We received the same type of call from Shelly (sp?) Bay.  She requested to speak directly with the owner of the company regarding BBB accreditation.  She stated that she got "two positive inquires" from people wanting to do business with us.  She did not have a name of the business that was searched by the potential customers.  She said there are fees associated with BBB accreditation, but that she needed to ask us some questions first.  Total scam and a waste of time.

The BBB is NOT a government agency.

I knew this was a telemarketing call. However, I am shocked that the BBB would hire someone to violate the law. The same Shelley person has called my cell phone for the past 3 years. That is a clear violation of the SPAM act. No solitication can be made to a cell phone. I think it MAY also be a violation to "block" her phone number when calling as solicitation. Sine she gave her number, that might make it ok, but I'm not sure.

My company allows me to market myself, so I own my own website, but I do NOT own a company. So clearly they must be getting some data from new websites set up. I think it is regrettable that the BBB (a government agency) would hire telemarketers to violate the law.

Shely called from this # trying to make me sign up a business I don't even have.  The # was blocked

I got a caller id of 561625090900 that was directed to voice mail. A woman named Shelly, sounded like an old clerk introduced here self from BBB and asked business owner to call back at the 888-670-0909 & ref# 410. I called the 888 number, and I got sent to VM where she asking to leave name, business name and business owner. I didn't leave it an checked the number online, where I found this forum

I called again, and she answered. She indicated that they received good recommendation about my business and suggested that I sign up with them as it would give better accreditation in a tough market, as a business built on ethics and trust.

She asked to collect information, I asked how much it cost. She asked how many employees, I replied under 10. She said that it would cost $395-$695, and she could take the application. I asked if they have the information on-line to check it, she indicated BBB.org. I asked is she out of Chicago, she said yes, and her name is Shelly Bay.

I went online and googled for "Better Business Bureau", and Chicago. I found the information about the accreditation, got the local number, and called in where I got the automatic voice response, and directory listing by name. I entered her last name letters, and found it out in the directory.


The surprise to me is that my business is fairly new, and had not received income yet for the consulting services to the one customer I had so far.

The BBB invites potentially eligible businesses to consider BBB Accreditation. We accomplish this thru phone calls.
If you are interested in further information re the BBB and the benefits of BBB Accreditation, call us at 312.245.2560

Some woman named Cheli Bay at the BBB in Chicago. She left a reference number and asked that I call her back.

I called back and asked her what she wanted, and she had no clue who I was and wanted the reference number.

Clearly this was some kind of telemarketing of the BBB trying to get me to signup for membership.

I hung up on her.

The call I got "she blocked the call" said she was from the Better Business Bureau and trying to get me to sign up my business.