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07/02/2009
In the last 90 days, consumers from 19 states have filed 25 complaints with the Better Business Bureau against a Rutherford County nursery, Happy Holler Gardens (BBB Grade F). Complainants allege that they ordered and pre-paid for flowers, bulbs and perennials via the Internet and PayPal, but did not receive the products they ordered. Complainants have also not been able to get refunds of the monies paid.Of the 25 complaints, 17 went unanswered by the company in June, earning Happy Holler Gardens the #1 spot on the BBB’s monthly list of businesses with the most unanswered complaints.
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06/23/2009
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about Charlotte-based, mortgage consultant, Michael Grieco, who previously owned Home Assure LLC, a mortgage foreclosure “rescue” business. He is now doing business under the name Assurance Consulting Group in Charlotte. In the past 13 months, the Better Business Bureau has received 19 complaints from consumers in 14 states about Home Assure BBB rating “F”). Fifteen of the 19 complaints remain unanswered or unresolved and one is still pending. Complainants state that they paid $1,500-2,500 to Home Assure for mortgage modification or foreclosure prevention services, but Home Assure failed to fulfill its advertised promises.
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06/08/2009
The Better Business Bureau has been deluged with consumer complaints about automated telemarketing calls that promise to lower interest rates on consumers’ credit cards. Also known as “robocalls,” these calls are a nuisance and they violate U.S. and Canadian Do-Not-Call laws. Some companies behind the calls are ripping off consumers by charging large up-front fees to negotiate lower interest rates with credit card companies—something consumers can do on their own for free.
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05/21/2009
Do you have an auto warranty? Do you know when it expires? Have you been contacted by what you thought was the manufacturer of your vehicle alerting you that your auto warranty is about to expire? Have you been contacted by companies trying to sell you extended auto warranties? Because major auto manufacturers including Chrysler and GM are either contending with bankruptcy or fighting off the threat of bankruptcy, consumers are confused about the status of their auto warranties. This uncertainty has attracted companies looking to make money off of confused consumers who are vulnerable to deceptive telemarketing phone calls and other solicitations for extended auto warranties.
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05/18/2009
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that magazine sales crews will be out in force this summer going door-to-door trying to earn money. In the last 12 months alone, the BBB has received 1,100 complaints from consumers in 46 states and the District of Columbia against more than 50 companies that sell magazines door-to-door. Many of these companies employ young adults who are looking to earn money over the summer. These crews are sent to communities to knock on doors and sell magazines—sometimes without appropriate licensing. These young people are taught how to close the sale by using high pressure tactics and emotional sales pitches.
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04/29/2009
The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on the lookout for fraudulent emails and websites trying to take advantage of the current swine flu outbreak and the growing public concern over it. “Scammers are successful, because they use current headlines as hooks to catch a lot of fish,” said Tom Bartholomy, BBB president. “With the global interest in a potential pandemic of swine flu, scammers have a very large pond to go ‘phishing’ in.”
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04/27/2009
For years, the Better Business Bureau has educated consumers about not giving out personal information over the telephone or to anyone who shows up at your front door. As the 2010 U.S. Census process begins, the BBB advises you to cooperate carefully so you do not become the victim of a scam.
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04/22/2009
According to Travelers Insurance, more than 40 percent of all Travelers' wedding insurance claims filed during the past two years involved unforeseen problems with vendors and venues. Wedding insurance can also provide coverage for other wedding problems including vendor no-shows, inclement weather, military deployment, and medical issues.
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03/04/2009
Today, President Barack Obama announced mortgage modification and refinance guidelines for lenders and servicers to help struggling homeowners. New initiatives provide new ways for sophisticated scammers to take advantage of consumers. If you need to modify or refinance your mortgage, the BBB has advice:
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02/27/2009
Charlotte Bridal Shop, La Bella Sposa, closed abruptly, leaving dozens of brides without dresses only days or weeks away from their weddings.
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02/20/2009
With consumers experiencing financial challenges, more people are doing their taxes early because they need their refunds now. This urgent need is leading to booming business for Refund Anticipation Loans (RAL) also known as “money now loans.”
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02/06/2009
In 2008, consumers filed 14,972 complaints against businesses in the Southern Piedmont area of N.C. and S.C. with The Better Business Bureau. "Although 85% of these complaints were resolved satisfactorily, there are businesses in our area that do not respond to consumer complaints in a timely manner, if at all," said Tom Bartholomy, president and CEO of The Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont. "The businesses that have made the BBB's Dirty Dozen list have the most unanswered complaints in 2008 which earns them the BBB's worst possible rating," Bartholomy added.
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02/05/2009
Complaints against matchmaking and online dating services are on the rise as consumers spend hundreds of millions of dollars on dating services every year. Unfortunately, as the popularity of the industry increases, so does the number of complaints received by the BBB.
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02/04/2009
Instead of losing weight, customers lost money when L.A. Weight Loss Centers abruptly closed all 10 Charlotte area locations on Dec. 11.
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01/06/2009
In order to help consumers make careful pre-purchase decisions, The Better Business Bureau today announced a new letter grade system for all local businesses with grades ranging from A+ to an F. The letter grade system replaces the BBB’s “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” ratings system. The new grading system focuses more clearly on the BBB’s degree of confidence that the business is operating in a trustworthy manner and will make a good faith effort to resolve customer concerns.
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