Better Business Bureau
Start With Trust
Serving 64 Counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky
Top 10 List - Complaints and Inquiries
2/17/2009
Lexington, KY - In 2008, the homebuilding, repair and remodeling industry resurfaced as the most inquired-about and complained-about industry at the Better Business Bureau of Central & Eastern Kentucky.
"Home improvements and home building is always a top five area of inquiry and complaint at our BBB each year," said Neil Kingery, President & CEO. "With weather events hitting our area so much in the past couple years causing damages to people's homes, it's not surprising that people are using our services to check out companies before hiring, or to get an issue resolved if things didn’t turn out quite right."
The top 10 list is compiled from complaints filed against businesses located in the BBB's 64-county service area of central and eastern Kentucky.
"We remind the public that types of businesses on the list of the most-complained about industries are not necessarily 'trouble' industries…just areas that tend to have more activity in that area. Complaints against a business are going to happen….it's HOW a company deals with the complaint is what customers should consider when deciding to do business. BBB Accredited businesses have committed to try to resolve customer complaints. Customers can find out how a company has dealt with complaints by calling us at 1-800-866-6668 or by looking up the report on our website at www.bluegrass.bbb.org."
| 2008 Top 10 Complained-About Industries | ||
| Type of Business | 2008 | 2007 |
| Home Builders, Repair & Remodeling | #1 | #2 |
| Auto Dealers – New & Used | #2 | #1 |
| Internet Shopping Services | #3 | #5 |
| Auto Repair – Service & Parts | #4 | #6 |
| Manufacturers and Producers | #5 | #7 |
| Cellular Telephone Service | #6 | #3 |
| Television – Cable & Satellite | #7 | NEW! |
| Apartments | #8 | NEW! |
| Furniture - Retail | #9 | #8 |
| Legal Services Plans | #10 | NEW! |
For the past several years the area of home building, remodeling and repair has brought a higher number of inquiries than any other industry at the BBB of Central & Eastern Kentucky. "What is interesting is how several professions like doctors, dentists and lawyers have worked their way up into the top 10 most inquired-about types of business," said Kingery. "That indicates to us that people are being more careful than ever about whom they select to provide them with licensed professional services."
| 2008 Top 10 Inquired-About Industries | ||
| Type of Business | 2008 | 2007 |
| Home Builders, Repair & Remodeling | #1 | #1 |
| Auto Repair – Service and Parts | #2 | #4 |
| Auto Dealers - New & Used | #3 | #3 |
| Insurance | #4 | #6 |
| Physicians & Surgeons | #5 | NEW! |
| Attorneys | #6 | NEW! |
| Dentists | #7 | NEW! |
| Multi-Level Selling Companies | #8 | #5 |
| Mortgage & Escrow Companies | #9 | #7 |
| Furniture – Retail | #10 | #9 |
The Better Business Bureau provided more than 900,000 reliability reports to the public in 2008, via the 24-hour automated phone system, the web site at www.bluegrass.bbb.org, or live operator assistance. The BBB also processed more than 4,000 complaints against businesses in the Bureau’s 64-county service area in 2008, with 83% of those reaching a resolution. The public also accessed thousands of lists of BBB Accredited Businesses in categories they needed for products and services.
****
Contact the Better Business Bureau of Central & Eastern Kentucky to check out companies, charities, or to report problems and scams by calling (859) 259-1008 or toll-free 1-800-866-6668 or by logging on to www.bluegrass.bbb.org.