Got a Letter from Consumer Protection Division

minirhyder

Hi!

So about a year+ ago I ordered a refurbished router from 1saleaday.com. The router took its damn time getting here (meaning it just..didn't for like weeks) and my attempts at communication were answered with curt, unhelpful, one sentence emails. After a few of those I got tired of the bullshit and reported them to the BBB. A few days later I get emails and phone calls from them proclaiming how apologetic they are and that they will fix the issue right away.
They did indeed fix the issue. I got my router in a few days and they gave me a refund.

So today I get a letter from the office of the attorney general of the consumer protection division of the state of Florida (home base of 1saleaday I believe) telling me to fill out a questionnaire, a notarized affidavit, and any proof of purchases related to the issue.

And I'm sitting here and wondering why the hell.
The issue was closed over a year ago, I was satisfied with the outcome (and I did close the case on BBB), so what's going on here? The letter doesn't explain why it wasn't me to fill it out either.

Anyone have any experience with this before? Should I bother?

iRevert

http://www.800helpfla.com/

Has a live chat and a toll free number that you could call and I'm guessing with minimal personal information given find out why. It could very well be that there was enough complaints about them that they might be considering pulling their business license or something of the sort.

The Ender

Has a live chat and a toll free number that you could call and I'm guessing with minimal personal information given find out why. It could very well be that there was enough complaints about them that they might be considering pulling their business license or something of the sort.

Bolded part is very likely. That's how the BBB works up here in conjunction with government services, anyway - the BBB gets fed-up with their shit, contacts the authorities and the authorities then ask anyone who filed a complaint within X timeframe if they could fill out an affidavit. The state then uses the affidavits as evidence when taking the business to court.

MichaelLC

Just be cautious in how much info you give out.

Like blackout any CC numbers, and obviously don't give anyone your SS#.

zepherin

The Ender wrote: »

Has a live chat and a toll free number that you could call and I'm guessing with minimal personal information given find out why. It could very well be that there was enough complaints about them that they might be considering pulling their business license or something of the sort.

Bolded part is very likely. That's how the BBB works up here in conjunction with government services, anyway - the BBB gets fed-up with their shit, contacts the authorities and the authorities then ask anyone who filed a complaint within X timeframe if they could fill out an affidavit. The state then uses the affidavits as evidence when taking the business to court.

The BBB are a bunch of hacks. They have zero authority and their connections are next to nill. Generally it is the states attourney general's office, the ftc or various other government groups that have actual bite. You can ignore the Better Business Bureau at will. They are not related to any government agency in any capacity. They are a private non profit and simply a complaint forum. The BBB has the same official status as Yelp.

The internet says they do some scammy practices like send a box without the item, then fight the consumer for the refund, and try to upsell them on a different item, and some bait and switch kind of shit. So maybe they are under a fraud investigation.

Deebaser

The BBB has the same official status as Yelp.

This is a magical sentence
A+

minirhyder

zepherin wrote: »

The Ender wrote: »

Has a live chat and a toll free number that you could call and I'm guessing with minimal personal information given find out why. It could very well be that there was enough complaints about them that they might be considering pulling their business license or something of the sort.

Bolded part is very likely. That's how the BBB works up here in conjunction with government services, anyway - the BBB gets fed-up with their shit, contacts the authorities and the authorities then ask anyone who filed a complaint within X timeframe if they could fill out an affidavit. The state then uses the affidavits as evidence when taking the business to court.

The BBB are a bunch of hacks. They have zero authority and their connections are next to nill. Generally it is the states attourney general's office, the ftc or various other government groups that have actual bite. You can ignore the Better Business Bureau at will. They are not related to any government agency in any capacity. They are a private non profit and simply a complaint forum. The BBB has the same official status as Yelp.

Yeah, I'm very well aware of this, which is why I was a little o_O when I got that letter.

oldsak

It sounds like the AG's office is investigating/building a case against them. They probably sent a similar form to anyone who filed a complaint to the BBB as a means of gathering evidence.

Fill it out or don't. It's up to you.

Gaslight

It's astonishing how effective the word "Bureau" is in making people believe they're some sort of official government-empowered entity.

The Ender

zepherin wrote: »

The Ender wrote: »

Has a live chat and a toll free number that you could call and I'm guessing with minimal personal information given find out why. It could very well be that there was enough complaints about them that they might be considering pulling their business license or something of the sort.

Bolded part is very likely. That's how the BBB works up here in conjunction with government services, anyway - the BBB gets fed-up with their shit, contacts the authorities and the authorities then ask anyone who filed a complaint within X timeframe if they could fill out an affidavit. The state then uses the affidavits as evidence when taking the business to court.

The BBB are a bunch of hacks. They have zero authority and their connections are next to nill. Generally it is the states attourney general's office, the ftc or various other government groups that have actual bite. You can ignore the Better Business Bureau at will. They are not related to any government agency in any capacity. They are a private non profit and simply a complaint forum. The BBB has the same official status as Yelp.

The internet says they do some scammy practices like send a box without the item, then fight the consumer for the refund, and try to upsell them on a different item, and some bait and switch kind of shit. So maybe they are under a fraud investigation.

Except that Yelp, as far as I'm aware, does not contact the police - whereas the BBB does on occasion. At least up here they do, anyway (typically contacting the RCMP).

There's no need to be condescending. I'm aware that the BBB is not a government agency.

DevoutlyApathetic

Gaslight wrote: »

It's astonishing how effective the word "Bureau" is in making people believe they're some sort of official government-empowered entity.

It probably has more to do with the BBB being over a CENTURY old.

I'm not sure they have much special value now but for most of that time it was the place to complain about non-responsive companies or to check up on a company before doing business with them. They absolutely had a place and value for most of their existence. They live on through inertia mainly.

Like a phone book.

Darkewolfe

The problem is that the BBB has been accused, for a number of years now, of allowing businesses to "address" complaints through a process which involves them contributing money to the BBB.

I.E. you can buy your score back up after complaints.