Action 9: 'Dirty Dozen' list released by BBB

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — A new list of the worst businesses in Charlotte was released this week from the Better Business Bureau. It’s based on dozens of unanswered complaints.

Action 9 spoke with the BBB and found one common problem with the companies.

Topping the BBB’s “Dirty Dozen” list is Home Appliance Repair in Gaston County with 13 unanswered complaints.

Apartment manager Terri Nail lost nearly $1,000 when she said the owner, Michael Henderson, botched repairs to washers and dryers.

“He’s taken advantage of me,” Nail said.

Others complain they paid for parts and got nothing.

Henderson never responded to Action 9’s calls.

The second business on the list is Queen City Appliance Repair with 11 unanswered complaints.

The BBB said the owner, Benny Stafford, has changed business names 16 times.

Action 9 called his phone but was not able to leave a message.

BBB president Tom Bartholomy said all the companies have one thing in common.

“These are the companies that disregard what their what their customer complaints are. They don’t care that they have an F rating at the BBB,” he said.

The third company is Mechanical Security Solutions, which makes air conditioning unit enclosures. Eleven consumers said they paid for the service and got nothing in return.

Fourth on the list is Home Tek Handyman. Home Tek’s owner said he has more than 2,000 customers and “can’t satisfy everyone.”

Fifth is Voice For Inmates, which charged inmates and their families at least $60 for messaging services. Many said they never got messages.

Mutt Huttz is sixth on the list. It sells custom-made dog crate covers, but seven customers said they never got the covers they ordered.

Seventh on the list is Harrelson Nissan, a Rock Hill dealer with six complaints.

“Most car dealers in our market have a number of complaints filed against them. It’s what you do with that complaint that really matters. And in this case, they’re not doing anything with them,” Bartholomy said.

After the dealer expressed a willingness to respond to complaints, the BBB changed their F rating to “no rating.” The general manager declined interview requests, but said Nissan ranked them No. 1 in customer satisfaction last November.

Eighth on the list is Green Eco Solutions, a home improvement business.

And rounding out the list is a web hosting service, M2Host.com.

The BBB said the Dirty Dozen list is a reminder to always check out businesses before spending money with them.

Here’s the kicker: Tuesday afternoon, the BBB said the owner of the top company on the list, Home Appliance Repair, had his phone number forwarded to the East Lincoln Animal Hospital.

Now the animal hospital is getting calls for the company, but said they are working with the phone company to get the call-forwarding disabled.

WSOC