Buying Clubs and Internet Shopping Lead Top 10 Complaints to BBB for Second Consecutive Year

Jan. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Consumers in 2010 Continued to Complain about the Same Business Categories as in 2009

The same kinds of businesses that most irked Connecticut consumers in 2009 continued to prompt complaints one year later, according to Connecticut BBB’s list of top 10 types of businesses that generated the most complaints.  

Buying clubs/group purchasing services and Internet shopping occupy the top two positions as they did in 2009.  

“The statistics show a clear trend among consumers in Connecticut over the past several years,” according to Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti.  “Though there may be some shuffling in the order of the list, most of the types of businesses remain on the list from one year to the next.”

2010                                                                                    2010
1. Buying clubs/Group purchasing                                 1. Buying clubs/Group purchasing
2. Internet shopping                                                          2.  Internet shopping
3. Furniture - Retail                                                            3.  Furniture - Retail
4. Insurance companies                                                  4.  Publishers - Book
5. Auto dealers - New cars                                              5.  Furniture - Retail
6. Mailing services                                                            6.  Auto dealers - New cars
7. Magazine sales                                                             7.  Insurance companies
8. Auto dealers - Used cars                                            8.  Fulfillment services
9. Burglar alarm systems/dealers & monitoring         9.  Magazine sales
10. Market research & analysis                                     10. Auto dealers - Used cars


Despite the number of complaints against companies in these categories, 90 percent of these business types had a complaint settlement rate of between 82 and 99 percent.

BBB also collects statistics on the number of times consumers visit www.bbb.org to inquire about a given business before signing a contract or making a purchase.

With few exceptions, inquiry statistics reveal consumers tend to research and complain about different types of businesses.

The inquiry statistics chart below lists industries that consumers check on before they make a purchase:     

2010                                                                                    2009
1. Home Improvements                                1. Home Improvements
2. Oils - Fuel                                                   2.  Buying Clubs & Group Purchasing Services
3. Roofing contractors                                  3.  Roofing Contractors
4. Auto Dealers - Used Cars                       4.  Auto Dealers - New Cars
5. Auto Dealers - New cars                          5. Oils - Fuel
6. Heating & Air Conditioning                      6.  Work-at-Home Companies
7. Landscape Contractors                           7. Movers
8. Movers                                                         8. Heat & Air conditioning
9. Plumbing Contractors                              9. Auto Dealers - Used Cars
10. Buying Clubs & Group Purchasing   10. Plumbing Contractors

Many common problems can be prevented by visiting www.bbb.org to research the experience of other consumers before hiring a goods or service provider.

Helpful consumer tips can be found at www.ct.bbb.org/consumers.

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Founded in 1928, Connecticut BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. For more advice on finding companies and businesses, start your search with trust at www.bbb.org.