Better Business Bureau complaints up 8.5 percent

In 2009, consumers filed 16,251 complaints against area businesses with the Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont – an 8.5 percent increase over the 2008 level of 14,972 complaints.

"While this may seem like a large volume of complaints, the good news is that 88 percent of these complaints were closed satisfactorily, thanks to businesses and consumers who worked with the BBB to resolve their disputes," said BBB President Tom Bartholomy. The average length of time it took the BBB to close a complaint in 2009 was 17 days from the date that the complaint was filed with the BBB, which is unchanged from 2008.

"Unfortunately, there are businesses in our area that have a history of unanswered complaints which earns them poor grades with the BBB," said Bartholomy. In 2009, the BBB provided consumers with 971,767 free reliability reports on area businesses which is a 17 percent increase over the 2008 total of 832,020. "In a down economy, consumers are making careful decisions and checking out businesses with the BBB first," Bartholomy added.

The top five types of businesses with the most complaints in this area in 2009:

- Home improvement contractors

- Telephone communications

- Auto dealers (new cars)

- Weight control services

- Auto repair services

The top five types of businesses with the most complaints in this area in 2008:

- Home improvement contractors

- Auto dealers (new cars)

- Internet gaming

- Auto repair services

- Auto dealers (used cars)

The BBB encourages individuals to be savvy consumers and to make informed, pre-purchase decisions. Consumers can get a free BBB Reliability Report on area businesses online at www.bbb.org or by calling 1-877-317-7236 toll-free in N.C. and S.C.