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ABCs of Funeral Planning

5/15/2012

Posted on 5/15/2012 by

In our society most people avoid talking about death and making funeral arrangements. But with a little research now you can educate yourself, spend your money wisely and save a lot of grief later on. (Sort of like having the names and numbers of trustworthy locksmiths and tow companies in your wallet, rather than having to scramble after an accident.)

With this in mind, I compiled a list of ABCs for the hopefully far-distant day when you will have to plan a funeral.

Bring: A trusted friend with you, someone able to keep a clear head. This person’s logic should not be affected by their grief, as yours might be.

Burial: Read your cemetery plot contract to see if it merely gives you the right to have your loved one buried in the cemetery or if you are buying the actual deed to that land.

Caskets: Are not always on display on the sales floor. Make sure you have a look at all the options that are available before making your final decision. Some Provinces require the least expensive casket to be displayed in the funeral home. If you don’t see a casket you like or can afford ask your funeral director to see others, possibly in a catalogue.

Contracts: Be sure to review the funeral home’s purchase agreement or contract before signing it. If you don’t understand something on the contract then ask questions… don’t sign it until you get a response that satisfies you.

Internet (the): Can be used for research as well as learning about the funeral home. Most funeral homes now have web sites where you can view their price list and obtain a description of the services they offer from the privacy and comfort of your home. It’s a great place to start educating yourself.

Insurance Assignment: If you choose not to assign the assurance policy to the funeral home you will be responsible for paying taxes on the interest the policy makes until it is used. The choice is always yours to make.

Monuments: Shop around. While remains must be disposed of fairly quickly, a monument can wait. This is a step that can be taken care of after some time has passed, but should be considered while making arrangements for the funeral. Purchase something that gives you the most peace of mind.

Obituary: If you’re pre-planning for yourself, write your own obituary, and leave it with your other important papers. This will ensure that the obituary has the information in it that you would like. Most funeral homes have websites and offer the free publication of your loved one’s obituary on their site. These webs sites are connected with search engines and newspapers across North America. This free service could save you a lot of money. It’s ok to ask your funeral provider if they charge a fee to prepare and submit the obituary to the newspaper.

Package Deals: For some people, packages containing services and merchandise can be the preferred way to make funeral choices. If presented with such a package and it does not suit your needs your funeral director will be happy to provide an itemized purchase agreement or contract listing only those items that you select.

Pictures: Can be taken of everything you buy. Compare them against what you actually get. If a funeral home must substitute, by law they have to give you an item of equal or greater value to the one you paid for.

Pre-paid Plans: Every Province has different rules about how well your money is protected in a prepaid funeral plan. In most Provinces, these funds are protected by a compensation fund and are extremely well protected. You should find out from the funeral home if this is the case in your Province.

Printed Price List: In some Provinces a funeral home must give you a printed price list. Don’t start discussing arrangements until you hold one in your hands.

Realistic Pricing: You have every right to contact more than one funeral home when you are investigating a funeral and you have every right to ask for exactly what the costs are for the services you are requesting. Use the response you receive on the phone as a guide to selecting a provider that is right for you. Remember to make sure you compare like for like services. Ask important questions for example; Is this quote all inclusive? What are additional add-on fee’s not included in this quote?

Regulations: Most Provinces in Canada are governed by a Regulator who is there to be sure that Funeral Homes follow their Provincial regulations. These regulatory bodies are in charge of inspecting funeral homes and most Provinces have a policy to deal with complaints as well.

Veterans: Some veterans are entitled to a free burial in a national cemetery and a courtesy grave marker. To find out more, contact Last Post or Veteran’s Affairs Canada.

This tip provided courtesy of the Funeral Service Association of Canada

BBB Release - BBB and Scam Detector excited about partnership

5/4/2012

Posted on 5/4/2012 by

BBB and Scam Detector excited about partnership

Partnership provides resources to report fraud

Edmonton, AB (May 1, 2012) – BBB serving the Great White North and Amos Studios, developer of the world-renowned Scam Detector App are thrilled to announce their partnership. Effective immediately, the app and BBB will work together providing consumers both proactive and reactive resources for scams.

“This partnership provides us a unique opportunity,” says Ron Mycholuk, Public Relations Manager for BBB serving the Great White North. “We can help consumers be proactive with a marquee scam prevention resource, but also provide them assistance if they’ve already been scammed.”

The Scam Detector app has received rave reviews since its launch. This free application available currently online and on iPhone highlights over 500 of the most common scams targeting consumers. After download, consumers can search through the scams by name or by category. The developer expects the Android version to be ready in the near future.

Each scam page provides information on what the scam looks like, how it’s committed and how to avoid it. But what happens if you’ve already been targeted or scammed? The app provides a resource for consumers to Report a Scam, Contact a BBB, or File a Complaint.

Why is BBB involved?

Last year in Canada, over $13 million was reported in identity fraud and this number will likely rise in 2012. Scammers are becoming increasingly adept at finding holes in consumer’s security. This partnership helps BBB reach a larger consumer base and provide them the tools they need to avoid and report suspicious activity.

What are some features of the partnership?

While linking BBB’s website with the Scam Detector app, the partnership will also highlight weekly scams. The app will feature a weekly Top 10 presented by BBB and emphasizing some of the most common scams affecting consumers.

“Scam Detector and Better Business Bureau make a perfect match. Besides being educated on how to avoid fraud, the app’s users can now report fraudulent businesses through it,” says Sorin Mihailovici, developer of the Scam Detector app.

Consumers can find information on the partnership on the BBB/Scam Detector Partnership page. BBB and Scam Detector look forward to helping many consumers avoid scams even as new ones continually pop up.

To date the app has been accessed in 92 countries and won the 2011 Alberta Consumers Champion Awards, hosted annually by the Government of Alberta.

For more tips on scam prevention and reporting, visit our edmonton.bbb.org or contact your BBB at (780) 482-2341.

Consumer tips and media releases can also be found on our Homepage, Blog and News Centre. Please feel free to subscribe to our RSS feed to receive BBB news at your computer. We also have a Facebook Fan Page and you can follow us on Twitter.

FBI: Hundreds Of Thousands May Lose Internet In July

4/23/2012

Posted on 4/23/2012 by
Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON (AP) — For computer users, a few mouse clicks could mean the difference between staying online and losing Internet connections this summer.

Unknown to most of them, their problem began when international hackers ran an online advertising scam to take control of infected computers around the world. In a highly unusual response, the FBI set up a safety net months ago using government computers to prevent Internet disruptions for those infected users. But that system is to be shut down.

The FBI is encouraging users to visit a website run by its security partner, http://www.dcwg.org , that will inform them whether they're infected and explain how to fix the problem. After July 9, infected users won't be able to connect to the Internet.

Most victims don't even know their computers have been infected, although the malicious software probably has slowed their web surfing and disabled their antivirus software, making their machines more vulnerable to other problems.

Last November, the FBI and other authorities were preparing to take down a hacker ring that had been running an Internet ad scam on a massive network of infected computers.

"We started to realize that we might have a little bit of a problem on our hands because ... if we just pulled the plug on their criminal infrastructure and threw everybody in jail, the victims of this were going to be without Internet service," said Tom Grasso, an FBI supervisory special agent. "The average user would open up Internet Explorer and get 'page not found' and think the Internet is broken."

On the night of the arrests, the agency brought in Paul Vixie, chairman and founder of Internet Systems Consortium, to install two Internet servers to take the place of the truckload of impounded rogue servers that infected computers were using. Federal officials planned to keep their servers online until March, giving everyone opportunity to clean their computers. But it wasn't enough time. A federal judge in New York extended the deadline until July.

Now, said Grasso, "the full court press is on to get people to address this problem." And it's up to computer users to check their PCs.

This is what happened:

Hackers infected a network of probably more than 570,000 computers worldwide. They took advantage of vulnerabilities in the Microsoft Windows operating system to install malicious software on the victim computers. This turned off antivirus updates and changed the way the computers reconcile website addresses behind the scenes on the Internet's domain name system.

The DNS system is a network of servers that translates a web address — such as www.ap.org — into the numerical addresses that computers use. Victim computers were reprogrammed to use rogue DNS servers owned by the attackers. This allowed the attackers to redirect computers to fraudulent versions of any website.

The hackers earned profits from advertisements that appeared on websites that victims were tricked into visiting. The scam netted the hackers at least $14 million, according to the FBI. It also made thousands of computers reliant on the rogue servers for their Internet browsing.

When the FBI and others arrested six Estonians last November, the agency replaced the rogue servers with Vixie's clean ones. Installing and running the two substitute servers for eight months is costing the federal government about $87,000.

The number of victims is hard to pinpoint, but the FBI believes that on the day of the arrests, at least 568,000 unique Internet addresses were using the rogue servers. Five months later, FBI estimates that the number is down to at least 360,000. The U.S. has the most, about 85,000, federal authorities said. Other countries with more than 20,000 each include Italy, India, England and Germany. Smaller numbers are online in Spain, France, Canada, China and Mexico.

Vixie said most of the victims are probably individual home users, rather than corporations that have technology staffs who routinely check the computers.

FBI officials said they organized an unusual system to avoid any appearance of government intrusion into the Internet or private computers. And while this is the first time the FBI used it, it won't be the last.

"This is the future of what we will be doing," said Eric Strom, a unit chief in the FBI's Cyber Division. "Until there is a change in legal system, both inside and outside the United States, to get up to speed with the cyber problem, we will have to go down these paths, trail-blazing if you will, on these types of investigations."

Now, he said, every time the agency gets near the end of a cyber case, "we get to the point where we say, how are we going to do this, how are we going to clean the system" without creating a bigger mess than before.

To check and clean computers: http://www.dcwg.org

Spending Your Tax Refund

4/18/2012

Posted on 4/18/2012 by

Do you spend weeks each spring eagerly anticipating your income tax refund? When the money finally comes in, is it gone tomorrow? You’re not alone. Many consumers view tax refunds as unplanned bonuses, but it makes more sense to plan for that new chunk of change so it doesn’t go to waste.

“Making smart decisions with your money is a great way to reward yourself for all the hard work you did to earn it,” said Ron Mycholuk, Public Relations Manager for BBB serving the Great White North. “It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of unplanned or extra cash, but you’ll be glad you saved some of it for a rainy day when you need it.”

Whether or not you are in need of debt relief, a tax refund provides the opportunity to improve your financial situation. BBB recommends the following tips to tax refund recipients:

Pay down your debt. Refund checks usually arrive when many consumers are still struggling with holiday bills. Use your refund for some much needed debt relief: pay off your credit card. If you have an outstanding balance on more than one credit card, you can either try to pay off the lowest balance card first (good for motivation) or direct the funds toward the card carrying the highest interest rate (wiser from financial perspective). Or, apply your refund toward other debts, like a car loan or a home equity loan.

Consider your financial goals. Are you trying to save for a down payment on a house or car? Do you hope to contribute to your child’s college tuition one day? Consider applying your tax refund toward these goals. If you don’t yet have a set of short-term and long-term financial goals, put one together. You’ll be more conscientious about how you spend your tax refund, or any other extra money that comes your way.

Save it for a rainy day. Why not give yourself an even bigger return on your tax refund by putting the money into a savings account–or an emergency savings account or retirement fund? Your tax refund will continue to grow if you put it into savings or invest the money. Plus, it’s always helpful to have a savings account to draw from when a major car repair bill, medical emergency or other unexpected expense comes along. That way, you don’t have to borrow money and add to your debt-load.

Keep things in perspective. Working your way out of debt can seem like a daunting task. Perhaps you assume that a small tax refund check won’t make enough of a dent in your debt. Think again. Every little bit helps. Paying down debt takes time, but steadily increasing your monthly payments does have an impact. Just stay focused on the end goal. It may take years to pay off your debt, but your ultimate reward — being debt-free — will be well worth the effort.

If debt is a continuing problem, consider a credit counselor. Certified consumer credit counseling agencies can assist people who are facing financial challenges and are looking for debt relief. BBB has information on more than 2,000 Credit & Debt Counseling firms, including hundreds of Accredited Businesses. BBB Business Reviews are available for free at edmonton.bbb.org

For more tips on for financial piece of mind, visit our edmonton.bbb.org or contact your BBB at (780) 482-2341.

Accused of defrauding consumers, Sherwood Park businessman settles with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission

2/27/2012

Posted on 2/27/2012 by
By Ryan Cormier, edmontonjournal.com February 23, 2012

EDMONTON - An Alberta-based Internet salesman accused of defrauding consumers of millions of dollars has agreed to a massive settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Jesse Willms, 24, based out of Sherwood Park, agreed to a $359-million judgment that will be suspended upon Willms’s surrender of bank account funds and proceeds from the sale of his house, personal property and corporate assets, including a Cadillac Escalade, fur coat and artwork, according to a trade commission press release.

The trade commission press release notes that the settlement does not equal an admission on Willms part of illegal activity.

The order also imposes a permanent ban on Willms and his companies from what the trade commission calls “negative-option” marketing, which interprets consumers’ inaction as permission to charge them.

It’s alleged that as early as 2007, Willms used various Internet sales schemes to lure customers with free or risk-free trials and offers for products such as weight-loss supplements, colon cleansers and teeth whiteners.

After customers signed up using their credit or debit card information, they were typically charged for the free trial in addition to recurring monthly fees, usually $79.95, unless they opted out, according to the commission.

“The fact that almost four million consumers fell prey to the lure of these free trial offers is a stark reminder that ‘free’ offers can come at a huge price,” said David Vladeck, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC has stopped about $1 billion in online marketing fraud during the past two years by shutting down operations. But consumers still need to beware because scam artists are constantly coming up with new ways to deceive people online.”

Willms commented on the settlement on his blog Thursday.

“Today, in co-operation with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, we are announcing an agreement that helps us put past issues behind us,” he wrote. “We have resolved issues relating to past marketing practices for products that our company no longer sells. Through this process, we also have assured that our current business practices are in full compliance with the law.”

The commission filed a complaint in May alleging Willms used Internet-based marketing schemes to defraud consumers in Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

The U.S. agency claimed about $450 million was gained through fraudulent practices. None of the allegations have been proved in court.

rcormier@edmontonjournal.com

Consumer Tip - Credit Counseling

2/16/2012

Posted on 2/16/2012 by

The holidays are over, the gifts are unwrapped and the bills are rolling in. Millions of consumers who made purchases in December are now stressed about that spending and looking for ways to reduce their debt quickly. BBB advises consumers to conduct their research when choosing a solution for debt relief.

“Many consumers find credit counseling services a lifesaver,” says Ron Mycholuk, Public Relations Manager for BBB serving the Great White North. “And they’re right, but the wrong credit counseling advice can cost you more money, more time and more aggravation in the long run.”

The right counselor can advise you how to use credit wisely, establish a budget, keep track of your bills, manage your money and if appropriate, how to arrange a payment plan with your creditors. In short, a trained specialist can place you back on track to financial success.

Selecting a Credit Counselor

If you decide to work with a credit counseling agency, spend some time researching your options and ensure the company you choose is the right fit for your financial needs. Your goal should be to find a reputable agency, with satisfied clients offering personalized service.

Here are some signs that the company may not be what you are looking for.

· Charges upfront fees. In Alberta, a debt repayment agency may not charge any fees until they have negotiated a settlement that is acceptable to you.

· Demands you provide account numbers before discussing services. Reputable agencies are happy to provide fee information about their services to convince you to choose them for your business.

· Boasts it can “lower your rates by 30-50%” or “Get you out of debt easily.” These bold statement are rarely, if ever, true. Avoid counselors who make outlandish claims and who promise quick, easy solutions to complex financial problems.

· Claims it can remove negative information from your credit report. It is illegal to make such claims if the information is a true representation of your credit history. Accurate information cannot be removed from your report.

· Requires “voluntary” contributions.” Required “voluntary” contributions are not voluntary.

· Insists you take immediate action. Reputable companies permit you time to evaluate their offer, shop around and make the best choice for your situation. However, remember that delaying too long can cause further damage to your financial circumstances.

BBB advises consumers to check out prospective companies on edmonton.bbb.org or contact their financial institutions directly for advice. For more tips on credit counseling, visit our website or contact your BBB at (780) 482-2341.

Intuit Fake Email: Tax Information Needed within 30 days

2/6/2012

Posted on 2/6/2012 by

Customers have reported receiving spam. Below is a copy of the fake email.

Hello,

In our continuing effort to guarantee that correct information is being sustained on our systems, and to be able to grant you better quality of service; INTUIT INC. has participated in the Internal Revenue Service [IRS] Name and TIN Matching Program.

We have found out, that your name and/or Employer Identification Number, that we have on your account is different from the information provided by the SSA.

In order to review the information on your account, please enter the site.

Best regards,

INTUIT INC.

Corporate Headquarters

2632 Marine Way

Mountain View, CA 94043

This is the end of the fake email.

Visit security.intuit.com to get the most up to date information about phishing.

We provide you with the following information:

Steps to take now
What you can do to protect yourself from a phishing attack
The 3 common methods that phishers use in their emails

Forward suspicious emails to spoof@intuit.com.

BBB Media Release - Multiple Scams Targets Edmonton Businesses

1/25/2012

Posted on 1/25/2012 by

BBB is advising businesses to be on the lookout for the return of an old scam. The Yellow Page scam uses similar marketing to the actual Yellow Pages to dupe consumers into paying for advertising they never ordered.

The invoices sport a variation of the walking fingers logo to convince businesses they are dealing with a reputable company. This scam appears in one of two forms.

· Advertise with us. The company asks businesses to advertise with who they think is the legitimate Yellow Pages. Only after receiving the final invoice do businesses discover they have been charged by an entirely different company.

· Update your information and renew your advertising. Businesses are asked to update their company profile and renew their subscription for the upcoming year. Once again, the invoice from a different company tips off businesses they’ve been scammed.

“Businesses should review every invoice they receive,” says Ron Mycholuk, Public Relations Manager for BBB serving the Great White North. “Be sure who are you dealing with before providing any information, sending any money or purchasing any advertising.”

Here are some tips to help business avoid being scammed.

· Check out the company. Before providing any information or payment, businesses should ensure a full name, address and telephone number are providing on the invoice. Using that information, confirm with BBB that the company is who they say they are.

· Contact Yellow Pages. Call the actual company and check to see if they have sent out invoices. If you advertise with company, choose a more secure method of receiving invoices.

· Study the logo. These scam artists use a variation on the walking fingers logo. Compare your invoice with your current yellow pages directory or view it online. If the logo is different, you are likely being targeted.

BBB urges consumers to check out companies at edmonton.bbb.org or contact your BBB at (780) 482-2341 for more information about current scams.

- 30 -

As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau serving the Great White North is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 65 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews to help them find trustworthy businesses across North America. Visit edmonton.bbb.org for more information.

For media inquiries please contact:

Ron Mycholuk, Public Relations Manager
BBB^® serving the Great White North
Phone: (780) 488-6632 Ext. 233 Toll Free: 1 (800) 232-7298
Email:ron@edmontonbbb.org

Finding A Fitness Club After Making New Year's Resolutions

1/16/2012

Posted on 1/16/2012 by

Losing weight is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions after enjoying tasty holiday treats. If you’re pledging to lose pounds this year by joining a gym, BBB recommends asking some questions before signing on the dotted line.

Each January, millions of thousands crowd into gyms armed with willpower and personal goals looking towards a healthier, active lifestyle. While it’s exciting to gear up towards a goal, consumers should treat this like any major purchases. BBB received over 7,000 complaints about health clubs across North America last year.

“Working out and getting healthy are fantastic goals regardless of the time of year,” says Ron Mycholuk, Public Relations Manager for BBB serving the Great White North. “But consumers who ask the right questions can expect success inside and outside the workout room.”

Five questions to ask the gym:

What are the terms of any introductory offers? Gyms often use special introductory offers to lure in new members. Make sure you understand the terms and what price the service will be once the introductory period is over.

Will my membership renew automatically? Many times people join a gym, but don’t consider what happens when the original contract runs out. Some gym contracts renew automatically unless they are cancel.

How can I get out of my contract? Getting out of any contract isn’t always as easy as getting into one. Make sure you understand what steps are necessary to cancel your contract.

What happens if I move? Gyms have any number of policies for what happens if you move. It might depend on how far away you’re moving and if they have affiliate gyms you could attend.

What happens if they go out of business? Ask the gym to explain what will happen to your money if they go out of business.

Five questions to ask yourself when looking at a prospective gym

What are my fitness goals? Determining your fitness goals in advance will help you select the most appropriate facility for your needs. If you have a serious medical condition, consult a medical professional when setting your fitness goals.

Is this location convenient? If the gym is across town, you’ll be less likely to work out. Choose a fitness club that is convenient for you from work and home.

Can I really afford this? Monthly gym fees add up and after any introductory periods are over, the price could jump higher than your budget can handle. Do the math before you join and make sure you can afford the gym membership.

Am I feeling pressured to join? Do not give into high-pressure sales tactics to join right away. A reputable gym will give you enough time to read the contract thoroughly, tour the facility and make an informed decision.

Did I get everything in writing? Read the contract carefully and make sure that all verbal promises made by the salesperson are in writing. What matters is the document you sign, not what you heard.

To find related BBB Accredited Businesses, look in the BBB Serving the Great White North, Accredited Bisiness Directory for Fittness Centers.

Consumer tips and media releases can also be found on our Homepage, Blog and News Centre. Please feel free to subscribe to our RSS feed to receive BBB news at your computer. We also have a Facebook Fan Page and you can follow us on Twitter.

Your BBB Is Moving

1/12/2012

Posted on 1/12/2012 by

On January 18, BBB serving the Great White North is moving. Our new address will be:

16102 100 Ave.
Edmonton AB T5P 0L3

Phone Numbers & Fax Will Remain The Same

Phone, fax and e-mail service for the BBB Serving the Great White North will be suspended from 8:00 am Jan. 17^th to 4:00 pm Jan. 18^th, 2012 to complete an office move and system upgrades that will ensure the most reliable service possible for our customers. If you contact us during this period, we may not receive your message. Thank you for your understanding.

BBB Names Top Scams of 2011

1/4/2012

Posted on 1/4/2012 by

Better Business Bureau investigates thousands of scams every year, from the latest gimmicks to schemes as old as the hills. Our new ScamSource (www.bbb.org/scam) is a comprehensive resource on scam investigations from BBBs around the country, with tips from BBB, law enforcement and others. You can sign up to receive our Scam Alerts by email, and you can also be a scam detective yourself by reporting scams you’ve discovered.

We’ve divided scams up into nine major categories and picked the top scam in each, plus our Scam of the Year.

Top Job Scam

BBB sees lots of secret shopper schemes, work-from-home scams, and other phony job offers, but the worst job-related scam can dash your hopes and steal your identity. Emails, websites and online applications all look very professional,and the candidate is even interviewed for the job (usually over the phone) and then receives an offer. In order to start the job, however, the candidate has to fill out a “credit report” or provide bank information for direct deposit of their “paychecks.” The online forms are nothing more than a way to capture sensitive personal data – Social Security number, bank accounts, etc. – that can easily be used for identity theft. And, of course, there is no job, either.

Top Sweepstakes and Lottery Scam

Sweepstakes and lottery scams come in all shapes and sizes, but the bottom line is almost always this: You’ve won a whole lot of money, and in order to claim it you have to send us a smaller amount of money. Oh, and keep this confidential until we’re ready to announce your big winnings. This year’s top sweepstakes scam was undoubtedly the email claiming to be from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announcing that the recipient was the winner of $1 million from the popular social networking site. These kinds of scams often use celebrities or other famous names to make their offer seem more genuine. If you aren’t sure, don’t click on the link but instead go directly to the homepage of the company mentioned. If they are really giving away $1 million, there will be some kind of announcement on their website. But don’t waste too much time looking.

Top Social Media/Online Dating Scam

On the Internet, it’s easy to pretend to be someone you are not. Are you really friends with all of your “Friends” on Facebook? Do you have a lot of personalinformation on a dating site? With so much information about us online, a scammer can sound like they know you. There are tons of ways to use social media for scams, but one this year really stands out because it appeals to our natural curiosity…and it sounds like it’s coming from a friend. Viral videos claiming to show everything from grisly footage of Osama bin Laden’s death to the latest celebrity hijinks have shown up on social media sites, often looking as if they have been shared by a friend. When you click on the link, you are prompted to “upgrade your Flash player,” but the file you end up downloading contains a worm that logs into your social media account, sends similar messages to your friends, and searches for your personal data. The next time you see a sensational headline for the latest viral video, resist the urge to peek.

Top Home Improvement Scam

Always near the top of BBB complaint data are home improvement contractors who often leave your home worse than they found it. They usually knock on your door with a story or a deal – the roofer who can spot some missing shingles on your roof, the paver with some leftover asphalt who can give you a great deal on driveway resealing. Itinerant contractors move around, keeping a step ahead of the law…and angry consumers. The worst are those who move in after a natural disaster, taking advantage of desperate homeowners who need immediate help and may not be as suspicious as they would be under normal circumstances. A large percentage of BBB’s Accredited Businesses are home contractors who want to make sure you know they are legitimate, trustworthy anddependable. Find one in our Accredited Business Directory.

Top Check Cashing Scam

Two legitimate companies – Craig’s List and Western Union – are used for an inordinate amount of scamming these days, and especially check cashing scams. Here’s how it works: Someone contacts you via a Craig’s List posting, maybe for a legitimate reason like buying your old couch or perhaps through a scam like hiring you as a secret shopper. Either way, they send you a check for more than the amount they owe you, and they ask you to deposit it into your bank account and then send them the difference via Western Union. A deposited check takes a couple of days to clear, whereas wired money is gone instantly. When the original check bounces, you are out whatever money you wired…and you’re still stuck with the old couch.

Top Phishing Scam

“Phishing” is when you receive a suspicious phone call asking for personal information or an email that puts a virus on your computer to hunt for your data. It’s almost impossible to avoid them if you have a telephone or an email account. But the most pernicious phishing scam this year disguised itself as official communication from NACHA – the National Automated Clearing House Association –which facilitates the secure transfer of billions of electronic transactions every year. The email claims one of your transactions did not go through, and it hopes you react quickly and click on the link before thinking it through. It may take you to a fake banking site “verify” you account information, or it may download malware to infiltrate your computer.

Top Identity Theft Scam

There are a million ways to steal someone’s identity. This one has gotten so prevalent that many hotels are posting warnings in their lobby. Here’s how it works: You get a call in your hotel room in the middle of the night. It’s the front desk clerk, very apologetic, saying their computer has crashed and they need to get your credit card number again, or they must have gotten the number wrong because the transaction won’t go through, and could you please read the number back so they can fix the problem? Scammers are counting on you being too sleepy to catch on that the call isn’t from the hotel at all, but from someone outside who knows the direct-dial numbers for the guest rooms. By the time morning rolls around and you are clear-headed, your credit card has been on a major shopping spree.

Top Financial Scam

In challenging economic times, many people are looking for help getting out of debt or hanging on to their home, and almost as many scammers appear to take advantage of desperate situations. Because the federal government announced or expanded several mortgage relief programs this year, all kinds of sound-alike websites have popped up to try to fool consumers into parting with their money.Some sound like a government agency, or even part of BBB or other non-profit consumer organization. Most ask for an upfront fee to help you deal with your mortgage company or the government (services you could easily do yourself for free), and almost all leave you in more debt than when you started.

Top Sales Scam

Sales scams are as old ashumanity, but the Internet has introduced a whole new way to rip people off.Penny auctions are very popular because it seems like you can get somethinguseful – cameras, computers, etc. – for way below retail. But you pay a smallfee for each bid (usually 50₵ to $1.00) and if you aren’t thewinner, you lose that bid money. Winners often are not even the top bidder,just the last bidder when time runs out. Although not all penny auction sitesare scams, some are being investigated as online gambling. BBB recommends youtreat them the same way you would legal gambling in a casino – know exactly howthe bidding works, set a limit for yourself, and be prepared to walk awaybefore you go over that limit.

Scam of the Year

Yep,it’s us – the BBB phishing scam. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people have gotten emails that very much look like an official notice from BBB.The subject line says something like “Complaint Against Your Business,” and the instructions tell the recipient to either click on a link or open an attachment to get the details. If the recipient does either, a malicious virus is launched on their computer…a virus that can steal banking information, passwords and other critical pieces of information needed for cyber-theft. BBB is working with security consultants and federal law enforcement to track down the sourceof these emails, and has already shut down dozens of hijacked websites. Anyone who has opened an attachment or clicked on a link should run a complete system scan using reputable anti-virus software. If your computer is networked with others, all machines on the network should be scanned, as well.

For more information on these and other scams, go to BBB ScamSource (www.bbb.org/scam). Sign up for our Scam Alerts and learn about new scams as soon as we do.

For more information about BBB Serving the Great White North, in Edmonton, visit our website at www.edmonton.bbb.org (or regional URLs for Red Deer, Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray), where you can view our 2011 Top 10 complaints and inquiries, as well monthly Top 10 reports.Consumers and businesses can also visit our Blog, join our Facebook Fan Page and follow our Twitter postings.

BBB Serving the Great White North - Holiday Season Hours

12/21/2011

Posted on 12/21/2011 by

Beginning Friday December 23, 2011 BBB Serving the Great White North, in Edmonton, will be closed and regular hours will resume Tuesday January 3, 2012. During the holiday season or anytime during the year, if you need to:

find a BBB Accredited Business go to edmonton.bbb.org and click on Find A BBB Accredited Business, where you can use our Accredited Business Directory.
find out if a business is Accredited or not and see if they are trustworthy, click on Check Out A Business
get prices or information form a BBB Accredited Business; use our free Request-a-Quote program.
file a complaint online click here.
find Consumer Tips online.
find out how your business can apply to be a BBB Accredited Business.
need to leave a phone message, fax or write a letter or send an e-mail click on our Contact Information

You can also get the latest news, tips and alerts, from BBB and other related organizations, by going to our blog.

BBB Serving the Great White North,
wishes everyone a safe, happy holiday season!

BBB Holiday Gift Return Tips

12/6/2011

Posted on 12/6/2011 by

This year, Canadians will spend millions trying to find the perfect gift for their loved ones. But sometimes gifts might not be exactly what the person is looking for. Businesses may not be required to either have or list a refund policy, so BBB reminds consumers to ask before they buy.

Businesses may not be required to either have or display their refund or exchange policy. Consumers should be aware of all refund/exchange policies.

“Every year, people stress about what to buy and for whom,” says Ron Mycholuk, Public Relations Manager for BBB serving the Great White North. “Sometimes problems arise if something doesn’t fit or isn’t just right. Consumers should understand beforehand what to do if gifts need to be returned or exchanged.”

BBB wants consumers to remember these tips when doing their holiday shopping.

Ask the store about its return policy.

Find out if the business accepts returns and if they do, ask for details. Consumers should ask the following questions:

· Is there a return time frame?

· Is the return a refund, an exchange or store credit?

· Are there specifications on the condition of the products? (wear on clothes, in original packaging)

· Are sale or clearance items eligible for return?

· Are there re-stocking fees?

Manage your receipts.

Businesses often include return information on your receipts. Whether you are the gift giver or the gift receiver, keep your receipts and know what return guidelines are.

Search for online return policies.

More Canadians are shopping online each year, so it’s important to read the terms and conditions of any offer when purchasing online. If you can’t find a return policy, contact the business and ask before being stuck with something you don’t want or can’t use.

Doing a little research before making your purchases can go a long way to reducing your holiday stress before and after the gifts are unwrapped.

BBB urges consumers to check out companies at edmonton.bbb.org or contact your BBB at (780) 482-2341 for more information about refunds and exchanges.

Check out our BBB Trust Tip for Holiday Returns.

Update (04/05/12) BBB is still NOT sending this Email!

11/23/2011

Posted on 11/23/2011 by

Thursday April 5 - The latest of the spam email appears to be an SBQ (Standard Business Questionaire, from BBB with a subject line similar to "Subject: BBB SBQ Form #721137448(Ref#04-721137448-0-4)".
As previous warning:

Do not click on any links or reply to the message,

Completely delete the message from your inbox, and
Run a full virus scan on your computer if you did click on any links.

Thursday March 29 - Better Business Bureau is warning businesses to beware of a malicious e-mail that remains in circulation. The e-mail pretends to be from BBB about a complaint filed against the company. The e-mail first came to BBB’s attention on November 21, 2011 and since then has had various incarnations.

Since November, the BBB has been flooded by calls from local businesses and many across the US have reported receiving a suspicious e-mail from the address alert@bbb.org, services@bbb.org, riskmanager@bbb.org or manager@bbb.org with the subject line “BBB Complaint Case #” followed by a nine-digit number. Both BBB Accredited and non-accredited businesses have been targeted.

However, now the subject line reads "The Better Business Bureau needs your immediate response" or "Unathorized bank transfers to your company account", but is from a non-BBB email address.

The body of the e-mail claims that a business has received several complaints through our online complaint centre concerning fraudulent bank transactions.

BBB is NOT sending this Email!

If you are receiving this email, do nothing! This is a scam designed to target your personal and financial information.

Because the message is fraudulent, BBB advises any business that receives this e-mail to take the following steps:

Do not click on any links or reply to the message,
Completely delete the message from your inbox, and
Run a full virus scan on your computer if you did click on any links.

If you receive an e-mail from Better Business Bureau about a complaint filed against your business and need assistance in determining whether or not it is legitimate, contact your local BBB directly at www.edmonton.bbb.org or 800-232-7298.

For more advice on how to protect your business from malicious online attacks and data breaches visit www.bbb.org/data-security/

A copy of the actual e-mail follows:

Valued business owner, we have obtained severalcomplaints via the Better Business Bureau online complaint center concerningseveral unauthorized transfers from a number of private bank accounts to yourcorporate account. You can access the reports in our online complaint centerusing the following link:

Use the following data to log in:

Complaint ID: #removed

Password: 10097:

The Better Business Bureau acts as an intermediarybetween US and Canadian consumers and business, and assists in mitigatingconsumer-related issues as an impartial third-party service. In special casesThe Better Business Bureau has the right to initiate a formal investigation ofa business involved in feedback.

Sincerely,

Dispute Resolution Officer. Holmes Guerrero

BBB Tip Scams Targeting Veterans

11/8/2011

Posted on 11/8/2011 by

This Remembrance Day, as we honor our soldiers, the BBB warns veterans and their families that scammers may be targeting them.

“Scams targeting military families continue to be a concern,” says Ron Mycholuk, Public Relations Manager for BBB serving the Great White North. “These men, women and their families are being targeted specifically because of their service and should be prepared to research companies before doing business with them.”

Bogus charities often use names that reference the Armed Forces, military branches, units or simply include the word “veteran” in their name. While there are legitimate charities assisting veterans, donors should check out who they’re dealing with before making any donation.

BBB advises veterans and their families to be wary of unsolicited mail or email seeking personal information such as banking information, Social Insurance numbers, military identification and dates of birth. This information can be used maliciously and cause incredible financial and emotional stress.

Veteran scams take many forms, but here are few of the most common:

· Firms target veterans and charge them for products or services they can receive free or at a lower cost elsewhere, such as military records and forms.
· Scammers contact military families asking them to update their credit card and other information. The scammers then use that information to commit identity theft.
· Bogus charities referencing the Armed Forces seeking donations.
· Individuals pretending to be veterans advocates who convince veterans for a fee they can get them more benefits.

BBB urges veterans to check out companies at edmonton.bbb.org or contact your BBB at (780) 482-2341 before signing any contract or providing any information.

BBB wins Myers Award for Operational Excellence

10/12/2011

Posted on 10/12/2011 by

October 11, 2011 (Edmonton, AB) – BBB serving Central and Northern Alberta is the winner of the 2011 “Myers Memorial Award” from the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The award was announced during the 2011 Annual Assembly in Seattle, Washington.

This top award, named for BBB professionals Jerry and John Myers, recognizes exceptional examples of BBB operational work. The submissions included advertising review, investigations, trade practice initiatives and educational projects designed to help consumers make knowledgeable marketplace decisions.

The Edmonton BBB highlighted its two-year investigation into the online marketing practices of Jesse Willms. BBB staff worked closely with the United States Federal Trade Commission and various other agencies to help consumers receive refunds from what consumers felt were misleading sales tactics. Through our assistance, FTC filed an action that stopped this individual from performing online marketing.

“Our BBB is honoured to receive this award,” says Ron Mycholuk, Public Relations Manager of BBB serving Central and Northern Alberta. “The results of the investigation speak to the dedication and hard-work of our operations staff.”

This investigation helped BBB reach out to the public and provide tips to consumers on smart online shopping. As online shopping increases, it’s vital for consumers to be aware of the signs of deceptive marketing and have the knowledge to take their business elsewhere.

BBB serving Central and Northern Alberta is the first Canadian BBB to win a major award from the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

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Consumer tips, scam alerts and media releases, from BBB of Central and Northern Alberta, can also be found on our Blog and News Centre. Please feel free to subscribe to our RSS feed to receive BBB news at your computer. We also have a Facebook Page and you can follow us on Twitter.

As the leader in advancing marketplace trust, Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 65 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews to help them find trustworthy businesses across North America. Visit edmonton.bbb.org for more information.

For media inquiries please contact:

Ron Mycholuk, Community Consultant

BBB^® Serving Central and Northern Alberta

Phone: (780) 488-6632 Ext. 232 Toll Free: 1 (800) 232-7298

Email:ron@edmontonbbb.org

CRTC improves complaints resolution process for Internet traffic management practices

9/30/2011

Posted on 9/30/2011 by The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunicatio

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, September 22, 2011 — Today, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) issued guidelines on how it will deal with complaints about Internet service providers (ISPs) slowing down certain types of traffic. The CRTC takes all complaints seriously and has established strict timelines to ensure their timely resolution.

Under a 2009 CRTC policy, ISPs are encouraged to expand and upgrade their networks to address increases in traffic. Should other measures be required to manage traffic, ISPs can apply Internet traffic management practices. These practices, whether economic or technical, manage traffic to prevent or respond to network congestion. In either case, an ISP must be transparent about its use of traffic management practices.

“The policy sets out clear ground rules, which we expect all ISPs to follow,” said Konrad von Finckenstein, Q.C., Chairman of the CRTC. “The guidelines we issued today will help Canadians understand which practices are permitted and how to make a complaint. We will require ISPs that are not following the rules to take corrective action as quickly as possible.”

Upon the receipt of a complaint regarding a traffic management practice, CRTC staff will forward the complaint to the ISP in question and request a response. If the ISP fails to respond or bring itself into compliance, the CRTC will take further action to enforce its policy. This can include meeting with the ISP to discuss a complaint in more detail, requesting an on-site inspection or independent third-party audit, or calling the ISP to a public hearing.

Should the CRTC find that an ISP is not in compliance with the policy, it will publish the company’s name and the nature of the complaint. In addition, the CRTC will publish, four times a year, a summary of the number and types of complaints it has received, including the number that have been resolved and those that are still under investigation.

For more information, please see How to make a complaint about your Internet service.

Telecom Information Bulletin CRTC 2011-609

The CRTC

The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.

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Don't Get Hooked by a Scam: Use BBB Scam Source

9/27/2011

Posted on 9/27/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

Better Business Bureau introduces its newest online way to avoid fraud: Scam Source. BBB of Central and Northern Alberta helps consumers and businesses proactively stay away from swindlers.

Review schemes from multiple online news sources using BBB's scam aggregator.
Read national news updates with BBB's email alerts.
Report a scam.

Are You Really Buying Taber Corn?

9/19/2011

Posted on 9/19/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

Every late summer and fall, in Alberta, “Taber Corn” is sold from roadside stands. The question often arises...are you buying taber corn. BBB of Central and Northern Alberta offers these tips.

This has been an ongoing problem and has happened for years in Alberta. As reported in Flavours Magazine (June 2, 2009); Dave Jensen, a Taber corn grower and president of the Alberta Corn Growers Association, stated: “There are a lot of bad roadside stands. The safest is one that the producer owns himself. Roadside shopping simply requires consumer awareness and self-policing. Stands must be able to provide provenance if they claim their corn is from Taber, where the dwindling number of Taber corn growers all produce a certificate of authenticity that includes the farm’s name and phone number.”

The Corn Growers Association owns the Taber corn label, and people who are members can use that logo. Jensen Farms, uses a corporate seal stamp to emboss seal on their certificate.

Jensen further suggested that “…shoppers deal directly with the farmer where possible, as it’s easy for some wholesalers to buy B.C. or Washington corn, and claim it’s from Taber.”

Are You Really Buying Taber Corn?

9/19/2011

Posted on 9/19/2011 by

Every late summer and fall, in Alberta, “Taber Corn” is sold from roadside stands. The question often arises...are you buying taber corn. BBB of Central and Northern Alberta offers these tips.

The Corn Growers Association owns the Taber corn label, and people who are members can use that logo. Jensen Farms, uses a corporate seal stamp to emboss seal on their certificate.

Jensen further suggested that “…shoppers deal directly with the farmer where possible, as it’s easy for some wholesalers to buy B.C. or Washington corn, and claim it’s from Taber.”

BBB Media Release - US judge freezes Alberta marketer’s assets

9/14/2011

Posted on 9/14/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

US judge freezes Alberta marketer’s assets

BBB offers tips to help consumers avoid online scams

Edmonton, AB (Sept 14, 2011): A United States judge has frozen the assets of Edmonton-area internet marketer, Jesse Willms and ordered him to change the way he does business. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that Jesse Willms and his companies made over $450 million from thousands of consumers using deceptive marketing tactics and negative option billing.

The FTC action claims that consumers were lured by risk-free and trial offers for a variety of products including health, beauty and penny auctions. After signing up consumers received monthly credit card bills or high lump sum charges. Consumers were also required to follow a complicated cancellation process to stop future charges.

“Since 2008, BBB has received over 4,000 complaints about this individual and his companies,” said Ron Mycholuk, Community Consultant for BBB serving Central and Northern Alberta. “When a pattern of complaints is identified, BBB may contact the appropriate agencies, including the FTC and the Competition Bureau.”

Negative option billing occurs when consumers are required to opt-out of something instead of opting-in. When consumers fail to opt-out, they often receive recurring charges. Consumers are often unaware of these charges and risk reaching their credit card limits or being unable to pay other bills.

To help future consumers avoid being scammed by online offers, BBB offers the following tips:

· Read all terms and conditions. Review the information to determine exactly what you’re paying for and how much it will cost. Also, confirm any return, exchange and cancellation policies prior to purchase.

· Read your credit card statements. This helps consumers address unknown or unauthorized charges right away.

· Research the company you’re buying from. Visit edmonton.bbb.org or search online to see what others are saying about the company, its products and its services.

Jesse Willms is scheduled for trial in the U.S. in July 2012.

For more tips on purchasing online, visit edmonton.bbb.org or contact your BBB at (780) 482-2341.

Consumer tips and media releases, from BBB of Central and Northern Alberta, can also be found on our Homepage, Blog and News Centre. Please feel free to subscribe to our RSS feed to receive BBB news at your computer. We also have a Facebook Fan Page and you can follow us on Twitter.

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For media inquiries please contact:

Ron Mycholuk, Community Consultant
BBB^® Serving Central and Northern Alberta
Phone: (780) 488-6632 Ext. 232 Toll Free: 1 (800) 232-7298
Email: ron@edmontonbbb.org

Help Your Children Learn to be Smart Consumers - Watch this Biz Kid$ Better Business Bureau Segment

9/7/2011

Posted on 9/7/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

The American Public Broadcasting System (PBS), though its Biz Kid$ program, has produced an excellent video clip, about BBB!

For more information about BBB, as well as consumer tips, scam alerts and media releases, visit the website for BBB of Central and Northern Alberta. More BBB news can also be found on our Blog and News Centre. Please feel free to subscribe to our RSS feed to receive BBB news at your computer. We also have a Facebook Page and you can follow us on Twitter.

Biz Kid$ is an American, national financial education initiative based on an Emmy Award-winning public television series about kids, money, and business. The series includes 65 episodes and reaches over one million viewers per episode.

Using a clever blend of entertainment and education, each Biz Kid$ episode shows kids how to make and manage money by introducing concepts of financial literacy and entrepreneurship. To keep young viewers engaged, the series includes a fast-paced mix of direct education delivered by young actors, sketch comedies, animation, and stories featuring real life young entrepreneurs. The show is complemented by a resource rich website, lesson plans, outreach activities, and a monthly electronic newsletter.

BBB of Central & Northern Alberta - Monthly Top 10 Complaints & Inquiries (August 2011)

9/7/2011

Posted on 9/7/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

Between August 1 and 31, 2011 BBB of Central and Northern Alberta received the following complaints and inquiries about businesses in the following industries: (Ranked from highest to the lowest)

Complaints	Inquiries
1. Furniture-Retail	1. Roofing Contractors
2. Auto Dealers-New Cars	2. Contractors-General
3. Home Builders	3. Home Builders
4. Roofing Contractors	4. Landscape Contractors
5. Legal Forms	5. Plumbing Contractors
6. Auto Repair & Service	6. Auto Repair & Service
7. Movers	7. Auto Dealers-New Cars
8. Plumbing Contractors	8. Movers
9. Contractors-General	9. Home Improvements
10. Department, Discount, Outlet Stores	10. Home Improvements

*Click the highlighted titles, above, to file a complaint or inquire about a business. To search for BBB Accredited businesses, by categories of goods and services or location, visit our Accredited Business Directory.

Help Your Children Learn to be Smart Consumers - Watch this Biz Kid$ Better Business Bureau Segment

9/6/2011

Posted on 9/6/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

The American Public Broadcasting System (PBS), though its Biz Kid$ program, has produced an excellent video clip, about BBB!

BBB of Central & Northern Alberta July 2011 Renewed Accredited Businesses

8/30/2011

Posted on 8/30/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

During the month of July, 2011 the following businesses (listed alphabetically by their city/town where they are located) renewed their Accreditation with BBB of Central and Northern Alberta and their commitment to trust and reliability in business. Click on the highlighted city titles, for the related BBB website.

BBB wishes to thank these businesses and urges all consumers and businesses to support these and other BBB Accredited Businesses, listed by their type of business categories, in our Accredited Business Directory area of our website. Using our Request a Quote system, consumers and purchasers can also request prices and information from BBB Accredited Businesses.

Barrhead, Calahoo, Onoway, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain

Freedom Manufacturing Ltd, Kelsey Paving Ltd, J-Cam Contracting Ltd, Kiwi Nurseries Ltd, Progress Glass Co Ltd, Integra Tire and Auto Centre, Summers Drilling Ltd

Blackfalds, Innisfail, Ponoka, Rimbey

Granden Auto, Freeman Insurance Agencies Ltd, Paradise Homes Corp, Wagner's Automotive Service Center Ltd, Street Wise Driving School Ltd

Bonnyville, Cold Lake

Horizon Mechanical Ltd, Val Appraisals, Fleetwood Construction, M & T Exteriors, Prime Exteriors Ltd

Camrose, Leduc, Nisku

Timberline Roofing Inc, Leduc Moving & Storage, Makloc Buildings Inc

Edmonton

911 Homes , A Designs Inc , AAA Kangaroo Garage Doors , Active Cleaning Services Ltd , Adrenalin Audio Inc , Advanced Roofing Systems Ltd , Affordable Roofing & Siding , Alberta Church Organs Ltd , Alberta Hardwood Flooring Ltd , Alf's Roofing Ltd , All-Lock-Rescue Ltd , Amcor Roofing Specialists , April Glass & Mirror Ltd , Arclare Building Products Ltd , Audrey's Therapeutic And Relaxation Massage , Auto Imports , B J Electric Supplies Ltd , Bestway Concrete Ltd , Big T Roofing Inc , Blanchett Neon Ltd , Bolt Security Systems Ltd , Bruni-Bossio Goldsmith Ltd , Burton's Auto Body Ltd , Campbell College Ltd , CBI Home Health , Ceiling Centre Corporation , Columbia Roofing Ltd , Congdon's Aids To Daily Living Ltd , Continental Cartage Inc , Cosmo's Autobody & Repair , Craftsman Floors Ltd , Crossroads HVAC Systems Ltd , D W Contracting , Dawson Motors Ltd , Delton Cabinet Manufacturing Ltd , Derrick Dodge (1980) Ltd , Diagold Designs Ltd , Diamond Contracting , Diogo's Concrete Works Ltd , Diosi Plumbing and Gasfitting Service , Ecoline Windows , Edmonton Auto Group , Electrical Controls Manufacturing , Electronic Analyst , Elite Flooring Ltd , Emcee Construction & Management Ltd , Energized Electric Ltd , European Roofing & Contracting Ltd , Excel Heating & Cooling , Falcons Scaffold Installation Ltd , Fero Corporation , Field Law , Fort Road Appliances Ltd , GDT Trading Ltd , Global Wealth Builders Ltd , Green Drop Lawns Ltd , Groat Estates Pain Management Centre , Harmcor Plumbing & Heating Ltd , Homes Maid Beautiful , Houseworks Renovation & Construction Inc , Hub Cap Warehouse New & Used , Hyundai (West Edmonton Hyundai) , In-Line Mudjacking , Instabox Alberta Inc. , Insulation Police Ltd , Integrated Property Services Ltd , JK Custom Woodwork Ltd , Katch Kan Ltd , Kingsway Shoe Comfort , Kwan's Auto Service , L & M Tirecraft , LA Brayer Industries Ltd , Lana Exteriors Inc , LawDepot TM , Lee Valley Tools Ltd , Lincolnberg Homes Ltd , M C M Contract Installations Ltd , MC Dispatch , McGregor-Sharp Filtering Equipment (1979) Ltd , Michener Allen Auctioneering Ltd , Millennium Satellite Inc , Mind Alive Inc , Mutual Propane Ltd , Mymacdealer , N H Diesel Services Ltd , Neumann Plumbing (1979) Ltd , New Tech Auto Inc , Norellco Contractors Ltd , North Edmonton Landscaping Supplies Ltd , On Side Restoration , Pacesetter Homes Ltd , PJ Faucet Plumbing & Heating , Preet Janitorial Services Ltd , Progress Glass Co Ltd , Quality Sign Service , Randall Riemer Holdings Ltd , Raptor Tattoo Ltd , RBR Limo Service , RCL , Reflex Manufacturing Ltd , Reliance Protectron , RJ Acoustics Ltd , Royal Food Products , Royal Rubber Stamp Co Ltd , Safetech Consulting Group Ltd , Sagoo Homes Ltd , Shaw & Company , Sinclair Electric , Snap Fitness South East , Southtown Hyundai , Star City Painting , Steinbring Agencies Ltd , Terrina Interiors Ltd , The Flooring People , The Tire Warehouse , Thrifty Car Rental (Gateway Blvd ) , Titan Construction (1989) Ltd , Topline Autobody Repair & Painting , Triple Eight Diesel Parts Inc. , True Home Cinema Xperience , Two Brothers Team , Western Hangers & Supplies Inc , Wilmax Construction Ltd

Fort McMurray

Bartan Machine & Welding Company Ltd, Fort McMurray Plumbing & Heating Ltd, Stratford Contracting Ltd

Fort Saskatchewan,Morinville, Sturgeon County

Oakwood Management Ltd, Champion Petfoods LP, Marco Antonio Homes

Grande Prairie

Advantage Valve Maintenance Ltd, Smash & Sons Contracting Ltd, Weldon Home Improvements

Hinton

D C Electrical Services Ltd

Irma, Killam, Lloydminster

Gratton Coulee Agri Parts Ltd, Qwest Haven Relocation Services Inc, Liquid Metal Custom Fabrication & Welding Inc

Red Deer

Central Alberta Tile One, Cooper Roofing, Gearhead Automotive Services Ltd, Ing & McKee Insurance Ltd, Oriel Windows & Doors, Recycle-Logic Inc, Red Deer Discount Golf Centre Ltd, Reddemann Yard Care, Sim's Furniture Ltd, Red Deer Power Sports

Sherwood Park

All Season Tree Service, Budget Blinds, Candor Landscaping, Channel Eavestroughing Inc, Davies & Company, Dynamic Landscape Innovations Ltd, Executive Cleaning Inc, Park Muffler & Radiator, Suncoast Enclosures

St. Albert

1-800-Got-Junk, A-1 Heating, Alfresco Contractors Inc, Edmonton Pump Service Ltd, Sturgeon Auto Body Shop Ltd, Sturgeon Denture Clinic, Sturgeon Valley Golf & Country Club

Wembley

Caliber Mudjacking Ltd

You can also find Regional Information Pages, about BBB services for consumers and how businesses can become a BBB Accredited Business in Alberta Capital Region, central Alberta, Yellowhead east Alberta, Yellowhead west Alberta, northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories, as well northwestern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia (Peace Country).

BBB of Central & Northern Alberta July 2011 New Accredited Businesses

8/30/2011

Posted on 8/30/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

We proudly welcome new Accredited Businesses that have pledged to abide by BBB Principles for Trust in an effort to protect and promote the free enterprise system through self-regulation.

The following is a list of new BBB Accredited Businesses whose applications have been approved by our Board of Directors from July 1 to 31, 2011.

To find out more about these new BBB Accredited Businesses and the goods and services they provide, "click" on their business name and view their online Business Review, from our search engine optimized Accredited Businesss Directory. Each Business Review also provides contact information.

Solarwyse Ltd - Beaverlodge
B. B. Moving & Storage - Edmonton
Brett's Bobcat Services - Edmonton
C K R Hotshot & Pilot Truck Service Ltd - Edmonton
Carmax Consulting Inc - Edmonton
Cherish Planning Inc - Edmonton
Electric Power Generating Equipment Inc - Edmonton
Frost & Associates Appraisal Consultants - Edmonton
Glenora Cat Clinic Ltd - Edmonton
Hobby Alley (North) - Edmonton
Hobby Alley (West) - Edmonton
IWG Soil Products - Edmonton
JB Renovations - Edmonton
K4 Industries Inc - Edmonton
Knight Bobcat and Excavating Services Inc - Edmonton
Laser Sheer Downtown - Edmonton
Mile High Roofing - Edmonton
Nu-line Construction Ltd - Edmonton
Redline Diesel Ltd - Edmonton
Reno Twins Inc - Edmonton
Sky-High Support Services - Edmonton
STP Electric Ltd - Edmonton
Tesc Construction Inc - Edmonton
Allan Vinni Law Office - Fort McMurray
Cassandra Slade- Realtor - Fort McMurray
Donna Chmielewski - Associate Broker - Fort McMurray
McMurray Steam - Fort McMurray
Sean McFatridge Realtor - Fort McMurray
CJM Trucking Ltd - Fort Saskatchewan
Victoray Transmission Rebuilders Ltd - Fort Saskatchewan
Apex Auto Body Ltd - Hinton
Tru-kare Tank & Meter Service Ltd - Lacombe
Homes By Sher-Bilt Inc - Leduc
Aaron Enterprises - Nisku
Jorgenson Homes Ltd - Ponoka
Crozier Developments - Red Deer
Mustang Bills Skid Steer Service Ltd - Red Deer
R/T Heating & Air Conditioning Ltd - Red Deer
Trampoline World Ltd - Red Deer
Corey Cooper Realtor - Sherwood Park
Jordan Homes Ltd - Sherwood Park
S & P Home Makeovers Inc - Sherwood Park
Don's Home Renovations - St. Albert

You can also click here, to search for BBB Accredited Businesses and the services they provide, or check out any businesses and services, in our online search.

If you own a business in the service area of BBB of Central and Northern Alberta and are interested in the benefits of becoming a BBB Accredited Business, click here for information

Media Release - BBB Remindes Canadians to Donate Carefully

8/29/2011

Posted on 8/29/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

In the wake of natural disasters, fraudulent charities may appear to try and scam donations from generous Canadians. Canadians need to ensure that not only do their donations go to reputable relief organizations, but also avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Canadians being asked for donations (either over the phone, through email or in person) should follow these simple tips to decide where and how to direct their donations.

Donate to established organizations.

These organizations generally have the experience and infrastructure to help your donations reach the affected areas faster.

Avoid charities that have sprung up in response to a disaster.

Be wary of charities that spring up after a disaster. They may be looking to take advantage of your good intentions. Also, look out for imitation charities. Some phony charities use names that sound or look familiar to respected, legitimate organizations.

Find out if the charity has an on-the-ground presence in the disaster area.

Unless the charity already has staff in the areas, it may be difficult to quickly get workers to the affected areas. See how the charity describes what they can do to address immediate needs.

Be cautious when giving online.

Proceed with caution when giving online especially in response to spam message and emails that claim a link to a relief organization.

Read the fine print before donating by text message.

It’s quick and easy, but be sure to read the fine print before donating. In Canada, a charity must include the details of their text campaign on their website. Research how the funds are being directed.

Be wary of claims that say 100 per cent of donations will assist relief victims.

Charities incur fundraising and administrative expenses. Even a credit card donation will involve processing fees.

Caution should be used in responding to any unsolicited requests for donations. To learn more about donating to charities, visit your BBB at edmonton.bbb.org.

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BBB of Central and Northern Alberta - Career Opportunity - Business Accreditation Specialist

8/25/2011

Posted on 8/25/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

Job Title: Business Accreditation Specialist

Department: Sales

Reports To: Business Accreditation Coordinator

Summary: A Business Accreditation Specialist main goal is to find, educate, inform and invite qualified business’s to become accredited with the Better Business Bureau

Compensation

Salary: $2500.00 per month or commission plus bonuses, whichever is greater

Benefits: All employer contributions with respect to EI and CPP will be made immediately.

Vacation: Vacation Days as per the Personnel Policy.

Hours: Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Term: This contract can be terminated by either party, with two weeks notice, in writing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

· Extend an invitation to qualified businesses to become accredited with the Better Business Bureau.

· Learn all features and benefits associated with the Better Business Bureau

· Search and develop own lead base of businesses for possible accreditation with the Better Business Bureau

· Analyze and create lead base from BBB database of available companies in our market area

· Achieve minimum sales quota each month

· Promote and maintain a positive personal image at all times as part of BBB employment

· Participate in weekly meetings and training seminars

Competencies

· Organizational Knowledge:

Keeps contact notes, callback times and database in a concise manner

· Oral Communication:

Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations. Listens and gets clarification. Responds well to questions.

· Diversity:

Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences.

· Organizational Support:

Always follows policies and procedures as outlined.

· Planning/Organizing:

Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently.

· Attendance/Punctuality:

Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent.

· Dependability:

Follows instructions, responds to management direction.

· Initiative:

Undertakes self-development activities, looks for and takes advantage of opportunities. Asks for and offers help when needed.

Qualifications:

· Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Language Skills

Ability to read and comprehend instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees.

· Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions.

· Technical Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have good telephone and inter-personal skills as well as be comfortable with computers and fax machines. Knowledge of Microsoft word is necessary

· Sales Skills

Comfortable in a commission based environment. Ability to cold call businesses.

BBB of Central and Northern Alberta - Career Opportunity - Receptionist

8/24/2011

Posted on 8/24/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

Job Title: Receptionist

Department: Operations

Reports To: Operations Manager

Summary: The Receptionist is responsible for general office support duties, which include: data base management, mail functions, answering and directing phone inquiries, scanning and photocopying of documents, and greeting visitors.

Compensation

Salary: $28,000 per annum.

Benefits: All employer contributions with respect to EI and CPP will be made immediately.

Vacation: Vacation Days as per the Personnel Policy.

Hours: Mondays through Fridays between the hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Term: This contract can be terminated by either party, with two weeks notice, in writing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

· Answers incoming telephone calls, determines purpose of callers, and forwards calls to appropriate personnel or department; reads inquiry reports to callers as necessary.

· Takes and delivers messages or transfers calls to voice mail when appropriate personnel are unavailable; retrieves messages from general voice mail and forwards to appropriate personnel.

· Answers questions about organization and provides callers with address, directions, and other information.

· Welcomes on-site visitors, determines nature of business, and announces visitors to appropriate personnel.

· Receives, sorts, and routes mail, and generates daily deposit slips. Applies postage on all outgoing mail and delivers to mailbox.

· Updates database, including Standard Business Questionnaires (SBQ), Out of Business (OOB) checks, Sales Leads and creation of new BIDs for reports.

· Creates and prints fax cover sheets, memos, correspondence, reports, and other documents when necessary.

· Produces Accredited Businesses Kits, including ID cards, inserts, insertion in envelopes and mailing.

· Performs other clerical duties as needed, such as filing, photocopying, scanning and collating.

Competencies

· Organizational Knowledge:

Demonstrates understanding of principles, methods, practices and theories of organization. Demonstrates understanding of reliability report content, consumer protection and dispute resolution as provided by the organization.

· Customer Service:

Manages difficult or emotional customer situations.

· Oral Communication:

Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations. Listens and gets clarification. Responds well to questions.

· Diversity:

Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences.

· Organizational Support:

Follows policies and procedures. Completes administrative tasks correctly and on time.

· Planning/Organizing:

Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently.

· Attendance/Punctuality:

Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent.

· Dependability:

Follows instructions, responds to management direction.

· Initiative:

Undertakes self-development activities; Seeks increased responsibilities. Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities. Asks for and offers help when needed.

Qualifications:

· Education and/or Experience

High school diploma or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

· Language Skills

· Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

· Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Access, Excel Spreadsheet and Microsoft Office Word Processing software.

Please send a covering letter and resume to:

BBB of Central and Northern Alberta
888 9707 110 Street
Edmonton AB T5K 2L9

Fax: (780) 482-1150
Email: info@edmontonbbb.org

Build Your Buying Skills

8/22/2011

Posted on 8/22/2011 by Canada’s Office of Consumer Affairs

Building your buying skills is an important step to becoming a well-informed and knowledgeable consumer. The information below provides helpful basic buying tips you can use and apply today.

You can also contact Your Provincial or Territorial Consumer Affairs Office for further information on any of these and other consumer topics, as they may have information that is more specific to the area where you live.

Read the entire article from the Consumer Measures Committee.

Facebook Releases Official Security Guide

8/22/2011

Posted on 8/22/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

Facebook has released its first official security guide, a long overdue handbook to help the social media giant's half-billion fans understand, recognize and avoid the multitude of scams they face every day.

With headers such as "Avoiding malicious script scam," "Avoiding Facebook account thieves," and "Avoiding gaming scams," the 14-page "Own Your Space" guide is full of not just suggestions, but detailed directions on how best to navigate Facebook without falling through any number of dangerous holes — or getting hit by its speeding cars.

"Just as a city paints sidewalks, and pedestrians look both ways before crossing the street, security on Facebook is a responsibility shared between Facebook and the people who use its platform," the guide, "Own Your Space" reads.

If the street-crossing reference seems childish, don't be fooled: "Own Your Space," although it may ostensibly be for young adults, parents and teachers, is for anyone with a Facebook account.

The instructions, including what strong passwords and fake login screens look like, how to identify and avoid clickjacking scams, how to use social authentication and how to report and block impostors, are advice everyone needs to heed, especially as Facebook criminals look for new and more devious ways to carry out their misdeeds.

"Own Your Space" is written in easy-to-understand, nontechnical language, and will hopefully stem the flow of scams that, unfortunately, continue to trick Facebookers every day into unintentionally giving attackers access to their accounts.

Source: SecurityNews Daily (click to read original aritcle)

Facebook Releases Official Security Guide

8/22/2011

Posted on 8/22/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

If the street-crossing reference seems childish, don't be fooled: "Own Your Space," although it may ostensibly be for young adults, parents and teachers, is for anyone with a Facebook account.

Source: SecurityNews Daily (click to read original aritcle)

BBB Google™ Priority Placement Program

8/17/2011

Posted on 8/17/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta
With BBB of Central and Northern Alberta's Priority Placement Program, you can have your business listed in the top of the Google™ search page, above the regular listings.

Avoid Unexpected Cell Phone Charges when Travelling

7/28/2011

Posted on 7/28/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

Nowadays, cell phone users are surfing the web, receiving emails and watching movies all on their smartphone with the click of a button from just about anywhere. However, when traveling abroad, many consumers fail to recognize that their data plan is constantly in use even when they think their phone isn’t. Better Business Bureau is advising consumers to either turn off their phone or make the necessary data arrangements with their cell phone provider to avoid thousands of dollars’ worth of data charges while traveling abroad.

Last year alone, BBB received more than 27,000 complaints against the cell phone industry, some of which were from customers who were unaware that their data was still in use as they traveled outside of their coverage area or outside of Canada. One particular customer was charged more than $17,000 in roaming charges during a trip overseas.

“Roaming” is the term that describes a wireless phone’s ability to make and receive calls outside the home calling area under your service plan. When your phone is roaming, an indicator light on your phone may display the word “roam.” On occasion, your handset will not display a roaming indicator, even though it is in a roaming area. Before traveling abroad or out of your coverage area, it’s important for consumers to be proactive and contact their provider for specific details regarding their individual data and roaming plan.

“While the international roaming charges may vary from provider to provider, many of the fees can come as a surprise to travelers,” said Stephen A. Cox, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. “To prevent the unexpected roaming charges, contact your cell phone provider to clarify where you are covered and the data plans that can be purchased when traveling abroad.”

BBB advises consumers to do the following with their cell phone and cell phone provider in preparation for a trip abroad this summer:

Turn off your phone. If you don’t need your phone and don’t plan on using it while traveling abroad, turn it off. Some travelers opt for renting or buying international cell phones. Many rental plans offer services that work in several countries and may provide free incoming calls.

Contact your cell phone provider. Many cell phone users know not to make calls or send text messages while out of their coverage area or abroad, but many fail to realize that their data is in use even when they don’t think it is. For the occasional traveler, who doesn’t talk on the phone that frequently, it may be worth looking into an international add-on plan. Your cell phone carrier can provide specific tips that cater to the roaming needs of your individual cell phone and data plan.

Invest in a prepaid SIM card. For the frequent, chatty travelers, or long-term travelers, investing in a prepaid SIM card may be the best way to cut costs. With access to a local phone number, you’ll be able to make phone calls at the country’s local rate. Always check with BBB before choosing an international service provider. Many companies offer SIM cards that can be purchased and can include free incoming calls originating from anywhere in the world.

For more travel tips you can trust, visit our website. We also have a Blog, where we post BBB tips, news, monthly top 10 complaints and inquiries, monthly new and renewed Accredited Businesses, as well as scam alerts for BBB Accredited Businesses and the public. You can also read our alerts, news and tips by subscribing to our RSS news feed.

For social networking, join our BBB Serving Central and Northern Alberta, Facebook Fan Page and follow our Twitter postings.

Media Release - Don’t fall for door to door security sales deception

7/21/2011

Posted on 7/21/2011 by BBB of Central & Northern Alberta

Edmonton, AB (July 12, 2011): Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be careful when answering the door to traveling alarm system salespeople. Every summer, BBB receives complaints from homeowners alleging high pressure sales tactics and promises that were never fulfilled.

“Consumers are often told they must act now,” said Ron Mycholuk, Community Consultant for BBB serving Central and Northern Alberta. “But it’s important to take a little time and do some research before purchasing any product or service.”

While many consumers search out home security companies, summer weather provides businesses the opportunity to go door to door to find their own customers. In addition, some consumers state sales claims never made it into the final contract. Consumers should be aware of their rights before making any purchases.

BBB offers the following tips for consumers purchasing a security system

·Deal with reputable firms. Do some further research and check out the company’s Business Review on edmonton.bbb.org

·Know your rights. Consumers have 10 days to cancel any door to door contract and even longer depending on whether service was provided.

·Study the contract carefully. Confirm information such as installation price, monthly price, installation time, length of contract, refund policy and cancellation procedures.

·Ask about a moving clause. What happens if you move? Can the system come with you? Is there a fee to move the system? Ask before you buy.

·Document problem dates. If you are having any problems with your alarm system, document the date, time, who you dealt with, what the problem was and what was fixed.

·Check out the monitoring company. The company making the sale may not be the company providing monitoring. Check out any company you would be dealing with before making a purchase.

·Compare similar systems. BBB recommends consumers get three quotes before making any purchase. But when gathering quotes, make sure you are comparing similar equipment and monitoring plans.

·Check the company’s licensing. In Alberta, companies require a Direct Seller’s license to perform door to door sales. Salespeople must also clearly display this license and photo id confirming the company they work for.

·Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each system. Ask for the procedures in writing before making a purchase.

O Does the monitoring call you or the police first when the alarm goes off?

O Does the company have a security patrol car they send out?

O How soon after the alarm sounds will you be notified?

O What happens if the company can’t reach you? Is the alarm reset? Are the police called? Are your alternate numbers called?

A home security system is a great way to keep your home and your loved ones safe. Asking the right questions and doing a little research helps consumers get the best security system for their needs.

For more information on keeping your home safe, visit edmonton.bbb.org or contact BBB at (780) 482-2341.

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For media inquiries please contact:

Ron Mycholuk, Community Consultant

BBB^® Serving Central and Northern Alberta

Phone: (780) 488-6632 Ext. 232 Toll Free: 1 (800) 232-7298

Email: ron@edmontonbbb.org

Media Release - Don’t fall for door to door security sales deception

7/21/2011

Posted on 7/21/2011 by
Edmonton, AB (July 12, 2011): Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be careful when answering the door to traveling alarm system salespeople. Every summer, BBB receives complaints from homeowners alleging high pressure sales tactics and promises that were never fulfilled.