Which B.C. businesses received the most complaints last year?

Consumers turned to the B.C. Better Business Bureau (BBB) more than two million times, logging 7,500 complaints, last year.

Which businesses took the most heat from customers?

Furniture dealers racked up 121 complaints between October 2015 and October 2016. Car dealerships received 153 complaints, followed by moving companies with 165 complaints.

“Anybody with a truck and a couple of guys can basically call themselves a moving company,” said Evan Kelly of the BBB.

“So that does open the door to rogues and people who just want to take advantage of customers.”

Some 229 complaints were filed against stereo system dealers, as well, but private parking lots garnered the most criticism with 239 complaints.

“Apart from dealing with parking lots, it really does come down to research whether dealing with movers or big box electronic stores. Understand all the terms and conditions, understand refund policies, people need to know that in British Columbia, there are no laws that govern what a refund policy is,” said Kelly.

Kelly also says stores can set their own refund policies, so it’s up to the consumer to read the fine print and understand what’s under warranty. When it comes to parking lots, don’t forget to read the signs and obey the rules because it’s unlikely you’ll be able to argue your way out of a ticket.