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Better Business Bureau (BBB) Great West + Pacific is issuing a consumer alert regarding Bridge City Firm, a digital marketing and SEO service company based in Vancouver, WA, and managed by Mark Davis. The company has come under scrutiny from past clients across for alleged aggressive telemarketing practices, misleading advertising claims, and unfulfilled promises to its customers.
Bridge City Firm was accredited by BBB from May 10, 2021, to March 17, 2022, but accreditation was revoked due to the company's failure to uphold transparency and verification standards. Since then, BBB has received 9 formal complaints and 17 negative reviews from dissatisfied consumers.
Consumer complaints
Numerous consumer complaints have alleged that Bridge City Firm misrepresented its services and engaged in questionable sales practices. Key concerns include:
- Misrepresentation: Consumers report receiving calls from the company claiming to represent "Google Quality Control," with persistent calls and refusal to remove them from call lists.
- Unmet promises: Customers who purchased services were assured their business would rank within the top three Google search results and receive a specified number of leads. These promises reportedly went unfulfilled.
- Refund denials: When dissatisfied consumers requested refunds for underdelivered services, their requests were declined, further exacerbating complaints.
BBB Code of Advertising violations
On March 5, 2024, and March 12, 2024, BBB contacted Bridge City Firm regarding advertising claims on its website, requesting evidence to substantiate several potential violations of BBB’s Code of Advertising, including:
- Unsubstantiated guarantees and results: Advertisers must provide evidence to support performance claims. Statements such as “$2.1 billion in revenue generated for clients over the last 13 years” and claims such as “15+ years of Agency Expertise” and “Front Page Placement” were unsupported.
- Improper testimonials and endorsements: Affiliations and endorsements must be accurate and clearly disclosed. Banner displays suggesting affiliations with Google, Facebook, and Bing, which were unsubstantiated, as well as unverified testimonials.
Additionally, BBB inquired about the company’s association with The OMC Group, as both operate under the same business registration (Belmont Creative LLC). Bridge City Firm responded but failed to address BBB’s concerns. No clarification or further communication from Bridge City Firm regarding these concerns has been provided.
Consumer advice
Better Business Bureau advises consumers and businesses to exercise caution when hiring a professional for digital marketing or any other service and to:
- Research businesses with BBB.org and other online services before engaging.
- Review all contracts carefully before agreeing to services.
- Request written guarantees for results or refunds.
- Report unauthorized or misleading practices to the BBB and the Washington State Attorney General's Office.
Report and learn more
Consumers who believe they have been misled or overpromised by Bridge City Firm are encouraged to file complaints with the BBB at www.BBB.org.
For more information about BBB’s Code of Advertising or to learn how to protect yourself from misleading business practices, visit BBB.org/code-of-advertising.