What's up with the BBB in Houston? Those of you who "know me" will recall my experience with them and if you attended a lobby day in Austin you probably met quite a few people who depended on the BBB to find a reputable builder and got burnt.
As I reported last week an entire subdivison of people had their identities compromised when their builder left everyone's personal folder  (information, and I mean all information) in a garage without a door, right there for the world to see. People were livid to say the least. Also in that interview residents made mention of homes that had problems and the builder would not address them.  This builder had a good rating with the BBB. Now,  he has No Rating. They took it away. He is a non accredited member of the BBB.-AFTER THE FACT.
Wasn't a day or 2 later I was put in touch with a person who bought a new home, plagued with problems and could not get the builder to fix them. Even has a lawyer now. I asked where they found the builder. Why it was the BBB, builder has a good rating.
When is someone going to address this? I am trying to get someone to. I turned to the BBB and it was the worst mistake of my life and I feel like I can safely say others feel the same.
People should make it a point to go to the consumer sites such as HOBB, HADD, Texas Watch, get the real story before making their decisions.
I know we have rehashed this numerous times but as developments occurr it is worth repeating

Probably more complicated than it sounds, but that money used to buy the BBB in membership dues need to go to a real accountable consumer protection entity. We have to break down the illusion that they are a secure, independent,  consumer protection agency.

The BBB is funded by its member's dues, which are of course businesses.  This organization is not and never was a consumer protection organization, but it has marketed itself to the public that way.  This provides an illusion of consumer advocacy, that makes it worth the fee for a business to join.  You are a member of the BBB therefore you must be a good business.  The public thinks the BBB requires standards, etc, to belong, but mostly they just require a fee.  When a builder stops paying fees the BBB no longer protects them.  The BBB's arbitration program is also fraught with bias and problems, because again it serves builder members while marketing itself as being for consumers.

I agree the BBB is a sham but do not think you can force it to become what it claims to be.  It would never be trustworthy, being funded by the businesses it purports to rat on if they become unscrupulous.  Fox-henhouse.  Never works.

What you CAN do is educate the public about the BBB, and continue to demand tranparency.  Demand that they disclose they are not a consumer org and that they don't make complaints all public information.

Some businesses, especially small ones, resent the BBB because paying their fees is a hardship, and they feel it's extortion.  If they're not a member it appears they are not good enough to join, when in fact all that is necessary to belong to MANY business org's is to pay the fee.  It's credibility for sale, but it's not real credibility.