Business & Tech

Watch Out for 'Santa'—November Better Business Bureau Tips

Here are some helpful business tips to get through the beginning of the holiday season.

Don’t Get Smoked Out by a Chimney Sweep Scam this Holiday Season

With chilly weather fast approaching, many people are anticipating toasty evenings spent relaxing around their fireplaces, and they’re looking to have their chimneys cleaned in preparation. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is advising consumers to do their research so they know which businesses to trust and which to avoid to prevent their hard earned dollars from going up in smoke.

So far this year, the BBB has received more than 380 complaints against chimney cleaners, up from the 342 complaints received in all of 2010.

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“Chimney sweeping is not something that homeowners deal with often, so many of us lack knowledge of how the process works,” said Dana Badgerow, President and CEO of the BBB. “Scammers take advantage of this and do shoddy work…or no work at all.”

In some cases, consumers have reported receiving calls stating the town fire department recommends the resident’s chimney be cleaned. The calls go on to recommend a particular chimney sweep and endorse their services on behalf of the fire department. Though town fire departments do recommend having chimneys cleaned on an annual basis, they do not inspect chimneys or endorse any particular company. Many scams target the elderly, making vague, unclear phone calls claiming they have done business in the past and it is time for their annual sweep.

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Scam artists also sometimes advertise much lower prices than legitimate businesses. Typically, a professional chimney sweep will charge between $150 and $200 for the cleaning of one chimney shaft, whereas scam artists will claim they charge as little as $50. The BBB advises that if a price sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Many scam artists will use a low price tactic to get in your door, at which point they recommend additional work be done immediately, bullying the consumer into a much pricier service call. If the estimate you receive is significantly lower than that of other businesses, it should be viewed as a red flag. The BBB suggests consumers do their homework before hiring a chimney sweep and inviting them into the home. Additionally, check with your local fire department and with the Chimney Safety Institute of America (csia.org).

The BBB also offers these helpful tips when hiring a chimney sweep: 

Check with the BBB first. Always visit BBB.org to find a trusted chimney sweeping business in your area. Are they an Accredited Business? Do they have any unanswered or unresolved complaints?

Find out more about them. How long have they operated in your area? Find out if they offer current references, or if you know anyone who has used their services in the past.

Ask if they have a valid business liability insurance policy. In the event of an accident, this ensures your home and belongings are safe.

Find out if any employees are certified through CSIA. Though this is not law, it is recommended by the fire department, and speaks to the qualifications of the individual or business you hire. CSIA is a national nonprofit agency with a certification program for chimney sweeps and certification is required of members of the National Chimney Sweeping Guild.

For more tips you can trust, visit bbb.org.


Check Privacy Policy on "Dear Santa" Websites

More than 60 domain names have been registered in the name of Santa Claus, offering children a wide range of opportunities to email jolly old St. Nick their wishes. Sadly, some of the websites aren’t always so trustworthy and can potentially be a dangerous way to share personal information. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) is advising parents to be careful not to let their child write to just any Santa-themed website this holiday season.

Writing to Santa is a time-honored tradition, and while it seems innocent and fun, it is very important for adults to carefully review any website their children visit. It’s always a good idea to determine who is collecting any information they might enter, how it will be used and whether it will be shared with third parties.

According to the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU), all websites designed for children – or websites designed with a special children’s section – should have a privacy policy that explains the site’s information collection practices. The privacy policy should include the name of the company and the company’s complete contact information.

It should also state whether the company shares information with third parties, including advertisers, and whether the company publicly discloses the information or retains the information for any future purpose.

CARU offers the following ‘Dear Santa’ site review tips:

Check to see what they’re seeking. Websites aimed at children should not ask a child to disclose more information than is reasonably necessary to participate in the activity – a first name and email address, for instance.

Limit the personal information children share with Santa and omit physical addresses. In many cases, there really shouldn’t be a need to share this information.

Check websites for unwelcome content. Some sites are geared toward adults and may contain language or advertising adults may not want children to see.

Check the links. Since hyperlinks can allow children to move seamlessly from one website to another, investigate the hyperlinks to assure children don’t access inappropriate content.

 

For more information on website safety for children, visit CARU at www.CARU.org or www.bbb.org.


How You Give is Just as Important as What You Give – Give Wisely this Holiday Season

Because of technology and the creativity of charities, there are many different ways that donors can give to a worthy cause. Whether you’re giving money, canned goods, used items or your time, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance reminds donors that how you give is just as important as what you give.

According to the Giving USA Foundation, total estimated charitable giving in the United States rose 3.8 percent in 2010 (2.1 percent adjusted for inflation). The increase reflects the continued determination of Americans to support charitable organizations during even the most challenging economic times.

“With a tight budget this holiday season, it will be important for donors to be creative when giving back and supporting those who are less fortunate,” said H. Art Taylor, president and CEO of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. “When looking to make a contribution, it’s important to keep in mind there are many ways you can make a difference.”

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers tips on the following five ways people can donate to charities over the holidays:

Give items. Many organizations solicit for donations over the holidays including coats, toys, and canned goods. Whatever you’re donating, make sure the items are of good condition and that the recipient charity is accepting such items to help further its cause.

Give when you shop.  Many charities have had great success partnering with businesses that agree to donate some amount of the purchase price from sales of items to a worthy cause. This type of cause-related marketing means that you can help while you shop. Check if the promotion identifies the actual or anticipated amount of the purchase price the charity will receive. Also some businesses, like grocery stores, ask if you want to donate to a charity and have that amount added to your receipt (also called embedded giving).  See if the embedded promotion states which specific charity will receive the collected funds.

Give online.  Giving online with a credit or debit card is among the most efficient ways to support a charity. Before you enter in your numbers, give the website a thorough review, look for the organization’s privacy policy, and verify if the organization has appropriate security measures in place to protect such transactions. Check them out at www.bbb.org/charity

Give through text messaging. The option to give via text message took off in the wake of the disastrous earthquake in Haiti. After texting a message to a number, the donation is tacked on to your cell phone bill.  While donating via text is fast and easy for the donor, the actual money can take 60 – 90 days to reach the charity since the funds are forwarded after you pay the donation charge on your next monthly cell phone bill.  During disaster giving periods like Haiti, however, cell phone carriers work to forward funds faster. Of course, charities welcome donations at any time during the year.

Give your time.  In today’s tight economy, you may not have money, but you can always give a little bit of your time to help support a worthy cause. In addition to volunteering around the holidays, you can also be a vocal supporter of a charity and help raise awareness among friends and family and on your Facebook page or blog.

The BBB Wise Giving Alliance reports on more than 1,200 national charitable organizations and determines if they meet 20 accountability standards addressing governance, finances and fund raising practices.

To review charity evaluations and get more advice on how to give when times are tight, visit www.bbb.org/charity.


How to Select a Merchant Processing Service for Your Business

Choosing a merchant processor is a very important decision, one that can be vital to the overall success of your business. The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) advises business owners to do their research before selecting a merchant processor.

One of the most important ways to make your business thrive is to please your customers, and that often means offering them a variety of payment methods. According to one estimate, businesses forfeit up to 80 percent of consumer impulse buys if they don't accept credit cards. But before going down this road, business owners need to select their merchant processing service with care. To date, in 2011, the BBB has received more than 1,700 complaints against credit card merchant and processing services.

“Accepting credit cards gives customers options, whether it’s to charge a purchase and pay it off over time, or to use a debit card rather than write a check. By offering your customer options, you are opening the doors for increased revenue,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the BBB. “However, before selecting your merchant processing service, it’s imperative that you study your options carefully.”

The BBB recommends the following tips to consider when selecting a merchant processing service:

Ask around. Like with any important business decision, always make sure to get at least three estimates and check the BBB Business Review® of the merchant processing service. It may also be worth asking other fellow business leaders what service they use to get a feel for its track record.

Know where to turn. Make sure the merchant processing service has a solid support team. Can you contact them 24 hours a day? This is very important to business owners who are trying to process a credit or debit card outside of the typical business hours. In any case, technical support is a must and it’s vital to your business’ success to make sure that the merchant processing service you choose has it.

Try them out. Don’t settle without a trial period. By making sure that the merchant processing service you choose has a 100 percent money-back guarantee before selecting them, you can save yourself a lifetime of hassle. Try their service out. Do they keep the promises they made to you?

Make sure every penny you spend is necessary. If you have a question regarding a fee that you were charged, ask! Staying competitive with other merchant services is the name of the game for these processors, so they will want to do everything they can to ensure you are happy.  

For more business information you can trust, visit www.bbb.org/us/bbb-news.

The mission of the Better Business Bureau is to be the leader in building marketplace trust by promoting, through self-regulation, the highest standards of business ethics and conduct, and to instill confidence in responsible businesses through programs of education and action that inform, assist and protect the general public. Our hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contact the BBB at www.bbb.org or 651-699-1111, toll-free at 1-800-646-6222.


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