Atkinson Brothers Indicted In US Fidelis Debacle
Missouri Accuses Founders Of Auto Service Contract Company Of Fraud
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Darain Atkinson, left, and his brother, Cory, were indicted June 15.
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The indictment of US Fidelis founders Darain and Cory Atkinson last month on felony fraud charges validated the BBB’s long-running investigation of companies involved in selling vehicle service contracts, often called “extended warranties.” A BBB study of the vehicle service contract industry, published in May, showed that consumers lost millions on the contracts.
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BBB Continues Processing Complaints About Auto Service Contract Firms
Hundreds Have Complained In The Last Year
Despite rising public awareness of problems in the nation’s vehicle service contract industry, consumers continue to tell the BBB that they feel tricked by misleading advertising or duped into spending thousands of dollars for contracts with little or no value. Hundreds of complaints have poured into the BBB in the last year.
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Payment Delays Tarnish Reputation Of Ivey-Selkirk Auctioneers
Consumers Say They Waited Months For Proceeds Of Auctions
 Ivey-Selkirk Auctioneers, a St. Louis area auction house for nearly 200 years, delayed making payments on auction items for months beyond what it promised, customers tell the BBB.
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Century Photo, Light Impressions Leave Hundreds Unhappy, BBB Warns
Photo Products Firms Racked Up 304 Complaints In A Year
 Two California businesses, Century Photo and Light Impressions, have sold photo and document storage products nationwide for more than 40 years. Now they are facing an avalanche of recent complaints from customers who say they waited months for items that never arrived. Several of the complainants are from the St. Louis area.
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Odneal Joins BBB As Mid-Missouri Branch Manager
He Has Broad Experience In Corporate, Small Business And Nonprofit Worlds
Mike W. Odneal, a professional with broad experience in corporate, small business and nonprofit management and marketing, is joining the Better Business Bureau as the new manager of the BBB Mid-Missouri Branch office in Columbia, Mo.
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Navigating The New Normal: Meeting Donor Demands For Proof Of Performance
BBB Charity Symposium Is Aug. 25 At Chase Park Plaza
.jpg?i=070811140932) The nation’s sluggish recovery from the recession has many observers talking about a “new normal,” an economy where jobs remain scarce and growth is erratic to nonexistent. In this economic environment, donors have become much more careful about the organizations they support, demanding proof that nonprofits are using their donations effectively.
Speakers from two leading foundations and Jack Galmiche, president and CEO of the Nine Network of Public Media, address how charities can prove their effectiveness in this environment.
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Home Buyers, Sellers Urge Caution With Jack Roddy, JMZ Investment, Bagwell Group
Consumers Tell BBB They Lost Thousands On Home Deals
A St. Louis area real estate investor who buys and “flips” financially troubled property is facing angry criticism from consumers who say he cost them thousands of dollars or severely damaged their credit when home deals went sour.
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Buyback Plans For Technology Products May Not Be Good Investments, BBB Advises
Trade-In Values Decline Sharply After A Few Months
 If having the latest cell phone, laptop or tablet computer is your goal, you may have listened with interest to some stores’ advertised promises to buy back your gadget so you can upgrade quickly. The BBB advises consumers to investigate the offers carefully before signing up or paying a fee.
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BBB Expels Custom Decks & Patios, Columbia Heating And Cooling
Companies Failed To Respond To BBB, Customer Concerns
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BBB Advises Parents To Watch For Signs Of Child ID Theft
Credit Card Solicitation In Child's Name Can Be A Red Flag
 The first tell-tale sign that a child has been the victim of identity theft could be a credit card solicitation in the child’s name arriving in the mailbox, the BBB warns. Parents should be aware that ID thieves may obtain a child's Social Security number and use it for credit card fraud.
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