BBB ACCREDITED BUSINESS SINCE 05/01/2010

MerchantCircle

(650) 352-1336 800 W El Camino Real #330, Mountain View, CA 94040-2589

Print

Description

This company's business is Internet Services.

BBB Accreditation

A BBB Accredited business since 05/01/2010.

BBB has determined that this business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public.

BBB accreditation does not mean that the business's products or services have been evaluated or endorsed by BBB, or that BBB has made a determination as to the business's product quality or competency in performing services.

Reason for Rating

BBB rating is based on 16 factors. Get the details about the factors considered.

Factors that lowered this business's rating include:

Government action(s) against business

Factors that raised this business's rating include:

Length of time business has been operatingComplaint volume filed with BBB for business of this sizeResponse to complaint(s) filed against businessResolution of complaint(s) filed against businessBBB has sufficient background information on this business

Customer Complaints Summary

303 complaints closed with BBB in last 3 years | 106 closed in last 12 months
Complaint Type Total Closed Complaints
Advertising / Sales Issues 174
Billing / Collection Issues 19
Problems with Product / Service 110
Delivery Issues 0
Guarantee / Warranty Issues 0
Total Closed Complaints 303

Additional Complaint Information

Our complaint history for this company shows that the company responded to and gave proper consideration to most complaints. However, one complaint is unresolved meaning the company failed to properly address the complaint allegations or their response was inadequate.

Complaint Details | Definitions | BBB Complaint Process | File a Complaint

  • Government Actions

    Agency: District Attorney
    Description: NEWS RELEASE

    MERCHANTCIRCLE PAYS $900,000
    FOR UNLAWFUL MARKETING PRACTICES

    Santa Clara County District Attorney Dolores A. Carr announced today her office has settled a consumer protection lawsuit against WYBS, dba MerchantCircle, an internet social networking company for small businesses. The action arose out of an investigation by the District Attorney’s office.

    The District Attorney alleged that from 2006 to 2008, MerchantCircle engaged in improper automated telemarketing campaigns which violated California “live voice” requirement for automated calls. Some of those calls also contained unverified statements that the MerchantCircle website had reviews, ratings, or video footage of the recipient business.

    Without admitting wrongdoing, WYBS, dba MerchantCircle, consented to a judgment entered in Santa Clara County Superior Court requiring it to pay $700,000 in civil penalties and $50,000 in investigative costs. MerchantCircle with also pay $150,000 into the Consumer Protection Trust Fund, a trust used to fund investigation and prosecution of consumer protection law violations statewide. MerchantCircle cooperated with the investigation, has brought its telemarketing practices into compliance with California laws, and has agreed to implement additional procedures to ensure future compliance.

    “These penalties should remind any business engaging in telemarketing in California that this state has strict laws requiring the use of an actual person to allow call recipients to ‘opt out’ of the message.” said District Attorney Dolores Carr.“These business are also placed on notice that any statements they make to consumers must be true and verified.”
    Date of Action: 5/20/2010

    What government actions does BBB report on?

  • Advertising Review

    BBB has no information regarding advertising review at this time.

    What is BBB Advertising Review?

Additional Information

top
228893
BBB file opened: 9/14/2006 Business started: 1/1/2005
Contact Information
Payam Zamani - Founder, Chairman, CEO
    Trish Burnside (Customer Relations)richard stern (president)
Number of Employees

22

Business Category

Internet Services

Alternate Business Names
MerchantCircleMerchant Circle
Alternate Web Sites