BBB

American consumers are getting savvier, and happier. We consulted the BBB far more often in 2011 than we did the year before, and lodged fewer complaints. But there were still plenty of gripes, and the worst offenders may not surprise you.

A series of major problems and the whiff of potential fraud at a tax-prep company called "Mo Money Taxes" are a scary reminder: Be smart about selecting the professional who helps with your tax return. Here are some tips to help you avoid the shady characters.

The estimated tab for Hurricane Irene's fury is already in the billions of dollars. If you're among those who have property damage, proceed with caution -- you don't want to get hit again, this time by home repair companies that jack up their prices, do a poor job, or walk away before the work is finished.

Poor customer service is one of the primary reasons people tend to shun certain companies and even whole industries. 24/7 Wall St. identified the U.S. industries with the most complaints, as well as the troubles people have with them. If customer service is important to success, those we identified could be in trouble.

As the unemployment rate climbed yet again during this seemingly endless recession, desperate job seekers need to be extra careful not to get sucker punched by bogus help wanted ads. Many of these phony help wanted listings, the Better Business Bureau warns, are designed to extract upfront fees or...

Summer may be the best time to get away from it all, but unfortunately, it's also the season when burglars are most likely to take advantage of your absence to clean you out. July and August, according to the FBI, are peak months for home robberies. And for those hoping to avoid becoming another...

The Better Business Bureau's slogan is "Start with Trust" -- but not so fast. It seems the BBB has inherent conflicts of interest, and questions have been raised about what it takes to "earn" an A from the BBB. Can companies pay for good ratings -- or worse yet, do they have to?

Although your child probably doesn't even know they have a Social Security number, scores of scammers are selling those to identity thieves. But parents can take steps to prevent their child from becoming a victim of identity theft, the Better Business Bureau warns. "It's terrifying to think that...

The Better Business Bureau's slogan is "Start with Trust" -- but not so fast. It seems the go-to source for consumers looking for unbiased reviews has some inherent conflicts of interest: It has been taking money to give businesses higher ratings.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 37 million Americans -- some 13 percent of the population -- move each year, and thousands of them end up being victimized by unscrupulous and often unlicensed movers. To help ensure that the first memories of your new home don't include getting...