Problems with Cellular Telephone Providers Top List of Complaints to BBB in 2013

Statistics Also Reveal More Consumers are Doing their Research  

Preliminary statistics show the majority of consumer complaints to Better Business Bureau in 2013 concerned problems with cellular telephone service providers and supplies.

Nationwide last year, there were more than 37,600 complaints against cell phone companies, a slight drop from 38,100 in 2012.  Nonetheless, it remains the most complained-about type of business.  The other types of businesses in the top 10 remain the same as the previous year, but their order has changed slightly. 

“These statistics reflect the types of businesses that are either big ticket items or services that we use most often in our everyday lives,” according to Connecticut Better Business Bureau Executive Communications Director, Howard Schwartz.

One notable change in consumer activity over the past two years is an increase in the number of inquiries.  An inquiry is when a consumer researches a company or professional’s Business Review, to check out their marketplace record and any pattern of complaints.  In 2013, consumers made more than 22.7 million inquiries through BBB, an increase from 18.9 million in 2012.

“We see through the inquiry statistics that in most cases, when consumers do their research, they tend to be less likely to file a complaint.”

Connecticut BBB has posted a table of the top 10 most complained-about businesses and inquiries in PDF format.

If you are doing home maintenance or renovations, BBB recommends checking a contractor’s marketplace record, verifying registration with the state of Connecticut at www.elicense.ct.gov, asking for recent references and proof of insurance. 

Unfortunately, in 2013, scams continued to increase and became more sophisticated.  Consumers must be more vigilant and skeptical when they receive a solicitation by telephone or at the front door, open email or an attachment, or click on a link, and be more careful with our personal information when we go online on a computer, or increasingly, a smart phone or tablet device. 

You will find additional consumer tips and alerts at www.bbb.org.

-Submitted by Howard Schwartz, Executive Communications Director, Connecticut Better Business Bureau

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