Learn More About Business Beware

Everyone has questions when they are looking into using a service so we answer the most common questions we get asked about the site. If you still have more questions please don't hesitate to contact us.

 

 

Business Beware in a nutshell.

 

Keeping the site clean and professional.

 

 

How Business Beware was born.

 

How do you file a complaint or rebuttal?

 

What is the collection letter and how do I send one to a customer?

 

Business Beware helped me collect from a customer and we worked out our situation, I want to share my story!

 

Where do register for a membership?

 

I heard your Radio Show and would love to be a sponsor, how do become one?

 

I want to partner with Business Beware, who do I contact?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have Questions? We've Got Answers...

Customers have a handful of outlets they can use to rate a business, so it's okay for us to have one to rate them right?

 

Why is there a fee for a membership?

 

I'm not a contractor but I am a small business owner and I would love to use the site and tell others about my bad customer experiences, can I still sign up?

 

What is different about Business Beware opposed to other sites or forums?

 

Why use this site, I can look up public records?

 

I have heard that you should be careful what you post on a site like this, is that true?

 

What if I don't have anyone to file a complaint against but want to look up others that have been filed in my area?

 

What is included in a membership?

 

What is the privacy policy?

 

Do you proof the complaints that are filed?

 

Why would or should I use Business Beware?

 

Do you place "tags" in search engines about information I submit about myself or the person I am filing a complaint against like some other sites do?

 

Is this just for businesses or is it for a person who just wants to file a complaint about a deadbeat person in general like on some of the other sites out there?

 

I'm a customer and don't believe it's fair to file a complaint against customers...

 

Is this like the BBB where you can file a rebuttal as well?

 

I think this is rubbish and it's against the law to do this sort of thing...

 

Customers have a handful of outlets they can use to rate a business, so it's okay for us to have one to rate them right?

-Well of course it is...What is the difference in a customer rating a business on a web site to let fellow customers know about their experience and a business giving feedback about a bad customer experience? No difference... Everyone is equal and we all have equal rights to tell our side of the story. Yes there are some bad businesses/contractors out there that give all of us a bad name but that does not mean that all of us are bad. There are great customers out there for the most part but there are some (and you know the ones we are talking about) that are just out there to cause problems for a business. Take for example a customer that goes around to restaurants and orders food, eats some of it then saying it's no good and wanting it to be free (yes these people exist if you didn't know that). These same type of customers do this to all kinds of businesses and they should not keep getting away with it. If a customer is allowed to voice their opinions/experience with businesses to fellow customers, there is no reason you cannot voice yours about a customer you have dealt with.

 

Why is there a fee for a membership?
- We have a fee to make sure we don't just have any person sign up and write fake complaints. We want people who are serious about it and want to help other businesses and contractors. Most people who do sign up and pay the $5 are wanting to get the word out about their bad customer experiences, not just to browse the site. Also let us emphasize how much we cannot stand spam! Once upon a time the site was free until we had people ruin it where all we did was delete spammers, so that is another main reason for the fee.

 

I'm not a contractor but I am a small business owner and I would love to use the site and tell others about my bad customer experiences, can I still sign up?
-YES! Business Beware is not just for contractors it's for any business that has had their share of bad experiences. So yes it's for you too, no matter what your business is.

 

What is different about Business Beware opposed to other sites or forums?
- This is not your typical forum where others are going to rant and rave about someone. That was not what the idea was behind this site and it will always stay true to what it was first created for, which is to help businesses and contractors. There is no difference of a consumer going to a forum or site to file complaints about businesses and businesses warning others of customers who ripped them off. There are some of these customers out there, who get away with it many times, but hopefully they will stop ripping others off or at least the contractor knew what they were getting into before the job started.

 

Why use this site, I can look up public records?
- Sure you can look up public records, etc. This site is a service set up for all business owners and contractors who feel they should let their fellow businesses know about certain customers. There may be quite a few consumers that are not listed on records and who are still getting away with ripping off the contractor, this just provides an outlet for you to have a voice. Other business owners are in the same boat as you when it comes to dealing with bad customers, so why not communicate with someone on the same page as you?

 

I have heard that you should be careful what you post on a site like this, is that true?
-Well in a sense yes, you need to be truthful in what you post on here or any site for that matter. If you post something that is somewhat false and not what truly happened, you are responsible for what you post. It's understandable when you're mad about a situation that just happened and want to vent it out but calm yourself and get all your facts together, then post. Ranting and raving usually doesn't end well in any situation or when others read it. Just be truthful when filing a complaint and remember it's to help other businesses be aware of them in the future.

 

What if I don't have anyone to file a complaint against but want to look up others that have been filed in my area?
-You can sign up even if you don't want or have anybody to file a complaint against. To be able to search the database, you still have to register with us to search. What if there is no one filed in my area? -If there is not someone filed in your area, don't be shy, be the first to give feedback about a customer. -The site is for businesses to share their feedback and help each other out, but if there is not someone in your area that does not mean that there won't be down the road... we are constantly growing and have new members join all over the US and Canada.

 

What is included in a membership?
- When you purchase a Business Beware Membership, there is a $5.00 a year cost that lets you file as many complaints as you want. You are also able to see the actual complaints filed in our database, opposed to just seeing the name when you are not registered. Also with the new service we provide "the collection letter" you have the opportunity for us to send your customers a letter, for more info click here.

 

What is the privacy policy?
- We will not release any personal information unless necessary. When a complaint is filed, your business name, email and license # is for our database records only. You have the choice to file the customer's full address if you choose, we do not require it only the state, county and zip. Also for more info see our disclaimer.

 

Do you proof the complaints that are filed?
- Yes, once they are submitted we review the complaint to make sure there are no obscenities and follow our guidelines. We have the right to delete any complaint that we feel does not follow the guidelines of Business Beware. We state that we do have the right to remove it if we don't feel that it meets our site standards. It's not about ranting and raving or belittling a person, it's to warn about deadbeat clients you have dealt with so others can be aware of them.

 

Why would or should I use Business Beware?
- Well, how many times do you go to do a job and you wished you would have known what you were getting into before you did? What if you could know beforehand about a customer from other fellow businesses and contractors that are in your area? How many times have you had a customer blow something way out of proportion and then file a complaint about you on the BBB and you could not do a thing about it? If you are able to answer yes to all three or any of these questions, this is exactly why Business Beware was created....

 

Do you place "tags" in search engines about information I submit about myself or the person I am filing a complaint against like some other sites do?
- No! We do not place anything on the web or tag it. Anything that is put in our database stays there and only those who register are able to see what was filed. Our site is not to damage people's reputations, it's an outlet for businesses to have a voice with each other.

 

Is this just for businesses or is it for a person who just wants to file a complaint about a deadbeat person in general like on some of the other sites out there?
- Yes, this site is for businesses and contractors to give feedback and ratings on customers. No, it's not for just anybody to complain about someone they consider a deadbeat, sorry.

 

I'm a customer and don't believe it's fair to file a complaint against customers...
-Well, if you want the truth it's a two way street.... You as a customer have numerous outlets to use to complain about businesses, so it's only fair to give businesses a voice too... (see first FAQ at top)

 

Is this like the BBB where you can file a rebuttal as well?
-Yes, when a business files a complaint you (customer) are able to file a "rebuttal" (your side of the story) under their complaint. So yes in a since it's like the BBB, but we are obviously for the business...But we all know there are two sides to every story, so you are able to give your side as well if you would like to.

 

I think this is rubbish and it's against the law to do this sort of thing...
-Well technically it's not against the law. One thing you should become familar with is "The Communications Deceny Act." The CDA is part of our federal laws.  An excellent Wikipedia article discussing the history of the law is definitely something you should read.

 

In short, the CDA provides that when a user writes and posts material on an “interactive website” such as our site Business Beware, the site itself cannot, in most cases, be held legally responsible for the posted material. Specifically, 47 U.S.C. § 230(c)(1) states, "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."

 

Because the complaints on Business Beware are authored by users of the site, we cannot be legally regarded as the "publisher or speaker" of the reports contained here, and hence we are not liable for reports even if they contain false or inaccurate information.  The same law applies to sites like FaceBook, Twitter, and CraigsList– users who post information on these sites are responsible for what they write, but the operators of the sites are not. The reasons for this rule are very simple -- Websites cannot possibly monitor the accuracy of the huge volume of information which their users may choose to post.  If an angry plaintiff were permitted to hold a website liable for information that the site did not create, this would stifle free speech as fewer and fewer sites would be willing to permit users to post anything at all.  

 

So, why should you care about the CDA? Well, it's quite simple friend-- if someone posts false information about you on BusinessBeware.biz, the CDA prohibits you from holding us liable for the statements which others have written.  You can always sue the author if you want, but you can’t sue Business Beware just because we provide a forum for speech. Got it?