Even though The Expired Meter is generally about Chicago parking tickets, there is no subject that generates more heated response than the private booting that goes on in parking lots around the city by Global Parking Management.

Seeing a flurry of comments on some of the other posts regarding Global Parking Mgt., I thought I would check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see what kind of a reputation they have with this well established organization.

The results are not pretty.

According to the Chicago BBB website, Global Parking Management is given an UNSATISFACTORY rating based on 68 complaints in the past three years.

This unsatisfactory rating is based on a failure to respond to one or more complaints and or two or more otherwise unresolved complaints.

According to the BBB website:

BBB processed a total of 68 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period. Of the total of 68 complaints closed in 36 months, 29 were closed in the last year.

These complaints concerned :
29		regarding Billing or Collection Issues BBB Definition: Billing  or  Collection  Issues – Claim alleging billing errors, unauthorized charges, or questionable collection practices.
	Resolved BBB Definition: Resolved – The company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved the complaint issues. the complaint issues. 1 - Company offered a partial (less than 100%) settlement which the consumer accepted. 3 - Company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved the complaint issues. the complaint issues. the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB. 11 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB. Administratively Closed BBB Definition: Administratively  Closed – BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution 5 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer. 1 - BBB determined the company provided proper verification that indicated there was no obligation to resolve the issues of the complaint. No Response BBB Definition: No  Response – The company failed to respond to the complaint. 8 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
6		regarding Sales Practice Issues BBB Definition: Sales  Practice  Issues – Claims of alleged sales presentations made in person or by telephone that contain misrepresentations of the product or service, high pressure sales practices, failure to disclose key conditions of the offer, and verbal representations not consistent with written contractual terms or agreements.
	Resolved BBB Definition: Resolved – The company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved the complaint issues. the complaint issues. 4 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB. Unresolved BBB Definition: Unresolved – The company failed to resolve the complaint issues. 1 - Company failed to resolve the complaint issues through the BBB voluntary and self-regulatory process. No Response BBB Definition: No  Response – The company failed to respond to the complaint. 1 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
12		regarding Service Issues BBB Definition: Service  Issues – Claims of alleged delay in completing service, failure to provide promised service, inferior quality of provided service, or damaged merchandise as a result of delivery service.
	Resolved BBB Definition: Resolved – The company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved the complaint issues. the complaint issues. 3 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB. Administratively Closed BBB Definition: Administratively  Closed – BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution 5 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer. No Response BBB Definition: No  Response – The company failed to respond to the complaint. 4 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
11		regarding Customer Service Issues BBB Definition: Service  Issues – Claims of alleged delay in completing service, failure to provide promised service, inferior quality of provided service, or damaged merchandise as a result of delivery service. BBB Definition: Customer  Service  Issues – Claims alleging unsatisfactory customer service, including personnel’s failure to provide assistance in a timely manner, failure to address or respond to customer dissatisfaction, unavailability for customer support, and/or inappropriate behavior or attitude exhibited by company staff.
	Resolved BBB Definition: Resolved – The company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved the complaint issues. the complaint issues. 1 - Company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved the complaint issues. the complaint issues. the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB. 5 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB. No Response BBB Definition: No  Response – The company failed to respond to the complaint. 5 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
8		regarding Refund or Exchange Issues BBB Definition: Refund  or  Exchange  Issues – Claim of alleged failure to honor company policy or verbal commitment to provide refunds, exchanges, or credit for products or services.
	Resolved BBB Definition: Resolved – The company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved the complaint issues. the complaint issues. 1 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB. Unresolved BBB Definition: Unresolved – The company failed to resolve the complaint issues. 1 - Company failed to resolve the complaint issues through the BBB voluntary and self-regulatory process. Administratively Closed BBB Definition: Administratively  Closed – BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution 2 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer. No Response BBB Definition: No  Response – The company failed to respond to the complaint. 4 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
2		regarding Issue Not Defined
	Resolved BBB Definition: Resolved – The company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved the complaint issues. the complaint issues. 1 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB. No Response BBB Definition: No  Response – The company failed to respond to the complaint. 1 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
These complaints were closed as:
30		Resolved BBB Definition: Resolved – The company resolved the complaint issues.
	1 - Company offered a partial (less than 100%) settlement which the consumer accepted. 4 - Company resolved BBB Definition: resolved – The company resolved the complaint issues. the complaint issues. The consumer acknowledged acceptance to the BBB. 25 - Company addressed the complaint issues. The consumer failed to acknowledge acceptance to the BBB.
13		Administratively Closed BBB Definition: Administratively  Closed – BBB determined that the complaint could not be satisfactorily settled using standard methods of voluntary dispute resolution
	12 - BBB determined the company made a reasonable offer to resolve the issues, but the consumer did not accept the offer. 1 - BBB determined the company provided proper verification that indicated there was no obligation to resolve the issues of the complaint.
23		No Response BBB Definition: No  Response – The company failed to respond to the complaint.
	23 - Company failed to respond to the BBB to resolve or address the complaint issues.
2		Unresolved BBB Definition: Unresolved – The company failed to resolve the complaint issues.

To be fair, a business like Global Parking Management’s, just by it’s very nature, is going to be prone to more complaints than the normal business. Because remember, as uncool, unethical and unjust as this company is, they are, in general are not breaking the law.

They post a lot of signs and only swoop in and boot your car if don’t follow the posted rules. I’m absolutely sure there are exceptions, possibly many exceptions to this.

Again, I’m not a fan of what Global Parking does. I’m assuming all the money they make, makes it easier to sleep at night. I know I couldn’t do it.

But if they are following the law…caveat emptor.

The Geek always recommends to NEVER park in a Global Parking Mgt. parking lot. NEVER!

It’s not worth the hassle even if you are only patronizing the store which owns the lot in question.

In fact, I refuse to patronize stores that use Global Parking’s services. These businesses don’t deserve your cash.

Multiple attempts to contact Global Parking Management management or staff by e-mail were not responded to.