How We Conducted Our Reviews & Based Our Referrals

Assessing a company is not as easy as looking at their BBB rating. We’ve discovered firms with an A+ BBB rating, though simultaneously being under a state and federal government investigation. So it is important to consider several variables.

If we take a look at the BBB alone, we not only look at a provider’s rating. We take a look at the number of complaints, the time span that those issues took place, the type of complaints, and whether the grievances were resolved.

One gold company we examined has an A+ BBB rating, but 56 criticisms. While another A+ graded firm has absolutely no complaints. The reason the first company preserved an A+ mark is most likely a result of the fact that all of the 56 complaints were resolved. But at the same time, it is quite clear which firm you ‘d be better off working with. Though it is nice that the initial provider dealt with their complaints, it is not exactly encouraging to know that several customers had to go to the BBB in order to get their problems dealt with. This could possibly suggest significant customer support troubles. Perhaps they are only worrieded about grievances which are made public? Again, that is not a great sign.

While a great resource, the BBB is not the sole source of our own assessments and endorsements. We also rely on Trustlink. However Trustlink isn’t perfect either. Several folks may feel safe by seeing a business has a 5 star rating with Trustlink. But in our research, we found that one company got a 5 star standing based upon 300 client testimonials, whilst another company had a 5 star ranking built on only 1 evaluation. Although both firms maintain the highest possible rating Trustlink has to offer, there is still quite a difference.

Additionally, we relied on testimonials from the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA). Yet again, this evaluation body is not perfect either. The greatest ranking delivered at the BCA is AAA. One provider has an AAA with 67 problems and a pending lawsuit from the Santa Monica City Attorney’s Office. A different company has a B ranking without any write-ups. another has an A+ score with no complaints. Here again, it means we should search further into the problems. Have they been cleared up?

Not only do we research these 3rd party analysis websites, and find the company with the very best overall ranking on all of them. We think about the amount of years in business. After all, if an organization started last month and has no complaints, it doesn’t automatically mean they are great. When a business has been around 10 years may have 1 or 2 issues, they may be a better option.

Further resources include RipOffReport.com, Yelp, and Complaint Board. Although each of these enter into our endorsements, we simply cannot always fit all of them into our review outline above. In that instance we address these items in more detail on our actual review page of each firm, which is also offered in the table.

Lastly, we analyze any prior or potential investigations, litigations and penalties that the companies have faced.

As you can observe, we go to exceptional lengths to determine who qualifies, and who doesn’t quite hack it. But ultimately, our testimonials and information are merely meant to be a guide. Nothing will measure up to your own research, and ultimately your personal experience and “gut” perception you get when you contact any one of these agencies directly.