MarketMonitortheNews for Better Business Bureau Accredited Businesses December 2013

INSIDE

Service to the Community

Reports issued on companies/charities................

Customer complaints filed..............

Online Accredited Business Directory listings viewed.....................

www.cleveland.bbb.org visits....

Advertising review cases initiated.......

The Short List The satirical newspaper, The Onion, turned 25 in 2013. Below are some of their more memorable headlines:

“World Death Rate Holding Steady at 100 Percent”

“CIA Realizes It’s Been Using Black Highlighters

All These Years”

“Archaeological Dig Uncovers Ancient Race of Skeleton People”

“‘I am Under 18’ Button Clicked for First Time in History of

Internet”

“Bacon Good For You, Reports Best Scientist Ever”

Greater Cleveland BBB Activity Report January - November 2013

Cleveland BBB Centennial 1913 - 2013

Upcoming BBBConnection GroupsBBB Provides Glimpse Into Tricks Used by ScammersOn Our RadarB2B Discount for BBB Accredited BusinessesNew BBB Website to Launch

1,075,525

9,111

15,062,632

1,090,488

340

The Better Business Bureau presented its Students of Integrity Awards today to five Greater Cleveland high school students who personify integrity through their leadership, community service, academics, and strong character ethics.

An independent selection committee selected five award recipients. Four received scholarships of $1000 to an accredited school/college of their choice, and a fifth student was awarded a $2500 scholarship. Winners were honored and awards presented at ceremonies held at the downtown Hilton Garden Inn.

A total of 44 public and private high schools within the BBB’s five county service area participated by selecting their own Student of Integrity who in turn submitted an application to the BBB.

(Continued on Page 3)

(Continued on Page 2)

BBB Files Spur Enforcement Actions

BBB routinely alerts law enforcement agencies such as the Postal Inspection Service, Attorney General (AG), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to deceptive practices uncovered through consumer complaints and BBB’s own investigations. In

past weeks, several local businesses were the subject of legal actions that resulted, in no small part, from BBB’s efforts.

Pinnacle Payment/Credit Source Plus – BBB began tracking this business in the summer of 2011 when we received a complaint about Pinnacle Payment, which was using a Cleveland address. That complaint, and 16 others, were closed as unanswered. Similar issues arose with Credit Source Plus in 2012, which also used a Cleveland address. BBB alerted local FTC offices. The FTC has charged these businesses with deceptive debt collection practices. Specifically, the FTC says they falsely told consumers that:• they were delinquent on a payday loan or other debt that the defendants had the authority to collect;• they had the legal obligation to pay the defendants;• they would be arrested or imprisoned if they did not pay; and• the defendants had taken or would take legal action.

The complaint also charges that the defendants illegally called consumers at inconvenient times or places, including at their workplaces, despite being asked to stop; disclosed supposed debts to family members, employers, and other third parties; harassed consumers with repeated calls; failed to disclose their identity as debt collectors; and failed to provide a required written notice telling consumers how to dispute the alleged debts.

BBB Announces 2013 Students of Integrity Award Recipients

Doo Hee Kim

Jennifer Polito Nichole

Chesnokov

Alexander Spanos

(Not Pictured: Alexandra Marincic)

December 2013

BBB Files Aid in Enforcement Actions (Cont. from front)

USPS Statement of Ownership

Upcoming BBBConnection Groups

• Search Engine Optimization - Presented by Steve DiFranco of Ohio Connect on January 9th at 8:30 AM at Lineweaver Financial Group on 9035 Sweet Valley Drive in Independence.

• “Techno-Charge Your Sales and Marketing Efforts! - How to leverage the newest information technologies to do more in less time. Presented by Cary Root of Root-InfoTech on January 23rd at 8:00 AM at Root-InfoTech offices on 30640 Bainbridge Road in Solon.

More information can be found at bbbconnection.groupsite.com or by contacting Brigid Woodland at 216-623-8964 x206 or brigid@cleveland.bbb.org.

At this time, a U. S. District Court has halted the operations of both businesses and assets have been frozen pending the outcome of the legal action.

Full Circle Fund first came to our attention in 2012 when it distributed flyers offering financial assistance from the government for rent, utilities, furniture, and other necessities. BBB issued a media alert in March, 2012, and noted that the flyers were identical to those distributed by a similar program in 2008 and 2010. People who called the toll-free number on the fliers were asked for their names, dates of birth and Social Security numbers.

BBB shared file records with local police, Postal Inspectors, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor, and U.S. Department of Labor.

The scheme’s perpetrator, Darnell Nash, and three accomplices were indicted in October, 2013, on identity theft charges by federal prosecutors. According to charges, Nash and the others used the Social Security numbers they obtained to apply for fraudulent unemployment benefits. They were successful in collecting over $360,000 in benefits.

Mark Walker operated All American Restoration LLC located in Avon Lake, Ohio. BBB files contain complaints from homeowners unhappy with storm damage insurance repair work contracted with Walker. BBB contacted Avon Lake police, Ohio Department of Insurance and Ohio Attorney General after homeowners reported they had paid Walker down payments for work that had either not been completed or had never even begun. In November, the Attorney General sued the business and its owner for failure to deliver and performing shoddy work. In 28 complaints, consumers reported losses totaling $135,000. The lawsuit charges the business with violating Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act. Counts include failure to deliver and performing substandard work. The Attorney General is seeking restitution for consumers, injunctions to stop the business from further violations, civil penalties, and other costs.

Foreclosure Rescue Scam – Artrice Gordon and his wife, Wanda Sanchez Gordon came to BBB’s attention in 2005 when they operated

Foreclosure Home Assistance, a foreclosure rescue business. Over the next few years, the pair operated A. W. Consulting Group, Home

Savers, Ohio Home Relief, and Great Home Rescuer. Since foreclosure rescue scams were a serious concern in the Cleveland area, BBB kept close tabs on these businesses and shared its findings with Postal Inspectors. The Gordons contacted homeowners facing foreclosure and offered to save their homes for a $1,500 fee. Gordon would file bankruptcy forms which delayed the foreclosure, but, due to the faulty filing using unsupported or incomplete information, the bankruptcy cases were soon dismissed and foreclosure commenced. The Gordons were indicted in October on 104 counts of theft, money laundering and multiple other charges as a result of scamming 119 homeowners. Postal Inspection Service recognized BBB’s assistance in uncovering this scam.

Double Your Advertising Exposure With Us at Two Home Shows

Your BBB is offering a great way to make an impact at two of this year’s big “Home” shows, the NARI Remodel Ohio Home Improvement Show (Jan. 23-26th) and the new Cleveland Home and Remodel Expo at the new Cleveland Convention Center (Mar. 14-16). Whether your company is participating in the shows or not, becoming a BBB Show Sponsor offers a strong show presence and reminds prospective customers that your business operates with integrity.

Two levels of sponsorship combine both traditional recognition, such as brochure distribution and acknowledgement at the BBB booth, and some innovative new benefits that can really make an impact.

Our new Touchscreen Kiosk will display Show Sponsors’ icons to attendees, who will be able to link to whatever spot sponsors choose, including a place where your business can offer show specials and interact with attendees.

Consumers can find Show Sponsors on our home page, events page, and at a special sponsor microsite that will include contact information and links. In addition, sponsors can take part in interactive contests with attendees at the show, and may be thanked on an outgoing message greeting callers to the BBB Anytime Line.

The number of sponsorships is very limited, so act quickly. For sponsorship details, contact Brigid at 216-623-8964 x206.

BBB Presentation Provides Glimpse into Tricks Used by

Scammers

BBB Serving Greater Cleveland (BBB) and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation have partnered to turn consumers into “Fraud Fighters.” The “Trick$ of the Trade” presentation provides insight into the persuasion tactics used by con artists.

Watch compelling stories of victims, learn how to spot fraud and get the tools you need to make sure you aren’t the next victim. This 30-minute audio/visual presentation is being offered at no charge. Attendees go home with great giveaways, too!

If your group would like to schedule a Trick$ of the

Trade event, please contact:

Sue McConnell(216) 623-8960

sue@cleveland.bbb.org

New BBB Website to Launch Soon!

The Council of Better Business Bureaus and all BBBs across the U.S. and Canada are launching new websites under the popular URL bbb.org. This includes:

• 113 local BBB websites plus Council’s site• Approximately 95,000 redirected links and consumer content pages

The site includes a powerful new search function that will allow customers and potential customers to find local information first, and provides a path to our BBB Accredited Businesses Directory. Currently bbb.org receives approximately 30 million page views per month.

The site helps customers identify scams and find businesses they can trust, so they’re less likely to patronize untrustworthy or scam companies and instead support ethical businesses like yours.

BBB’s entire digital presence is integrated, with social media links easily available on most pages so users can follow and share with a click.

The consistent domain name (bbb.org) construct will boost search engine optimization (SEO) scores and domain authority scores. This will help Accredited Businesses that use the BBB dynamic seal on their own websites.

December 2013

The 2013 Students of Integrity Award recipients:

� Alexander Spanos of Brookside High School ($2500 Winner) � Nicole Chesnokov of Hathaway Brown School � Doo Hee Kim of Orange High School � Alexandra Marincic of Garfield Heights High School � Jennifer Polito of Saint Joseph Academy �The BBB also honored 10 area students with Honorable Mention:

� Cassandra Cameron (Burton), Berkshire Jr./Sr. High School � Matthew Dover (Berea), Benedictine High School � Mark Friedel (Chesterland), West Geauga High School � Bryan Jackish (Perry), Perry High School � Richard Kraay (Lakewood), Saint Ignatius High School � Kevin Kuang (Maple Heights), Maple Heights High School � Leah Lindak (N. Ridgeville), North Ridgeville High School � Kaylee Losch (Rocky River), Rocky River High School � Agnes Mirando (Gates Mills), Gilmour Academy � Jami Tatulinski (Mentor), Mentor High School

The Students of Integrity Awards competition is sponsored by The Boler School of Business at John Carroll University and Dominion East Ohio, with valuable support from Apprisen, Easton Telecom Services L.L.C., and Sheakley.

B2B Discounts for BBB Accredited Businesses

Pre-Employment Background Reports - Instant online criminal checks for under $10 each. Other reports also discounted. Monthly fee waived (save $120 a year!), $100 enrollment fee waived. Call IntelliCorp at (800) 539-3717.

Document Shredding - All Ohio Secure Shred will shred documents on site for $25/month for one container. Also, one-time bulk purge for 10 cents/lb. $50 minimum. Call (330) 659-0840 or (888) 747-3394.

Phone Service - Easton Telecom - Rates ranging from 2.5¢ - 3.5¢/minute for long distance calls, toll-free lines as low as 1.79¢/minute. 5% discount off most retail services. Contact Jim Butler at (800) 222-8122.

Payroll Service - Heartland Payroll Co. - Savings of as much as 50% on payroll fees. Call Brian Nelson at (440) 371-5245.

Some member discount programs generate revenue which BBB reinvests into the

organization’s operations.

On Our Radar

Dudley Media Group/CCD Research – Flyers from these businesses claim you can get a free Android tablet for attending a sales presentation. It is a marketing ploy used by Global Vacation Network to drum up customers to purchase pricey travel club memberships from Global Connections. CCD has an “F” rating due to unanswered complaints citing a failure

to ship the free gift. Dudley Media Group has just recently come to BBB’s attention and does not have a rating yet. Global Vacation Network has a “C” rating and over 200 complaints from consumers unhappy with the way the sales presentations were conducted and saying they never received their free items. BBB has alerted the Ohio Attorney General.

RivalGearUSA – This business sells sports gear and had a physical location in Fairview Park that closed abruptly at the end of this past Summer. Their web site claims they are opening two locations for the holidays, but BBB has not been able to find evidence of any new stores. The business has an “F” rating due to unanswered complaints concerning non-receipt of merchandise. Oh, and the URL for the company is: http://kissmyasslebron.myshopify.com. Guess they are not a fan of King James.

Jeff Schaffer Photography and Video – Brides have complained to BBB about this Solon wedding photographer’s failure to deliver photos and videos and the unprofessional finished product. One bride told BBB, “Our picture slideshow at the beginning of the video was just him video taping the physical pictures that we sent him. We could see his thumb moving the pictures at various points!” Schaffer has not responded to any of the ten complaints filed with BBB. BBB has alerted the Attorney General about this “F” rated business.

Budget 1 Fence – This “F” rated business in Berea has numerous complaints on file from homeowners with disputes about fences. They report the owner of this business calls them names, uses profanity, and even challenged a 66 year old man to “..join him in the street where he would settle the matter.” Several complaints remain unresolved. Budget 1 Fence is owned by Matt McMillen who previously owned Affordable Fence which also had an “F” rating before going out of business in 2011.

2013 Students of Integrity Recipients (Cont. from front)

The Market MonitorBetter Business Bureau2800 Euclid Ave., 4th Fl.Cleveland, OH 44115-2408

Periodicals Postage Paid

December 2013

The Market Monitor (ISSN 1085-5122). December 2013. Volume 8 No. 6. Published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October and December by the Better Business Bureau, Inc. 2800 Euclid Ave., 4th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44115-2408, Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, OH. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Market Monitor, 2800 Euclid Ave., 4th Fl, Cleveland, OH 44115-2408.