Top Ten Inquiries and Complaints for June 2002 from the CCBBB

Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus - the governing body of the 14 Better Business Bureaus (BBB) across Canada

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Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus: Top Ten Inquiries and Complaints for June 2002

PRESS RELEASE

Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus

Ottawa (July 24) - Roofing contractors along with moving and storage operators need to be on your best behaviour as Canadian consumers are checking your reputation before signing a contract. Also, a caution to new and used auto dealers who are number one on the June list of consumer complaints to Better Business Bureaus.

Roofers, moving and storage operators, and general contractors are at the top of the national inquiry list for June. The findings were released today by the Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus.

Consumers continue to complain about new and used auto dealers who consistently remain at or near the top of the list every month. At the same time consumers are making more inquiries to Better Business Bureaus about auto dealers before completing their purchase, says the Council President and CEO.

Consumers also complained about their experiences with general contractors, auto repair and service, and computer sales and service.

Positive economic and business signs during June were the calls and internet contacts by consumers seeking reliability reports on roofers, general contractors, pavers, and landscapers. This indicates that consumers have plans to spend their money in their neighborhood on their house and property, says Whitelaw.

Last month Better Business Bureaus answered 137,500 consumer inquiries, provided 84,500 reliability reports about specific businesses and services, and opened 1,490 written complaint files. Whitelaw said, that the 10 percent increase in consumer inquiries from the previous month and six (6) percent increase in reliability reports shows Canadians are checking out businesses.

This is the fourth month that the Council has released the list of consumer inquiries and complaints. The inquiries provide an independent measurement about spending plans while the complaints signal areas for improved customer service.

The monthly monitoring and reporting on the inquiries provides a timely indicator of consumer spending interests through the requests for business information, educational material and reliability reports provided by Better Business Bureaus, says Whitelaw.

The monthly report reflects the patterns of consumer inquiry and complaint information compiled by the 14 Canadian Better Business Bureaus located in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Windsor, London, Kitchener, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, and St. John’s.

The role of the Better Business Bureau is to provide information to reduce risk when a consumer, business, or organization plans to spend or donate money. Eight of the Canadian Better Business Bureaus provide 24 hour online access to reliability reports.

Top 10 Consumer Inquiries June 2002

Top 10 List of Complaints June 2002

The Better Business Bureau promotes and encourages the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education, and service excellence. Consumer information is available at the Council’s website ccbbb.ca.