CHICAGO, IL - January 31, 2012 - Valentine’s Day means big bucks for florists. It is a bigger holiday than Mothers Day, Easter, and Christmas; making it their busiest day of the year. The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois (BBB) cautions those looking to send flowers for their special someone to be careful when selecting a florist.
Complaints about Florists increased 47 percent in 2011 compared to 2010. Last year 588 individuals filed complaints; in 2010 that number was 398 according to the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois.
“When buying flowers consumers should be especially careful when making the purchase online or over the phone,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois. “Consumers need to review the description of the floral arrangement or any other gift purchased online or in conversation with the florist or sales person.”
Pay careful attention to the options offered such as size of arrangement, color of flowers, color of vase, delivery in a box or vase, and inclusion of an enclosure or gift card. Note that all the options mentioned may not be available on all sites or may involve additional charges. While you think you're ordering from a local florist, you may actually be on the phone with someone hundreds or thousands of miles away.
“Another important point is to make sure that your order is clear and detailed. Review the guarantee on the site or with the salesperson. This will help alleviate your concerns about quality or delivery,” states Bernas.
The BBB offers the following advice for safe and successful shopping for Valentine’s Day:
• Do your homework. Before ordering flowers, chocolates or any other gifts for Valentine’s Day check out the company’s Business Review at www.bbb.org in order to help prevent disappointment with the product or customer service.
• Allow time for shipping. Check with the retailer or check the web site to make sure that you have allowed enough time for delivery by your specified date. Make sure that this date is specified clearly and guaranteed when you order.
• Be wary of any email received from an unknown sender. Do not open any unsolicited email and do not click on any links provided. Fake e-cards coming from scammers/hackers may send you an infected card or send you to a link where you are could compromise your computer’s safety.
For more information on shopping with companies you can trust, visit www.bbb.org
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As a private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Get Smart Before Picking Up Dumbbells
With New Year resolutions, consumers are hitting gyms, fitness centers and training studios en masse. For those in need of workout wisdom, Better Business Bureau suggests exercising caution when choosing personal trainers.
• Run background checks. Ensure potential trainers are properly certified. To verify accreditation on personal training certification programs, check with the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Also, find out if trainers are continuing education with specialty certifications or programs.
• Spot the right trainers. Before purchasing training packages, request free sessions to help evaluate workouts and rapport. Also, discuss goals and training options. Don't feel pressured to purchase additional sessions that don't fit fitness needs.
• Work out the details. Make sure trainers have proven track records of success. Ask for client testimonials and referrals, preferably from those with similar backgrounds and fitness goals.
• Trim waists, not wallets. Examine possible post-introductory price increases. To reduce costs, ask about discounts for multiple sessions and group appointments. Read all refund and cancellation policies carefully; many personal trainers require payments upfront and clients may forfeit sessions for cancelling.
Visit bbb.org for up-to-date BBB Business Reviews on health clubs, personal trainers and more.
• Run background checks. Ensure potential trainers are properly certified. To verify accreditation on personal training certification programs, check with the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. Also, find out if trainers are continuing education with specialty certifications or programs.
• Spot the right trainers. Before purchasing training packages, request free sessions to help evaluate workouts and rapport. Also, discuss goals and training options. Don't feel pressured to purchase additional sessions that don't fit fitness needs.
• Work out the details. Make sure trainers have proven track records of success. Ask for client testimonials and referrals, preferably from those with similar backgrounds and fitness goals.
• Trim waists, not wallets. Examine possible post-introductory price increases. To reduce costs, ask about discounts for multiple sessions and group appointments. Read all refund and cancellation policies carefully; many personal trainers require payments upfront and clients may forfeit sessions for cancelling.
Visit bbb.org for up-to-date BBB Business Reviews on health clubs, personal trainers and more.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Last Minute Charitable Giving: Five Questions to Ask
The BBB recommends donors ask the following five questions before giving:
1) Is this a charity I can trust?
Look at the appeal carefully; some charities’ names sound the same. Do not be fooled by names that look impressive or that closely resemble the name of a well-known organization. A common scheme used in charity fraud is name-pirating of well-known organizations to gain the trust of donors. Check it out first. If someone says they are with a certain charity, call the charity directly and verify that who you spoke with or what you receive really is affiliated with them. Also, visit the BBB’s website www.bbb.org/charity to find out whether the charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. These standards address charity governance, finances, fund raising, donor privacy, and other accountability issues.
2) How will the charity use my donation?
Ask questions about how your donation will be used. Beware of appeals that bring tears to your eyes but tell you little about what the charity is doing about the problem it describes so well. For example, if the charity says it is helping the homeless, do they explain how and where this is taking place? (Shelter, food, medical care, etc.) Watch out for statements such as “all proceeds will go to the charity.” This can mean that only the money left after expenses, such as the cost of written materials and fund raising efforts, will go to the charity. These expenses can be high, so check carefully.
3) Is my donation tax deductible?
If you want to take a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes, make sure the organization is tax exempt as a charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A charity appeal will usually include a reference to this. To verify a charity’s tax status, access an IRS database of organizations by viewing Publication 78 on the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
4) Can the charity actually use what I am donating?
All charities welcome the receipt of monetary donations, but some also solicit in-kind donations such as clothing, food, and toys. If you are planning to donate items to a worthy cause, make sure you know the in-kind contributions your charity prefers. For example, a food bank may prefer food items that are not perishable such as canned goods, and a toy drive may be seeking new and not used toys.
5) Am I feeling pressured to give?
Do not succumb to pressure to give money on the spot, either immediately over the phone via credit card or by allowing a “runner” to pick up a contribution. Also, never donate in cash. Always use a check or credit card to document the donation and to stop payment or dispute if you discover a problem. Take the time to research the charity fully; the charity that needs your money today will welcome it just as much tomorrow.
1) Is this a charity I can trust?
Look at the appeal carefully; some charities’ names sound the same. Do not be fooled by names that look impressive or that closely resemble the name of a well-known organization. A common scheme used in charity fraud is name-pirating of well-known organizations to gain the trust of donors. Check it out first. If someone says they are with a certain charity, call the charity directly and verify that who you spoke with or what you receive really is affiliated with them. Also, visit the BBB’s website www.bbb.org/charity to find out whether the charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability. These standards address charity governance, finances, fund raising, donor privacy, and other accountability issues.
2) How will the charity use my donation?
Ask questions about how your donation will be used. Beware of appeals that bring tears to your eyes but tell you little about what the charity is doing about the problem it describes so well. For example, if the charity says it is helping the homeless, do they explain how and where this is taking place? (Shelter, food, medical care, etc.) Watch out for statements such as “all proceeds will go to the charity.” This can mean that only the money left after expenses, such as the cost of written materials and fund raising efforts, will go to the charity. These expenses can be high, so check carefully.
3) Is my donation tax deductible?
If you want to take a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes, make sure the organization is tax exempt as a charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A charity appeal will usually include a reference to this. To verify a charity’s tax status, access an IRS database of organizations by viewing Publication 78 on the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
4) Can the charity actually use what I am donating?
All charities welcome the receipt of monetary donations, but some also solicit in-kind donations such as clothing, food, and toys. If you are planning to donate items to a worthy cause, make sure you know the in-kind contributions your charity prefers. For example, a food bank may prefer food items that are not perishable such as canned goods, and a toy drive may be seeking new and not used toys.
5) Am I feeling pressured to give?
Do not succumb to pressure to give money on the spot, either immediately over the phone via credit card or by allowing a “runner” to pick up a contribution. Also, never donate in cash. Always use a check or credit card to document the donation and to stop payment or dispute if you discover a problem. Take the time to research the charity fully; the charity that needs your money today will welcome it just as much tomorrow.
Monday, December 19, 2011
BBB Updates Advice for Recipients of Phishing Email Claiming to be a Complaint
An email scam using the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) name and logo continues to proliferate across North America, and even to some overseas addresses. Most of the emails carry the famous BBB torch logo and come with the subject line “Complaint from your customers.” The emails have a link or an attachment containing malicious phishing malware that steals information, often with devastating results.
The BBB recommends the following to anyone who receives the email:
· Do not to open any attachments;
· Do not click on any links;
· Delete the email from your inbox, and then delete it again from your trash or recycling folder;
· Run a full system scan using reputable virus software.
Previously, the BBB had recommended running a full system scan only if the recipient had clicked on the link or opened the attachment. However, due to the virulent nature of the virus, the new recommendation is for everyone who receives it to run the scan and in offices or homes that are networked, all computers should be scanned.
Chris Garver, Chief Information Officer at the Council of Better Business Bureaus, recommends that all domain owners set up a sender policy framework (SPF) and set their spam filter to use it. “Using the SPF standard helps fight spam and phishing attacks by allowing your email servers to verify whether an email is legitimate…or not,” he says.
Microsoft offers a simple, four-step process for setting up an SPF: www.microsoft.com/mscorp/safety/content/technologies/senderid/wizard/
If you receive an email saying your business has a complaint filed against it with BBB, there are several things you can do to authenticate:
· Look for typos, grammatical errors, etc. in the text that could indicate it originated overseas.
· Check to see who it says it is from. Complaints go out from the local BBBs, not from the headquarters office.
· Hover your mouse over the link to see if its destination is really a bbb.org address.
· Copy and paste the link into Notepad (not Word). Notepad does not support html, so if the link is a fake bbb.org address, the real link will show up.
· If you still are not sure, visit www.bbb.org to find your local BBB, and send them a new email to ask if you have a complaint (do not Reply to the email you received, or forward it to them). They have been swamped with requests, so you may not hear back immediately.
The CBBB is working with federal law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrator of this fraud, and is also looking into other measures it can take to help prevent future phishing scams from spreading.
The BBB recommends the following to anyone who receives the email:
· Do not to open any attachments;
· Do not click on any links;
· Delete the email from your inbox, and then delete it again from your trash or recycling folder;
· Run a full system scan using reputable virus software.
Previously, the BBB had recommended running a full system scan only if the recipient had clicked on the link or opened the attachment. However, due to the virulent nature of the virus, the new recommendation is for everyone who receives it to run the scan and in offices or homes that are networked, all computers should be scanned.
Chris Garver, Chief Information Officer at the Council of Better Business Bureaus, recommends that all domain owners set up a sender policy framework (SPF) and set their spam filter to use it. “Using the SPF standard helps fight spam and phishing attacks by allowing your email servers to verify whether an email is legitimate…or not,” he says.
Microsoft offers a simple, four-step process for setting up an SPF: www.microsoft.com/mscorp/safety/content/technologies/senderid/wizard/
If you receive an email saying your business has a complaint filed against it with BBB, there are several things you can do to authenticate:
· Look for typos, grammatical errors, etc. in the text that could indicate it originated overseas.
· Check to see who it says it is from. Complaints go out from the local BBBs, not from the headquarters office.
· Hover your mouse over the link to see if its destination is really a bbb.org address.
· Copy and paste the link into Notepad (not Word). Notepad does not support html, so if the link is a fake bbb.org address, the real link will show up.
· If you still are not sure, visit www.bbb.org to find your local BBB, and send them a new email to ask if you have a complaint (do not Reply to the email you received, or forward it to them). They have been swamped with requests, so you may not hear back immediately.
The CBBB is working with federal law enforcement agencies to identify the perpetrator of this fraud, and is also looking into other measures it can take to help prevent future phishing scams from spreading.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Mail Fraud
Mail fraud can mean anything from non-delivery of mail-order merchandise to mail actually being stolen. Not only do criminals steal packages containing presents and cards filled with money or checks but personal information in your mail can be used by criminals to steal your identity.
Preventing Mail Theft:
• Do not leave outgoing mail in your unlocked mailbox.
• Deposit mail in a collection box or inside your local post office.
• Promptly pick up your incoming mail after it is delivered.
• Have mail delivered to a Post Office Box or Personal Mail Delivery Service.
• Use Direct Deposit and Electronic Banking to avoid checks in your mail.
• Contact the senders if you don’t receive credit cards, checks, or other valuable mail.
• When out of town have the post office hold your mail or have someone your trust pick up the mail daily.
• Be observant of and report suspicious activities on your street, including those near your letter carrier, the postal vehicle, residential mailboxes, and collection boxes.
• Notify the post office and people who will be sending you mail that you have a change of address.
Preventing Mail Theft:
• Do not leave outgoing mail in your unlocked mailbox.
• Deposit mail in a collection box or inside your local post office.
• Promptly pick up your incoming mail after it is delivered.
• Have mail delivered to a Post Office Box or Personal Mail Delivery Service.
• Use Direct Deposit and Electronic Banking to avoid checks in your mail.
• Contact the senders if you don’t receive credit cards, checks, or other valuable mail.
• When out of town have the post office hold your mail or have someone your trust pick up the mail daily.
• Be observant of and report suspicious activities on your street, including those near your letter carrier, the postal vehicle, residential mailboxes, and collection boxes.
• Notify the post office and people who will be sending you mail that you have a change of address.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Foreign Currency Fee Litigation
The Better Business Bureau has determined that checks for $18 sent by the Foreign Currency Fee Litigation Settlement Fund are legitimate and can be cashed or deposited.
According to national BBB sources, the checks are the result of a 2009 settlement over the fees credit card companies charged people when using their card abroad. Those who traveled outside the United States between February 1996 and November 2006 may receive this check.
In many cases, customers did not opt into the settlement themselves, but were opted in by their banks. For more information, visit ccfsettlement.com/home/
For more consumer safety tips. Visit http://www.bbb.org/
According to national BBB sources, the checks are the result of a 2009 settlement over the fees credit card companies charged people when using their card abroad. Those who traveled outside the United States between February 1996 and November 2006 may receive this check.
In many cases, customers did not opt into the settlement themselves, but were opted in by their banks. For more information, visit ccfsettlement.com/home/
For more consumer safety tips. Visit http://www.bbb.org/
Better Business Bureau Warns Travelers of Holiday Break-ins
For many, the holidays are a time to travel and be with their families. Many do not realize it is also a time for home burglaries. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns Holiday travelers to take precautions when planning to leave home for the holidays.
Items that thieves typically steal are things that can be easily sold: tools, bicycles, cameras, and expensive items such as furs and jewelry.
The BBB offers the following advice to Holiday Travelers:
1. Don’t make your home a target: Many people keep their friends and family updated about their travels via facebook, twitter and other social media. While it seems harmless to let your friends and family know what you are up to during the holidays, it lets those who may commit a burglary have access to this information. Many burglaries are actually committed by people that know someone you know. Also, don’t post pictures of your trip until you are home.
2. Make your home less attractive for burglars: Increase outdoor lighting and put your lights on a timer so the home will not appear empty while you’re away. Trim the trees and shrubs around the exterior before leaving.
3. Secure the exterior openings of your home: Upgrade your locks to grade one locks, which have a stronger bolt. Add locks to your windows and sliding glass doors if they don’t already have them or extra safety.
4. Be aware of your surroundings when shopping and traveling: Secure all your possessions, not just those in your home. If visiting a city that is new to you, ask the hotel where you should and shouldn’t walk before venturing out. Keep your wallet and money in your front pockets. If using a purse, hold it close to your body at all times. If you’re nervous about leaving valuables at home, get a safe box at your local bank.
For more business information you can trust, visit http://www.bbb.org/
Items that thieves typically steal are things that can be easily sold: tools, bicycles, cameras, and expensive items such as furs and jewelry.
The BBB offers the following advice to Holiday Travelers:
1. Don’t make your home a target: Many people keep their friends and family updated about their travels via facebook, twitter and other social media. While it seems harmless to let your friends and family know what you are up to during the holidays, it lets those who may commit a burglary have access to this information. Many burglaries are actually committed by people that know someone you know. Also, don’t post pictures of your trip until you are home.
2. Make your home less attractive for burglars: Increase outdoor lighting and put your lights on a timer so the home will not appear empty while you’re away. Trim the trees and shrubs around the exterior before leaving.
3. Secure the exterior openings of your home: Upgrade your locks to grade one locks, which have a stronger bolt. Add locks to your windows and sliding glass doors if they don’t already have them or extra safety.
4. Be aware of your surroundings when shopping and traveling: Secure all your possessions, not just those in your home. If visiting a city that is new to you, ask the hotel where you should and shouldn’t walk before venturing out. Keep your wallet and money in your front pockets. If using a purse, hold it close to your body at all times. If you’re nervous about leaving valuables at home, get a safe box at your local bank.
For more business information you can trust, visit http://www.bbb.org/
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