Elections

Better Business Bureau Issues Corrections On Trump University Stories

(REUTERS/Chris Keane)

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Steve Birr Vice Reporter
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The Better Business Bureau responded to a slew of what it deemed misinformation Tuesday, clarifying that Trump University only received an A+ rating from the group after complaints dropped as the business drew down operations.

The BBB said in a statement that it did not provide any documents or comment to Fox News moderators for Thursday night’s debate. In the debate Megyn Kelly challenged Donald Trump on his previous claims that Trump University, a program which offered courses on real estate and investing, had an A rating with the BBB. Kelly said records showed Trump University had a D- ranking from the BBB, drastically contradicting Trump’s claim, reports Business Insider.

“We are issuing a further statement today, in response to a number of inaccurate reports that continue to be repeated,” read the press release from the BBB. “Trump University does not currently have an A rating with BBB. The BBB Business Review for this company has continually been ‘No Rating’ since September 2015.  Prior to that, it fluctuated between D- and A+.”

The controversy ignited by Thursday’s Republican debate is putting Trump on the defensive. The Republican front runner released a video Monday defending Trump University against the ongoing lawsuits and critical reports in the press.

“There’s been so much talk by dishonest people about Trump University or Trump Entrepreneur Initiative, and I thought I should set the record straight,” Trump says in the video. “Recently at the Fox debate they said it had a D- rating from the Better Business Bureau. I said, ‘That’s not true – it had an A.’ Well, I turned out to be right.”

The BBB explained that the fluctuation between D- and A+ were due to a drop in complaints following 2013, when Trump University stopped being an active organization. While Trump University was “active in the marketplace” and had a lot of customers there were a significant number of complaints leading to a D- ranking, however after 2013 when enrollment dropped significantly, complaints fell and led to an adjusted A+ ranking.

“As the company appeared to be winding down, after 2013, no new complaints were reported,” says the BBB press release. “Complaints over three years old automatically rolled off of the Business Review, according to BBB policy. As a result, over time, Trump University’s BBB rating went to an A in July 2014 and then to an A+ in January 2015.”

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