BBB Doubles Instances of Service in 2009
RALEIGH, N.C. — According to year-end statistics, BBB provided nearly 850,000 instances of service to consumers and businesses in 2009, up over 100 percent from over 440,000 in 2008.

The increase in service was driven by a 189 percent increase in inquiries on businesses and a 9.9 percent increase in consumer complaints. Consumers filed 8,422 complaints about local businesses with BBB serving Eastern North Carolina in 2009, compared to 7,659 complaints in 2008.

“We are pleased that we were able to close 80 percent of complaints satisfactorily in 2009, thanks to businesses and consumers who worked with the BBB to resolve their disputes,” said Beverly Baskin, President & CEO of BBB serving Eastern North Carolina. “In a time when the economy was not as stable as most would have liked, we wanted to be a resource consumers knew they could look to for information to make a smart purchasing decision and find businesses they could trust.”

The top industries with the most unanswered complaints in 2009 included home improvement builders, home repair shops, used car dealerships and health clubs.