BBB of MN/ND Releases Final Statistics for 2015

Burnsville, MN – February 4, 2016 – Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota ®(BBB) has compiled lists of the Top Ten industries for consumer complaints and inquiries, according to their final statistics for 2015. These numbers are for complaints and inquiries from consumers in Minnesota and North Dakota regarding businesses which are headquartered in our region. The local BBB provided 5.2 million BBB Business Reviews to the public last year. 

BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota received just shy of 23,000 complaints in 2015, which is down slightly from the previous year. However, the local BBB processed more than 5,000 customer reviews, which more than makes up for the decrease in complaints. BBB began offering customer reviews in late 2014. Per BBB rules, consumers can’t file a complaint and a customer review regarding the same marketplace experience. Of those customer reviews, 3,800 were classified as positive. BBB’s complaint resolution rate remained steady at 90% in 2015.

“We’re pleased to see that the vast majority of customer reviews submitted last year were positive,” said Dana Badgerow, president and CEO of the BBB of Minnesota and North Dakota. “We feel the fact we now offer customer reviews explains the decrease in consumer complaints, and while we don’t expect complaint levels to decrease further, we do expect that customer reviews submitted through BBB will only increase.”

Once again, industries which most directly affect people’s day to day lives – auto dealers, auto repair and construction – made up half of the Top Ten list for complaints. Collection agencies topped the list of industries with the most inquiries from the public in last year, with general contractors coming in second. Trade industries once again claimed five spots on this year’s BBB Top Ten inquiry list.

BBB’s statistics for 2015 are as follows:

Top Ten industries by volume of complaints

1.  Auto Dealers – New

2.  Newspapers

3.  Auto Dealers - Used

4   Property Management

5   Banks

6.  Auto Repair & Services

7.  Construction & Remodeling Services

8.  Furniture - Retail

9.  Electronic Equipment & Supplies - Dealers

10. Contractors - General

Top Ten industries by consumer inquiries:

1.  Collection Agencies

2.  Contractors - General

3.  Construction & Remodeling Services

4.  Roofing Contractors

5.  Auto Dealers - Used

6.  Checks - Printing

7.  Property Management

8.  Pillows

9.  Home Builders

10.  Plumbers

Bicycles back on the road, fatalities down in Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Bicyclists are back on the road, and together, motorists and bicyclists must share the road, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety and Minnesota Department of Transportation. 

From 2011 to 2013, 18 bicyclists died on Minnesota roads and 2,634 were injured. Of those injuries,155 or 6 percent were serious injuries. This is a decline from the previous three-year period. From 2008-2010, 32 bicyclists were killed and 2,836 bicyclists were injured.

In 2013, 45 percent of the seven fatalities and 822 serious injuries were in the 15 to 29-year-old age group. Five to 14-year-olds made up another 15 percent of fatalities and serious injuries.

“Reducing bicycle crashes is important to Minnesota's vision of eliminating all fatalities and serious injuries on our roadways,” said Sue Groth, MnDOT state traffic engineer. “Bicyclists on the road must act like vehicles - meaning obeying traffic signals, signaling their turns and of course, being visible. Motorists must treat bicyclists like they treat other vehicles and providing ample space for the bicyclist when passing.”

Crash statistics show that cyclists and motorists are nearly equally at fault in crashes between motor vehicles and bicycles. The primary reasons bike crashes occur are failure to yield right of way, non-motorist error and disregarding a traffic control device. These three are among the five top contributing factors every year.

Most crashes occur during afternoon commuting time between 3 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. The 5 to 5:50 p.m. time period has the highest incident of crashes.
The Department of Public Safety and MnDOT have these bicyclist and motorist tips:

Bicyclist Tips

• Follow the law – obey all traffic signs and signals. Ride in the same direction as traffic.
• See and be seen – wear bright colors, reflective gear and use head and tail lights.
• Protect yourself – wear a helmet.
• Ride on the road, and ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Obey all traffic control signs and signals, just as motorists.

Motorist Tips

• Be patient when passing a bicyclist – slow down and pass only when it’s safe. Allow clearance of at least three feet..
• Be on the lookout – watch for and yield to bicyclists before making a turn.
• Stay alert and avoid distracted driving – put away mobile devices, food and makeup.

For information about MnDOT’s “Share the Road” bicycle safety education program and bicycle crash statistics visit www.sharetheroadmn.org. The Share the Road campaign recently redesigned its printable resource materials, which are also available on the website.