Charlotte-area homebuyers say Beazer offered money for high marks
Some Charlotte-area home buyers say builder Beazer Homes USA offered them money to give the company high marks in a survey, which could have resulted in bonuses for company executives. Andre Gray told The Charlotte Observer he received two letters in the mail from Beazer after buying a home in north Charlotte in 2001. One letter was a customer satisfaction survey about the builder, while the other offered him $100 to give Beazer high marks.
The Associated Press
Charlotte-area homebuyers say Beazer offered money for high marks
Some Charlotte-area home buyers say builder Beazer Homes USA offered them money to give the company high marks in a survey, which could have resulted in bonuses for company executives.
"That's a no-no," said David Van Amburg, managing director of the American Customer Satisfaction Index at the University of Michigan. "You're essentially buying good ratings. If people are trying to take that data seriously, they may be making disastrous decisions."
Andre Gray told The Charlotte Observer he received two letters in the mail from Beazer after buying a home in north Charlotte in 2001. One letter was a customer satisfaction survey about the builder, while the other offered him $100 to give Beazer high marks.
Gray said he followed the instructions because he needed the money.
The Observer said it spoke with three other Charlotte-area customers who were paid by Beazer for survey answers.
A spokeswoman for the Atlanta-based company declined to comment.
Meanwhile, Beazer Homes USA Inc. said Thursday it's turning over documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of a federal investigation of possible fraud in the company's mortgage lending practices and other transactions.
http://www.charlotte.com/204/story/102997.html |