CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Better Business Bureau released its annual report for 2015 for consumer activity related to businesses located in the BBB’s 20-county service area in the southern Piedmont of North and South Carolina.
Consumer complaints:
In 2015, consumers filed 14,876 complaints against area businesses, up from 13,642 complaints filed in 2014 -- a 9 percent increase.
Complaint settlement rate:
The overall settlement rate for all complaints filed by consumers in 2015 was 91 percent, the same as in 2014.
Verified customer reviews:
Last year, BBB implemented a new customer review feature on BBB reports which allows customers to give positive or negative feedback about their experience with the business.
BBB verifies the legitimacy of the customer before the review is posted. In 2015, customers posted 4,733 reviews about businesses compared to 2,022 reviews in 2014, a 134 percent increase.
Consumer requests for business reviews (inquiries):
In 2015, consumers requested 2,948,769 reviews on local businesses, compared to 3,027,301 consumer requests in 2014, a 3 percent decrease.
The top five types of businesses with the most complaints were:
2015:
- Auto dealers – new cars
- Television – cable and satellite
- Collection agencies
- Auto dealers – used cars
- Telephone communications
2014:
- Auto dealers – new cars
- Collection agencies
- Television – cable and satellite
- Auto repair services
- Auto dealers – used cars
Consumers can visit BBB to check out businesses or to file a complaint against a business.
WSOC
