CARFAX / SGS Scam

[kpaske]

I would consider contacting the BBB and possibly small claims court about these folks, although I can't say I believe much would come of it. It's a shame that we don't have any better method of recourse when a business fails to provide the service that was promised, but unfortunately it seems to happen all the time. The BBB should have the power to revoke and or deny business licenses and your record should follow you no matter what state you apply in. Otherwise, what good are they?

[WyrreJ]

The BBB is entirely funded by "member" merchants. BBB members get different treatment than non-members - complaints against members expire after some number of months even with no satisfactory resolution and are completely wiped from the record, unresolved complaints against non-members do not expire.

As often as not, the BBB just uses complaints against non-members as a shakedown tactic to get the business to pay up and become a "member in good standing."

So in some ways they are a bit like carfax, if the BBB records indicate complaints against a company, chances are that the company is scummy. But if they indicate a clean record, it means nothing.

I learned all this about 15 years ago when I had a problem with a BBB "member in good standing" and just got the run around from the BBB. Somehow the BBB has managed a PR campaign on the level of deBeers, totally hoodwinking a large portion of the US population. Kind of impressive actually, if it weren't so scummy.

[transio]

WyrreJ,

That's why I use the Internet to propagate information... I posted this same thread at VWVortex, S2ki, and EliseTalk... It's reached several thousand people that way - more than the BBB ever would.... I may also post it at RipOffReport, but we'll see.

[Anita]

Once I filed a complaint with my state's Attorney General about a certain unscrupulous business. I really didnt expect anything to happen but was I wrong. It took several months but I came out of it vindicated, the business spent thousands of dollars unsuccessfully defending the complaint and had to pay a hefty fine on top.

[wolverinevx]

is a total joke, I bought a VX a few yearsa go , it also had a clean car fax ! But after I drove it home (800 miles) I gave my VX a bath and the whole drivers side door had been repainted and most of the rear body on drivers side as well. So carfax is only as good as a repair facility if they dont report it carfax will never list it.

[Chopper]

I'm puzzled by the thought process of the dude in Texas- why allow someone to travel from S. Florida to Houston, to do a prepurchase inspection on a misrepresented vehicle. Hoping for a dope? Hoping he doesn't beat your ***, then get back on his plane? Steve, did you get the deposit money back...or was it not an auction car? There are tons of used TTs around, try again. Wayne

[transio]

It was an auction car... from a shady used car dealer. I got the deposit back. I would never beat someone up, but I was seriously pissed at them for wasting my time, and I let them know that.