Better Business Bureau of Utah: complaints decreased 8.6 percent in 2011

Burglar alarms are meant to protect homes and businesses, but the companies offering the service were at the top of the complaint list compiled by the Better Business Bureau of Utah for 2011.

The BBB administered 1.8 million instances of service to the public, setting a new record. The BBB's business reviews were almost double that of 2010, being viewed more than 1.6 million times. In 2011, the BBB had 17,000 complaints, an 8.6 percent decrease compared to 2010, with a little over 74 percent of those getting resolved.

"Our complaints have decreased slightly," said Jane Diggs, president and CEO of the BBB. "We believe this is due to consumers spending less, therefore fewer transactions and less chance for complaint. We hope that the increase in consumers accessing BBB business reviews indicates that consumers are checking first, before they do business with any company."

Burglar alarm companies stayed atop the list, as Utah is home to a plethora of alarm companies. The number of complaints against those companies went up just slightly. The BBB suggested businesses take a look at the complaints made against them so they can reduce the concerns their customers have, according to a BBB statement.

The BBB saw an increase in complaints of 715 percent in the penny auctions industry. This industry resolved less than 23 percent of them. The BBB encourages consumers to thoroughly read the conditions and terms on all websites offering penny auctions before providing their credit card information.

"Untested Medical Products or Supplements" stayed high on the list of complaints in 2011. These companies typically make big promises, often dealing with some form of improving one's health, and often have trial offers and monthly rates that are unclear and non-specific, according to a BBB statement.

Approximately 99 percent of consumers contact the BBB via the Internet, but there was an increase of just over 62,000 phone calls made to the BBB in 2011.

The complaint list covers almost 4,000 companies. Following alarm companies on the list were untested medical products or supplements, web designers, training program companies, payday loan companies, penny auctions, credit card companies, government grant services, exercise equipment dealers, and consumer finance and loan companies.