BBB releases local annual report for 2022

Better Business Bureau of Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina released its 2022 annual report on February 9, detailing consumer activity related to businesses located in the BBB’s 37-county service area. This report includes statistics on consumer complaints, verified customer reviews and the top five scams.

Consumer Complaints:

In 2022, consumers filed a record 24,000+ complaints against area businesses, showing a 6.5% increase from 2021. “Over the last year we’ve worked to make the consumer experience when filing a complaint seamless. We’ve updated our forms and made it very easy for consumers to differentiate between whether they’re looking to file a complaint or leave a review,” said BBB of Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina President, Tom Bartholomy. In spite of the large number of complaints filed, the BBB was still able to resolve 93% of all complaints submitted. Verified Customer Reviews: Additionally in 2022, customers submitted more than 21,000 verified reviews about businesses, showing an 11% increase from 2021. “Customer reviews continue to be on the rise,” said Bartholomy. “Potential customers always want to know what third parties say about a business they're considering working with, and the BBB is a great resource for that. We also know how valuable these reviews are and continue to encourage businesses to ask their customers to leave them reviews on BBB.org.”

The Top 5 Scams reported to the BBB in 2022 were:

• Online Purchase/ Counterfeit Products

• Employment

• Phishing/Imposter Scams

• Tech Support

• Advance Fee Loan

Consumers can visit www.bbb.org to check out a business, file a complaint or leave a review.

Narcotics Investigators with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office received information from the community that drugs were being sold at 130 and 132 Hatcher Road in Shelby. Investigators were able to corroborate this information and opened an active investigation into those illegal activities.

Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Investigators applied for, received, and executed a search at both residences on Hatcher Road on February 16. During the searches investigators located methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

These suspects were transported to the Cleveland County Detention Center and temporarily have a new residential address at 100 Justice Place.

Kyle Franklin Goodman, 37, 130 Hatcher Road, Shelby, was arrested on two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and two counts of Sell & Deliver Methamphetamine. A secured bond was set at $20,000.

Christina Marie Radford, 34, 130 Hatcher Road, Shelby, was arrested on one count of Conspire to Sell Methamphetamine, with no bond.

The Sheriff’s Office will continue to make drug investigations a high priority.

Sheriff Alan Norman said, “Statistics have shown for years that drug use leads to other crimes, in particular breaking and entering and larcenies, where users have to steal to fund their habit as well as the violence associated with drug dealing is also a huge concern of mine, and those dealers who possess guns during drug transactions are a very high priority.” her body. Joshua Burton is wanted for Breaking and Entering, Felony Flee to Elude, Poss. Meth., Assault on Female, and Resisting an Officer. If you have any information regarding these individuals, contact us by clicking the button below or call the Sheriff’s Office at 704.484.4822.

The Sheriff’s Office takes complaints of drug sales very seriously, Sheriff Norman requests that anyone with information on drug dealers in their neighborhood contact the Vice/ Narcotics Division at 704484-4987.