Should I post a negative review on Angie's List?

[Anonymous]

The actual work done was fine, but we have been around and around and around with the company's billing department, with the owner saying we're paid in full, and the billing department continuing to send us notices that we owe money. Every time I get a notice I email the owner, and he says, "Yes, yes, it's fine, here's your bill, paid in full," and then we get another notice a couple weeks later. I'm so tired of having to deal with this and want to post something on Angie's List, but I'm always hesitant to post something really negative about a locally owned business, especially when the actual work was okay. Would something like this sway you from hiring a company? I considered posting the last time I got an incorrect bill, but since he said he had taken care of it, I let it go. Then today, I got another bill! The owner and the "office manager" have the same last name, so it's not like it's such a big company that he can't address it himself. He blamed their billing software last time (not that I care for the reason one bit).

I always rely on Angie's List since we're not close with neighbors, and this company had A's all around and lots of reviews, but is locally owned and operated (not a chain or franchise).

[Anonymous]

I would tell them pretty much what you wrote here. "Listen, if I get one more billing error, I am going to have to reflect that in my review on Angie's List. I plan to write a great review about your work, but feel I must include the billing issues."

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't for this. it's clearly a problem with their software. I'd tell the owner how tiresome it's getting and you're considering a negative review, that could help him get leverage withtheir software company to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Post. But don't rely on AL to select contractors. It's a wildly rigged system.

[Anonymous]

Send the billing department a copy of the owner's email saying it's paid in full. Then tell the billing company to take the issue up with the owner, and if they contact you again you'll consider it harassment and will take the appropriate legal measures.

[Anonymous]

I actually told him in the last cycle of incorrect bills that I was strongly considering posting something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send the billing department a copy of the owner's email saying it's paid in full. Then tell the billing company to take the issue up with the owner, and if they contact you again you'll consider it harassment and will take the appropriate legal measures.

I'm guessing the billing department is his wife, mother or sister, and I've already done this. She seems completely clueless and incompetent.

I like the "if they contact you again..." recommendation, but I'm unlikely to go to those lengths. I just feel like I've exhausted other options to get this communication to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Post. But don't rely on AL to select contractors. It's a wildly rigged system.

Really? How so? I thought that AL was generally pretty good. I know about Yelp being unreliable, but I didn't realize Angie's List is, too. I always sort by something besides "offering a deal" or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Post. But don't rely on AL to select contractors. It's a wildly rigged system.

Really? How so? I thought that AL was generally pretty good. I know about Yelp being unreliable, but I didn't realize Angie's List is, too. I always sort by something besides "offering a deal" or whatever.

I found yelp to be more reliable. I see angieslist as a way for contractors to advertise to get pushed up in the listings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Post. But don't rely on AL to select contractors. It's a wildly rigged system.

Really? How so? I thought that AL was generally pretty good. I know about Yelp being unreliable, but I didn't realize Angie's List is, too. I always sort by something besides "offering a deal" or whatever.

Contractors pay to be on Angie's List. If they are good and have a network of referrals, why pay to be on the list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Post. But don't rely on AL to select contractors. It's a wildly rigged system.

Really? How so? I thought that AL was generally pretty good. I know about Yelp being unreliable, but I didn't realize Angie's List is, too. I always sort by something besides "offering a deal" or whatever.

Contractors pay to be on Angie's List. If they are good and have a network of referrals, why pay to be on the list.

That's not true. I've entered the first review for some companies and I know it was posted. It is obvious, however, that some pay to advertise/offer deals and show up at the top of a search.

[Anonymous]

You can pay AL to get a "top rated" sticker to put on the work van.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Post. But don't rely on AL to select contractors. It's a wildly rigged system.

Really? How so? I thought that AL was generally pretty good. I know about Yelp being unreliable, but I didn't realize Angie's List is, too. I always sort by something besides "offering a deal" or whatever.

Contractors pay to be on Angie's List. If they are good and have a network of referrals, why pay to be on the list.

That's not true. I've entered the first review for some companies and I know it was posted. It is obvious, however, that some pay to advertise/offer deals and show up at the top of a search.

So it is not true that contractors pay to be on Angie's List, but it is true that some pay to advertise and show up at the top of the list. What am I missing?

[Anonymous]

Yelp extorts small businesses to remove negative reviews. If they don't pay up, all positive reviews are deleted. It has been documented time and time again. A lawyer I know has had the same issue with Yelp.

http://consumerist.com/2014/04/04/yelps-controversial-business-tactics-contribute-to-2000-complaints-received-by-ftc/

[Anonymous]

I always check Angies List against other consumer lists. their "top rated" without other supporting are always one man or small business with the highest prices. Angies list is a waste of time. Also they are very aggressive about calling you. I do not want to say "the contractor sucked and I used someone else" so I don't reply.