3/23/2011 9:09 AM (PST)

I don't work for BBB, so I cannot confirm or deny the Conspiracy Theory. As a business owner,I can tell you that comments affect business both ways. It is much more likely that someone will take the time to complain rather than laud a company. If the TrustLink Member takes the time to register personal information, then the comments take on much more validity. I have run across many anonymous postings (like yours) that want nothing more than to Flame a business without any relevant information. Most of the TrustLink Brigade made a complaint with BBB for one reason or another, which requires personal information for verification. That makes them verifiable, and gives their opinion a bit more weight. It also prevents companies from puffing up their reputation by posting numerous anonymous opinions. You do not even mention which company you posted upon, so it is hard to verify.

4/27/2011 11:23 AM (PST)

I recommend that you file an on-line complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It is my belief, and you may concur, that the policy established by the BBB for TrustLink that they can do as they wish with submitted reviews with no explanation required to the submitter of the review establishes a high potential for corruption by the BBB for the review process. This is not a fair trade practice and should be reported to the FTC for potential investigation.

4/27/2011 2:36 PM (PST)

You must be confusing TrustLink with a government agency, that actually owes YOU some sort of duty. In fact, you will be interested to know that the Police and Fire do not owe YOU a specific duty to respond to your home. If there are several matters pending, they can go wherever they need. TrustLink/BBB are a private organization, funded largely by member companies. Since you pay them no money, they do not owe you ANY duty. They do collect, report, and compare the compliments and complaints on TrustLink with the profiles on the BBB website. They do this to provide a service to the community in general, whether or not you feel like you have been served sufficiently. BTW, if you write an Editorial to your newspaper, THEY have no obligation to publish you either.

4/27/2011 4:25 PM (PST)

The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, collects complaints about companies, business practices, and identity theft. Complaints registered with the FTC can help detect patterns of wrong-doing, and lead to investigations and prosecutions. If TrustLink is operating under the BBB and is advertised as a fair system for consumers to rate their experience with BBB Business Members for use by other consumers, and this system is not fair as advertised and instead is corrupt, e.g., BBB not posting low rating reviews for a business because of the dues paid by the business or because of special personal relations between BBB employees and Business owners or because of whatever reason, then this practice is to the detriment of consumers and of interest to the FTC. Am thinking further that this should also be reported as a Consumer Complaint to the California Attorney General. Private organizations that deal with public consumers, including TrustLink/BBB, owe the consumer non-false (i.e., honest and true) advertising for their products and services.