With a rise in misleading advertising practices from alleged sales lead companies, BBB created a list of tips to prevent your company from being duped. In some instances, businesses are reporting to BBB that the leads are no better than what they could get by taking names straight out of a phone directory. Better Business Bureau advises businesses that sell insurance, or provide money management and mortgage services to consider these tips before buying lead lists.
BBB offers the following tips for businesses considering buying lead lists:
- Deal only with reputable companies that provide these services. Ask for the names of satisfied customers and call or write them before signing a contract.
- Be wary of promises from salespeople that are not part of a written contract.
- Try to find out how the lead list was compiled. Did a consumer respond to an online questionnaire? Was he or she screened in a prior phone call? If you are not satisfied with the responses, it might be best to walk away from the deal.
- In many cases, you get what you pay for. Offers to provide lead lists for what seems like a very low cost may not prove productive.
- Pay by credit card in the event you may want to challenge the purchase at a future date.
- Contact the BBB for a Reliability Report by visiting www.bbb.org/.