BBB issues warning about produce company

Published 7:00 pm Tuesday, July 18, 2017

RALEIGH — Better Business Bureau serving eastern North Carolina is warning consumers about a produce delivery company, Backyard Produce LLC.

The business has an “F” rating with BBB and has failed to communicate with customers who have issues with the company’s products and services.

In the last six months, 20 complaints have been filed by consumers who were charged for produce they never received, and then were unable to contact the business to resolve the issue. Many of these customers have used Backyard Produce for several years and just recently started to experience a number of problems with the company.

“Backyard Produce has been charging my account $35.70 weekly for produce I have not received. To date, they have overcharged me $178.50,” said one consumer in their BBB complaint. Another consumer said, “I didn’t receive four deliveries and was charged $104 total for them. I have contacted them six times with no response.”

BBB has notified the business of these complaints via email and mail, and all have gone unanswered. Since May, all emails sent to the company have been returned undeliverable. The company’s website and Facebook page are no longer active, and telephone numbers listed with BBB are also no longer in service.

The business is registered with the N.C. Secretary of State’s office, but the address on file is outdated. The address’ property management company says Backyard Produce exited the space in 2014. A second address on file with BBB is for a private mailbox inside a packing and shipping store.

Before doing business with a company, check out BBB Business Profiles at bbb.org. BBB Business Profiles give important information including complaint history and vetted reviews from previous customers.