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04/25/2012
Shredding more than 39,000 pounds of confidential documents, the BBB of Western Michigan’s Secure Your ID Day was a great success! The BBB partnered with document shredding companies, financial institutions, and a church to provide free document shredding to more than 300 individuals and small businesses. Thank you to Calvary Church and West Michigan Document Shredding in Grand Rapids, Gateway in Berrien Springs, Profile in Traverse City, Keystone Community Bank and West Michigan Document Shredding in Kalamazoo, and First Bank West Michigan and Rapid Shred in Hastings.
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04/11/2012
The Better Business Bureau is urging you to participate in Secure Your ID Shred Day events April 20 and 21 throughout Western Michigan. In Grand Rapids, documents can be dropped off at Calvary Church on the East Beltline between 9 a.m. and noon on Friday, April 20. Other locations throughout West Michigan will be hosting free shredding on Saturday, April 21. Reduce identity theft by shredding outdated or unnecessary personal and financial documents. According to the Federal Trade Commission, these are the most prevalent types of identity theft fraud in Michigan:
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03/13/2012
Two important consumer alerts today: #1 Michigan’s Attorney General alleges that from July 2006 through January 2012 API Worldwide Holdings and its operators ran a Ponzi scheme promising huge returns on investments. #2 WOOD-TV ran an important story recently about the safety of used cars that were involved in accidents.
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02/02/2012
NATIONAL BBB ALERT - An advanced fee loan company, GreenPoint Capital located in Lansing, Michigan, has been named by four consumers contacting the BBB, inquiring about their business practices. One consumer informed the BBB that GreenPoint Capital did not honor the contract she made with them after paying $800.00 by wire transfer. The consumer was told a $5000.00 loan would be in her account on 1/31/2012. The money was not provided, and the company representative called to ask for another $800.00, saying they needed more security on the loan. This consumer says GreenPoint Capital took everything she had plus money she borrowed from someone else to get the $800.00 to take out a loan.
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01/19/2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Beware of fake complaint or request for information email claiming to be from bbb.org. If you receive an e-mail from a bbb.org address, DON’T OPEN IT!
The Better Business Bureau is warning businesses to beware of a malicious email that pretends to be from the BBB about a complaint, or seeking accreditation information from the company.
The phishing email is sent from the multiple email addresses with the subject line “Complaint #” followed by a nine-digit number, or referencing an SBQ Form. BBB Accredited and non-Accredited Businesses have been targeted and some consumers have received the Email.
The body of the email claims that the company has received a complaint, or that the BBB needs more information, and asks them to respond by directing them to click through to what is actually is disguised link to a third party website.
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01/11/2012
Every year many of us make well-intended resolutions to change our lifestyles, and in reality many elect to acquire gym memberships intent on improving physical fitness and losing weight. Every year the BBB receives subsequent complaints in the middle of the year relating to contractual obligations that the consumers cannot typically cancel. The BBB wants to encourage consumers to pursue physical well being and improved lifestyles but when contemplating a gym membership or relationship there are a number of questions that need to be asked prior to entering any contractual relationship.
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10/18/2011
The Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan congratulates the winners of the 2011 BBB Integrity Awards!
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07/22/2011
Corporate Travel was brought to the BBB’s attention on July 20, 2011 by a West Michigan business owner. The company had received an unsolicited fax offer of “discounted travel voucher” package deals. The fax displays the BBB Accredited Business Seal; this company is NOT accredited with the BBB of Western Michigan or any other BBB under the name of Corporate Travel. The BBB in Spokane Washington has also received information regarding these faxes arriving in their area.
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07/15/2011
Moral Lending Bureau of America was brought to the BBB’s attention on July 15, 2011. Initially, the company’s website stated that they were accredited with the BBB, which IS NOT the case; this company is NOT accredited with the BBB of Western Michigan. The BBB contacted the company via fax regarding this issue, and the company did remove the false statement.
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04/11/2011
Grand Rapids, MI – April 11, 2011 – Consumers who owe money or are behind on their bills may be legitimately contacted by debt collectors to pay off debts. The BBB warns consumers, however, that phony debt collectors are lurking. In a recent release of the top complaints reported to the Better Business Bureau, collection agencies ranked 5th in number of complaints received. With more than 15,000 complaints, consumers need to be aware of the best practices for when it comes to handling debt collectors.
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03/11/2011
Be Sure Disaster Relief Charities are Legit and Equipped to Help
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11/23/2010
The recent 2010 Protect Your Identity Week (PYIW) campaign hosted by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) protected tens of thousands of consumers against identity theft.
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10/25/2010
Good news for those struggling to pay their bills: all of the new Federal Trade Commission regulations to help protect financially-desperate families from deceptive offers for debt relief will go into effect on October 27, 2010. While the new rule will have a significant impact on reducing predatory debt relief, the Better Business Bureau advises consumers that they still need to use caution when enlisting the help of a third party to get out of debt.
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08/04/2010
The Federal Trade Commission recently announced amendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule which will prohibit for-profit companies that sell debt relief serves over the phone from collecting any advanced fees prior to settling or reducing debt. These new regulations offer consumers additional protections when trying to reduce credit card or other unsecured debt.
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06/01/2010
Grand Rapids MI - June 1, 2010 - According to complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau, victims across the country have lost a total estimated quarter million dollars to advance fee loan scams this spring. Advance fee loan scams target individuals and small business owners who are desperate to get a loan and often take the victim for thousands of dollars.
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