have been coming to us from our local consumers and perhaps the questions and answers will help you use BBB information to make good decisions.
Question: Arleen asked, “I need accordian shutters. Which companies have the best rating?”
Answer: Hello Arleen, you can use the BBB Online Directory to find businesses using filters to find the best business for you. Just visit the BBB.org/SEFL site and at the top of the website is our search tool. Next, just enter shutters into the search tool and your zip code. You will be asked if you want to search only BBB Accredited Businesses or all businesses.
BBB Accredited Businesses have agreed to abide by the BBB Code of Accreditation (i.e. good business practices) and work with BBB to resolve disputes should any arise. Once you make your selection, you will be given the option to use other filters. You can sort by distance from your zip code, the BBB Rating (e.g. A-F), and specific types of work needed to help find businesses that deliver exactly the services you need.
It is also a good idea to review customer reviews on any business you are considering, in addition to BBB, on review sites like Google, Yelp, and other sites that provide additional feedback to help you find the business that excels in providing great work and working with customers if any issues should arise.
Question: An anonymous consumer asked BBB on Google about Car Shield. “How long has Car Shield been in business, does BBB recommend the business, and what is their rating?”
Answer: The BBB report for all businesses provides some basic information (e.g. how long the business has been in operation, where it is located, the website, reviews/complaints submitted by customers and any business response, alternate business names used by the business, the number of complaints filed over the last 12 and 36 months, how those complaints are handled, and a BBB Rating based on marketplace actions of the business). Specific to this customer’s request, Car Shield has been in operation for 16 years. The BBB report also indicates that they have an F rating based on advertising issues, 1,624 complaints, and a pattern of complaints that has not been corrected. Additionally, the BBB report includes 826 customer reviews on Car Shield with an average rating of 1.43 out of 5.
BBB gathers the collective experiences of our community and that information is the basis for the BBB report/ratings. BBB presents the information and does not endorse a specific business and trusts that consumers will use BBB information and other resources to make smart decisions based on what information is most important to them.
Question: Maria asked, “Can you help me find a good nursing home for my mother?”
Answer: When it comes to in-home care or nursing home care for loved ones, BBB encourages you to do a comprehensive and thorough review that includes up front research, onsite visits or extensive interviews, and verifiable references to help substantiate your research findings are solid.
You can begin your research on BBB.org/SEFL and medicare lets you add information into your consideration based on onsite health inspections, staffing to provide quality care, and the quality of resident care. The medicare tool is on their website at Medicare.gov/Care-Compare/?ProviderType=NursingHome&Redirect=True.
AARP also provides some great resources and you can review their tips at: AARP.org/Caregiving/BasicsIinfo-2019/Finding-A-Nursing-Home.html.
We encourage our community to come to BBB.org/SEFL and share your experiences (positive and negative) to help our neighbors find good businesses and reward those businesses that go the extra mile for us!
