BBB Consumers report less than superior experience with area UTV company

Better Business Bureau serving Central East Texas (BBB) is issuing an alert about a Tyler-based utility terrain vehicle company. Since September, BBB has received 29 unaddressed complaints from consumers in 19 states (Alabama, Arizona, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota. Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington). Consumers report receiving damaged products or receiving no product at all. Consumers also claim not to receive a response when attempts to contact the company are made.

To date, complaint values total more than $18,000.

Superior UTV, owned by Mr. Jeremy Bratcher, is an online company which sells UTV parts and accessories. The company also claims affiliation with another UTV company named Cherokee Forge, also located in Tyler. Both companies appear to be physically located on an empty lot.

Superior UTV currently has an ‘F’ rating, which is the lowest rating on BBB’s scale.

“As many of us have increased our online shopping habits during the pandemic,” Mechele Agbayani Mills, president and CEO of BBB Serving Central East Texas said, “It’s more important than ever to research companies before providing payment information.”

BBB offers the following tips for consumers shopping online:

- Do your homework. In addition to checking with friends, family and neighbors for recommendations, and

make sure you go to bbb.org to check out a company’s track record which includes verified customer

reviews and history of complaints.

- Check a site’s security settings. If the site is secure, its URL (web address) should start with https://

and include a lock icon on the purchase or shopping cart page.

- Shop savvy. When shopping online, take your time and read the fine print before submitting your order.

- Look for a return policy; although many online orders can be returned for a full refund, some may have

restocking fees. Know before you buy.

- Protect personal information. Read a site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is

being requested and how it will be used. If a site doesn’t have a privacy policy, you have no way of

knowing what they will do with your personal information.

- Shop with a credit card or use PayPal. In case of a fraudulent transaction, a credit card or PayPal

provide additional protections and allows you to dispute any unauthorized charges. Debit cards, prepaid

cards or gift cards don’t have the same protections as a credit card.

- Keep documentation of your order. Save a copy of the confirmation page or email confirmation until

you receive the item and are satisfied.

- Keep a clean computer. Being on unfamiliar sites can lead to malware or viruses being downloaded on

to your computer. Make sure you have the most up to date firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software.

Check for and install the latest updates and run virus scans regularly on your computer, tablet and smart

phone.

For more tips on how to be a savvy consumer, go to bbb.org. To report fraudulent activity or unscrupulous

business practices, call the BBB at 903-581-5704 or report it via BBB ScamTracker.

BBB serving Central East Texas fosters a trustworthy marketplace by maintaining standards for truthful

advertising and by investigating and exposing fraud against consumers and businesses. Please go to

bbb.org or call 903-581-5704 24 hours a day for information on businesses throughout North America. To

report a fraud or scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker.