For the last 83 years, the Better Business Bureau has investigated complaints against businesses lodged by consumers who were angry at being ripped off. But most of that information wasn’t available to the public.

Not any more.

The BBB’s Web site, www.bosbbb.org, was updated in May to make information it compiles on complaints available to the public. It also offers other services, all geared to helping consumers make smart choices.

“We’re not just a complaint agency,” said Paula Charest, director of communications for the Boston-based bureau. She estimated about 10 percent of the staff time is taken up with complaints. But the advent of some sophisticated software helped the organization tie together its many data bases and present them on its Web site.

“We’ve been able to move in this direction because technology has allowed us to,” said Charest.

Most of the focus of the bureau these days is getting information to consumers, preferably before they make a purchase or sign a contract. The BBB makes its reliability reports – the summaries of a company’s service history – available online. When a site visitor types in a business name, any information the BBB has compiled on it, including complaints and how they were resolved, is available. The search also reveals basic information about the company.

The bureau compiles the information on any business, regardless of whether it is one of its 275,000 worldwide members. Here in Maine, 1,270 businesses belong to the organization, which promotes public service and ethics within the business community.

The site also allows visitors to research typical costs for proposals or contracts by geographic region. If a visitor wanted to know a ballpark cost for paving a 40-foot driveway in Maine, the site will provide one. And it can even act as a middle man between the consumer and prospective contractor.

“If you were looking for a roofer, you could type in the criteria for the job, which would generate an e-mail that would go to members of our database,” said Charest. “Any interested member could send a quote back to you.”

The site also offers a primer of protection tips and guidelines on more than 200 topics, from car repairs to vacation planning. A click on the dry cleaning link, for example, brings up a screen full of information: the types of chemicals used and their effectiveness with certain stains, the life expectancy of various garments, what to do if you have a dispute with a dry cleaner, etc. The link to beauty pageants addresses scams within that industry and offers a list of nine questions to ask before submitting a pageant sponsorship fee.

Reports on charities are available, as are special reports, such as one on guarding against identity theft.

And the BBB still provides the service for which it is most well known: investigating complaints. If a complaint is filed with the BBB against a member business, the business has 25 days to respond; if it’s a non-member, it has 45 days. If there’s no response, the BBB can mediate and then make referrals if necessary to attorney generals’ offices or the courts.

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