Republic business loses BBB accreditation after complaints

The Better Business Bureau has revoked its accreditation of a Republic business, Midwest Exterior Products LLC, after violations of BBB’s accreditation agreement.

BBB’s Executive Committee took the action in February upon recommendation from its Standards and Compliance Committee. BBB Accredited Businesses are required to:

h Respond to customer complaints and BBB inquiries;

h Make a good faith effort to resolve complaints;

h Honor arbitration decisions;

h Advertise honestly.

Failure to meet these guidelines is considered “prejudicial to the best interests of BBB and private enterprise.”

According to a news release, BBB contacted the Republic siding contractor on “numerous” occasions between September 2023 and January 2024 regarding a customer complaint. The customer alleged failure to start a project and failure to provide a refund. BBB asked Midwest Exterior Products for its resignation as a BBB Accredited Business, but the company did not provide it.

Midwest Exterior Products does not have a BBB rating, and the BBB says Midwest Exterior Products is believed to be out of business. Mail sent to the business in February was returned by the U.S. Postal Service, according to its online BBB profile.

One complainant commented on the business’ online BBB profile in September that they gave Midwest Exterior Products more than $26,000 for materials and labor over two payments. The commenter said the contractor never showed up again after delivering materials, and the place of business was shuttered and empty when they went over for a visit.

“The company and I have not come to any type of resolution nor have I been in contact with the business,” the commenter wrote on Jan. 18, 2024.

The News-Leader was not immediately able to reach a representative from Midwest Exterior Products for comment. BBB lists the business owner as Greg Brown and the business manager as Tara Brown.