Although no alarm system will make your home completely burglar-proof, a home security system can reduce your chances of being burglarized and provide peace of mind. Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona advises consumers to research the purchase of a home security system with the same care they would with any major purchase.

In 2009 alone, BBB received a total of 2,883 complaints against alarm companies nationwide.  This type of business has also ranked in BBB’s top 30 companies with the most inquires (consumers requesting information, as opposed to complaints) in Southern Arizona in 2009.

Out of the local alarm system companies that provide services locally, in 2010 BBB has received the most inquiries about the following companies:

• ADT Security Systems – This Company is headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla. and had received 1,261 inquiries in the last 12 months.  ADT Security Systems has a BBB rating of “A.”
• APX Alarm Security Solutions, Inc. – This Company is headquartered in Provo, Utah and has received 631 inquiries in the last 12 months.  The current BBB rating for APX Alarm Security Solutions, Inc. is “C-.”
• CPI Security Systems, Inc.- CPI Security Systems, Inc. has a location in Morrisville, N.C. and has received 1,637 inquiries in the last 12 months.  This company is currently a BBB Accredited (more…)

Falling victim to a fraudulent investment scheme can mean losing anywhere from a few hundred dollars to your life savings. While most people might not see the harm in sitting through an investment seminar, Better Business Bureau recommends researching the investment company first, rather than run the risk of falling for a financial siren song over a free lunch.

Investment scams and schemes can come in many forms and a common technique to lure people in is the offer of a free financial seminar over lunch. In one recent example, the Securities and Exchange Commission shut down a Ponzi scheme which stole $20 million from retirees in California and Illinois. The scammers invited senior citizens to estate planning seminars and later coaxed their victims into buying promissory notes for purported Turkish investments.

“Free lunch seminars can seem like an easy way to get a meal, but attendees run the risk of getting drawn in by the slick presentations and promises of big returns,” said Kim States, BBB President. “Unscrupulous seminars often use the promise of a free lunch to lure in leisurely senior citizens who have time and exploitable retirement accounts and real estate.”

When listening to an investment pitch, BBB recommends looking for the following red flags:

• Requires a large up-front investment. Untrustworthy schemers might try to convince investors to pay a lot of money upfront so they can get out of town with a large haul, rather than wait for the funds to trickle in.

• Promises high returns for low risk. Every investment comes with a level of risk. Typically the amount of risk increases in line with the potential return on the investment. If the seminar is trying to sell an investment scheme that claims a high return with little or no risk, beware, even if it comes with the promise of a money-back guarantee.

• Employs high pressure sales tactics. Seminar leaders often use high pressure sales tactics to get people to sign up without thinking it through. They might claim that there are only a few spots left or that you need to get in on the ground floor today to see the largest earnings. Any reputable investment company will let you take your time and do your research and will not pressure you into signing a check.

• Relies on off-shore investments. Many hucksters try to give their scheme an air of sophistication by relying on overseas investments such as foreign currency, property, stocks and bonds. They also might claim—incorrectly—that you can avoid taxes by investing overseas.

• Sounds too good to be true. At the end of the day, if the offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Always listen to your instincts because the potential payoff is rarely worth the risk.

For more advice from your BBB on financial planning and investing visit http://www.bbb.org/us/consumer-tips-finance/.

When temperatures heat up, door-to-door salesmen start making their rounds selling any number of different products and services. While many door-to-door salesmen are honest, every summer, Better Business Bureau receives troubling complaints from consumers who purchased meat from door-to-door salesmen and were dissatisfied with the quality or even claim to have gotten food poisoning.

In a recent example, the BBB in Denver issued a warning about mounting complaints against a door-to-door meat salesman. According to complaints, customers spend an average of $185 on different kinds of meat, poultry and/or fish. Consumers have described the products as being, “inferior quality,” “tainted,” “not edible,” “old and freezer burnt” and “drowned in salt and preservatives”. Some complainants have also claimed to have gotten sick from the meat and one complainant described it as tasting “like chlorine.”

“Many people might be a little put off by the idea of buying steaks or seafood from the back of a truck, but the low price can often be tempting enough to override any fears about safety or quality,” said Kim States, BBB President. “It’s not uncommon for a customer to waste hundreds of dollars on inferior meat and it is extremely important for your financial health, in addition to your personal health, that you do your research before you buy.”

Other common complaints to BBB against door-to-door meat sellers include claims that the customer received less meat than what they paid for, that the salesman did not have appropriate permits to sell food door to door and that the salesman failed to stand by the promised satisfaction guarantee.

When considering buying meat from a door-to-door salesman, BBB recommends that consumers:

• Do your research. Ask the salesmen for written material about the company and let them know you are going to research them first before doing business with them. Check the company’s Reliability Report with your BBB. Many communities have licensing and permit requirements for food vendors and for selling door-to-door; confirm with your city or county government that the seller is in line with the law.
• Don’t fall for empty promises. The seller might claim to offer a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, but many complainants had no way to contact the seller if they were dissatisfied. Additionally, the seller might claim that the meat is a higher grade than it really is.
• Never pay with cash. When paying by check or credit card you have at least some way to protect your money—such as canceling the check or reporting it as fraud to your credit card company. If you pay with cash and are dissatisfied, you’re at the mercy of the salesman.
• Know your rights. If you decide to make a purchase, ask for a dated cancellation form and a dated receipt. The Federal Trade Commission Cooling-Off Rule gives you three business days to cancel the purchase. Saturday is considered a business day.
• Report the bad guys. If you feel that you were ripped off by a door-to-door salesmen, file a complaint with your Better Business Bureau. Also report any unlicensed salesmen to the appropriate city or county authorities.

Consumers with questions about purchasing meat can contact the USDA’S Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854.

For more advice to help you make smart purchasing decisions, visit http://www.bbb.org/us/consumer-tips-product-purchasing/.