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Is The Other Business Legitimate & Trustworthy?
The sources below can help you identify scam operations from legitimate businesses.  But even legitimate firms are not always trustworthy.  Indeed, some legitimate companies have terrible track records with the public.  

Before doing business with a firm, find out if others have been treated unfairly or have filed complaints against it.  Note that big firms are apt to receive more complaints than small firms, especially if they've been in business a long time or deal with a huge volume of customers.  

If a company has received several complaints, look into their nature as well as their number.  Then ask whether such is unusual given the organization's size and years in the business.

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Check List Of Things To Watch Out For
a. Individuals or organizations that have received an unusual number of complaints against them. (Call your local BBB and the BBB where the company is located).

b. Small companies that have been sued often for breach of contract, misrepresentation or fraud. (Call the state and superior courts in the surrounding counties).

c. Firms or individuals that have been disciplined by their  licensing boards or the government. (Contact applicable licensing agencies and your Secretary of State).

d. Firms ending in "Co.", Inc. or "Corp." that haven't registered or qualified with the Secretary of State and Business Licensing Division.  

You'll want to check both agencies before jumping to conclusions.  Mistakes do happen. For instance, the Secretary of State may sometimes forget to add the corporate listing, but such can still be found with Business Licensing Division.

e. Any business, partnership or sole proprietorship not registered with the Business Licensing Division.  All businesses, whether incorporated or unincorporated, must register in the county in which business is transacted.

f. Firms that are unlicensed or seriously late in paying incorporation fees, business license dues or other fees required by law. (Ask this information from each of the agencies above).

See Find Or Background A Business (Consumer-SOS)

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Checking Up On Firms In Metro Atlanta

1. Call (404) 688-4910
The BBB has records of complaints against businesses that go back for at least three years.  But do not assume a firm is trustworthy merely because the BBB has no record of complaints against it.  The BBB does not have records of start up outfits, businesses new to Atlanta or firms that never do business in Atlanta.  The BBB also does not keep records of complaints over three years old.  For information on non-local businesses, or established businesses new to Atlanta, call the BBB office where the firm has done business in the past. This information may be found with the Secretary of State or Business Licensing Division.

2. Call The Business Tax Division where the firm does business.              

     Each and every firm (includes out of state companies, sole proprietorships & partnerships) must have a business  license if it does business in Atlanta.  Find out where the  business is located and then check that county's Business Licensing Division.

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BELOW IS A PARTIAL LIST OF AGENCIES AND THEIR PHONE #'S

Fulton County    (404) 730-7720

City Of Atlanta  (404) 330-6213

Dekalb County   (404) 371-2461

Cobb County     (770) 528-8410

Gwinnett County (770) 822-7800

  If the Business License Division does not list the firm as licensed to do business, consider the following before assuming the worst:

a. The company may be very new and not yet in their records.

b. The firm may be legitimately doing business under another name.  If the firm is a corporation call The Secretary Of State Corporations Division  (404) 656-2817 to find out the other name and then do another search.

c. The firm may have recently moved to another county.  

d. Check all major counties before assuming something is fishy.  Not all businesses are licensed where you'd expect to find them. Fulton businesses have been licensed in Dekalb, while Dekalb businesses have been licensed in Cobb...etc.