Blogger
LinkedIn
StumbleUpon
Tumblr
Wordpress
Bit.ly
Digg
More
Comment
E-mail
Save This
Print- Red Sox implement digital ticketing to keep ticket prices low
- Bruce Springsteen, The Fray tickets on sale throughout the weekend
- Industry leaders gather to discuss the future of Broadway
- Super Bowl ticket prices remain high despite fluctuations
- Barcelona ticket company leads industry in corporate social responsibility
- Tigers ticket sales skyrocket after Fielder signing
- Police arrest 97 for Olympics-related offenses including ticket resale
- Broadway ticket sales fall further last week in January
- Electronic dance music carves new niche in market
- North Carolina venue looks to block ticket resale
TicketNetwork sues the Connecticut Better Business Bureau
TicketNetwork this week filed a civil lawsuit against the Connecticut Better Business Bureau (CTBBB) over alleged deceptive business practices in the way the agency handles its rating system.
The lawsuit claims the agency allegedly operates under a "pay to play" scheme, where it allegedly gives better ratings to businesses that pay membership dues than to those that do not. In addition, TicketNetwork claims the CTBBB allegedly misleads consumers who visit the agency's Web site by shielding this alleged favoritism, and then allegedly steers those consumers toward doing business with those member/Accredited companies.
On the CTBBB Web site, a search for TicketNetwork yields a page, under the name of its parent company Ticket Software, LLC, that states, "BBB's information on this company is being updated, and no report is available at this time." TicketNetwork is listed on the site as not accredited by the CTBBB.
A CTBBB spokesperson did not immediately return a message seeking comment. The lawsuit was filed yesterday, September 7, in Vernon Superior Court.
The agency, part of the national Better Business Bureau, states that its mission is to objectively evaluate businesses to help consumers.
"BBB ensures that high standards for trust are set and maintained. We exist so consumers and businesses alike have an unbiased source to guide them on matters of trust. We provide educational information and expert advice that is free of charge and easily accessible," the agency's Vision, Mission and Values page states. "BBB Accreditation is an honor – and not every company is eligible. Businesses that meet our high standards are invited to join BBB. Businesses meeting BBB standards are presented to local Boards of Directors (or designees) for review and acceptance as a BBB Accredited Business."
TicketNetwork claims the CTBBB previously used a “satisfactory/unsatisfactory” rating system, but it now uses "letter grades based on point totals." In addition, TicketNetwork alleges that whether a company has paid its membership dues could improve a business' grade, and that is not disclosed on the Web site.
"BBB does not compare businesses against each other, but rather evaluates businesses against our standards – and our standards clearly speak to the character and competence of an organization," the agency states. "BBB is the resource to turn to for objective, unbiased information on businesses. Our network of national and local BBB operations allows us to monitor and take action on thousands of business issues affecting consumers at any given time. BBB is your key advisor, most reliable evaluator and most objective expert on the topic of trust in the marketplace."
TicketNetwork is not the first company to complain about the BBB's rating system. In 2009, several debt settlement companies reportedly said the agency's rating system was biased against such organizations. And, earlier this year, a group of unnamed California businessmen conducted their own sting operation on the agency by reportedly giving it fake business names, addresses and other information, but the group paid the membership dues and received A- ratings, according to CTWatchDog.com.
“The current BBB system gives consumers an unfair shake when it comes to providing an objective view of how businesses perform and how they treat their customers,” Don Vaccaro, founder and CEO of TicketNetwork, said in a statement. “Consumers should feel confident that the information provided by the BBB is accurate, unbiased and a clear depiction of how every business operates. The BBB’s practices call into question whether it can be used as a trusted resource prior to buying products and services. Consumers should be aware that the BBB favors paying, member businesses – this is outright favoritism influenced by payments.”
TicketNetwork is the parent company of TicketNews.
Subscribe to this feed
Comments
All comments are subject to TicketNews' community rules.Post new comment +
Ohh how the irony, TND is suing over a rating system?! TND broker rating system is the worst ever, its totally made and designed for you to fail at every block and corner. There is 20 hoops to jump through, in which you have to participate in ALL of TND programs! and each program takes more profit away. if you dont use all of their tools, (fedex, pos, mercury, and 10 other things) you get penalized with higher fees. This rating system changes monthly, and each time it nickel and dimes us to death. Its like a slow torture. Now they are keeping all the fedex revenues come October. We wont get breaks on fedex soon, so we will pay 15$ for shipping, when I get the same package sent under my own fedex acct for 8-10$. So if I get that rate - what do you think TND gets w/ 1000 brokers piggybacked under 1 fedex acct!> ? I mean they get overnights for 3 - 5 bucks! and we will have to pay them the 18 or 25 $ this takes effect soon, costing us THOUSANDS and Thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$$. TND needs to stop and realize they are screwing over their CUSTOMERS - us the brokers....
Well said, they are on route to kill hen who gives a golden egg on everyday in anticipation that they would receive the gold mine just by killing it.
Back in the 70's when California was facing state regulation we asked for the help of the BBB. We were their customer for several years. They informed us that they thought the legislation was good for the consumers and that they would not be able to even send a letter on our behalves.
2 years later the BBB here in Los Angeles filed for Chapter 7.
The BBB is the second biggest fraud next to the FDA. Most educated businessmen know this and laugh at them when try to solicit their BS !EeRE48dr
The BBB uses data from consumer complaints. My guess is TND probably has a few ticket brokers on their network that ticket buyers have had problems. Unfortunately, bad brokers are a direct reflection to TND so they will have to do more to create their own internal rating system with their brokers.
I feel they are very deceptive in their monthly changes towards the broker rating system so it makes even harder to keep a high score. I use to yield 85 points and it has now drop significantly since the new terms took effect.
http://www.bbb.org/connecticut/business-reviews/ticket-sales-events/metr...
BBB Rating for Metro Entertainment, Inc.
Based on BBB files, Metro Entertainment, Inc. has a BBB Rating of F on a scale from A+ to F.
Reasons for this rating include:
* 39 complaints filed against business
* Failure to respond to 11 complaints filed against business.
* 2 complaints filed against business that were not resolved.
Customer Complaint History for Metro Entertainment, Inc.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
BBB processed a total of 39 complaints about Metro Entertainment, Inc. in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 39 complaints closed in 36 months, 26 were closed in the last year.
These complaints concerned :
+ 2 regarding Advertising Issues
1 - Advertisement misrepresented a product
1 - None of the Above - Advertising Complaint Issue
+ 5 regarding Billing or Collection Issues
1 - Failure to correct billing errors
1 - Improper collection practices
2 - None of the Above - Credit, Billing or Collection Complaint Issue
1 - Unauthorized credit card charges
+ 2 regarding Customer Service Issues
1 - Inappropriate behavior by customer service personnel
1 - None of the Above - Customer Service Complaint Issue
+ 1 regarding Delivery Issues
1 - Non-delivery of products
+ 4 regarding Product Issues
2 - Defective, damaged, or incorrect product received
2 - None of the Above - Product Quality Complaint Issue
+ 13 regarding Refund or Exchange Issues
1 - Failure to honor promised refunds, exchanges, or credit
4 - Failure to honor refund, exchange or credit policies
8 - None of the Above - Refund or Exchange Complaint Issue
+ 12 regarding Sales Practice Issues
4 - None of the Above - Sales Complaint Issue
2 - Sales presentation did not disclose complete pricing information
1 - Sales presentation did not disclose key conditions of the offer
1 - Sales presentation not consistent with the written agreement
4 - Sales presentation used dishonest sales practices
These complaints were closed as:
+ 2 Unresolved
2 - Company failed to resolve the complaint issues through BBB voluntary and self-regulatory process.
+ 11 No Response
11 - Company failed to respond to BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
+ 19 Resolved
14 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to BBB.
4 - Company resolved the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to BBB.
1 - Company offered a partial (less than 100%) settlement which the consumer accepted.
+ 7 Administratively Closed
5 - BBB determined that despite the company's reasonable effort to address complaint issues, the consumer remained dissatisfied.
1 - BBB determined the company provided proper verification that indicated there was no obligation to resolve the issues of the complaint.
1 - The parties could not provide sufficient information to support their positions nor were they agreeable to make reasonable efforts toward resolving the issues of the dispute.
sounds like Golden (Metro) and Ticketevolution (TN) kind a story.
Difference is Golden rating is A+ and 0 complaint in last 36 months.
http://www.bbb.org/dallas/business-reviews/ticket-sales-events/golden-in...
"TicketNetwork claims the CTBBB allegedly misleads consumers"?? Ironic that TicketNetworkis doing just that- misleading consumers. Their business is built on deception.
Are we referring to following as member dues?
E. In its relationship with BBB:
* meet all applicable standards within this Code of Business Practices
* cooperate with BBB’s activities and efforts to promote voluntary self-regulation within the business’ industry
* honor any settlements, agreements or decisions reached as an outcome of a BBB dispute resolution process
* complete the required application and pay all monetary obligations to BBB in a timely manner
If that is indicated on their website, then I don't see how TN has a case. Customers who use the site to evaluate businesses also have access to the terms and conditions by which those businesses are evaluated. My guess is that TN has or is anticipating a lousy rating (for reasons that probably don't come as much of a surprise to anyone who has ever dealt with them) and is suing to try and either upgrade the rating, or provide an excuse to their customers as to why their rating is so low. Perhaps if they stopped doing things like selling spec orders and shorting tickets, customers would have a more favorable opinion of them.
what are you joking ? the customer service is outstanding. oh wait they dont offer customer service.they pass it off to brokers. if ticket network asks like ebay then call it such but the broker you are dealing with should be disclosed before a purchase is made
If TN can sue the Conn BBB for giving higher ratings for members that pay than why don't brokers that DO NOT use TNs Point of Sale sue TN for giving those brokers lower rating and charging them more money.
Cause brokers will not sue Ticket Network
brokers are customers of TND. if they don't like it, they don't have to be customers. the BBB is a public organization that TND is suing. way different. as much as I hate donny and his bs, it would be foolish to sue him as a broker/customer of his.
Anyone who posts under the name "anonymous" has something to hide. Clearly, this person has a vested interest and doesn't have the guts to come clean.
Me thinks this person doth protesteth too much.
Hope my name makes you brave enough