Being Reported To The BBB
My question involves business law in the state of: Florida
I am 20 years old and for about a year now I have been doing freelance computer work. I have been getting all my business from Craigslist.com. I have had over 30+ customers all happy with my services. Now I have one elderly man trying to report me to the BBB because he is stating that I broke his neighbors computer after I did a simple wireless adapter installation. I was waiting for a call from them saying this to me, but instead now 3 weeks later, he emails me saying all of this. Tomorrow, Monday, he will be reporting me to the BBB. Now here is the thing, I don't actually have a "business" no LLC, no corporation, just a 20 year old doing computer work for people. What is actually going to happen if he does report me? What else can he do to me? I know I need to get an LLC or be incorporated, but I just started this and don't have the money to do that at the time. Any advice would be great, thank you.
Re: Not Actually A Business Being Reported To BBB
The Better Business Bureau is nothing but a lobbying group.
Re: Not Actually A Business Being Reported To BBB
The BBB takes reports on member organizations. You're not a member.
Re: Being Reported To The BBB
Thank you for the replies. Is there anything else he can do to me? As in report me to the IRS for not actually having a business?
Re: Being Reported To The BBB
He can report you to anybody he wants. Whether or not they are interested in what he has to say? That's not something I can guess at.
Re: Being Reported To The BBB
The answers you received about reporting you to the BBB or the IRS, I am in agreement with. However, the chances of the IRS investigating you, is very unlikely, especially during this time of the year.
Have you tried contacting the actual customer to see if they actually have an issue with the work you performed? If not, I would give a courtesy call to inquire about the satisfaction of your work and if they are not satisfied and you agree with their claim, offer an acceptable resolution. This will close the matter.
As for forming a LLC for yourself, it is not as costly as you may think. In the state of Florida, the filing fee is $125, and if you can not complete the necessary documents yourself, a Paralegal is qualified to do so in your state. The cost of the Paralegal will be approximately, $50 - $100, to complete the paperwork for you. If you complete the paperwork yourself and have the Paralegal review them before they are submitted, the cost will be less.
Best wishes.
Re: Being Reported To The BBB
I would like to call the people back regarding the issue, but they will just turn it into a shouting match. I have been emailing the man very politely and he just cusses me out and won't have a word of what I have to say. They are on the lower end of the economic ladder I guess you could say...