Re: Is there and electronic resources "Better Business Bureau"? Dan Lester 28 Feb 2007 23:28 UTC

Gee, sounds like a reference question for a reference librarian.

Without doing research on it, most states have several agencies concerned with improper/illegal business practices.  Typically the Attorney General's Office is a place to submit them.  If it is a business that is licensed in the state, whatever agency licenses them, such as the Secretary of State perhaps, will be interested.  On the federal level, the Federal Trade Commission is a place to start.

A quick google of "unfair business practices texas" turned up

http://www.masseyfirm.com/PracticeAreas/Unfair-or-Deceptive.asp  which is a private firm, but could certainly point you in the right direction.  They're "just down the road" (in TX or ID terms anyway) in Houston.

Also, a quick search on www.texas.gov produced

http://www.government.texasonline.state.tx.us/category.jsp?language=eng&categoryId=2.4
which includes:
Deceptive Trade Practices Act
A collection of information under Business and Commerce Code pertaining to Deceptive Trade Practices.

Good luck.  Oh, I'd imagine the University Counsel might also be interested, or could at least offer further guidance.  Or the UT Law School Library....or....

Lord, I never complain, never ask why, but please don't let my dream run dry
dan@riverofdata.com
Dan Lester, Boise, Idaho, USA

  ----- Original message ----------------------------------------
  From: "Gary Ives" <GIves@LIB-GW.TAMU.EDU>
  To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
  Received: 2/28/2007 10:51:39 AM
  Subject: [SERIALST] Is there and electronic resources "Better Business Bureau"?

  >Does anyone know of a trade organization or a state (Texas) or federal government
  >agency to which one might lodge a complaint concerning the business practices of a
  >database producer/vendor?  Just had an experience which I feel deserves such
  >reporting.

  >Best,

  >Gary Ives
  >Assistant Director of Acquisitions &
  >  Coordinator of Electronic Resources
  >Texas A&M University Libraries
  >5000 TAMU
  >College Station, TX  77843-5000
  >Phone: (979) 458-0726
  >FAX:  (979) 458-1630
  >Email:  gives@lib-gw.tamu.edu