What Is the Better Business Bureau?
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private nonprofit organization that was formed in 1912. Their mission statement is to advance marketplace trust. Their members are 97 independently incorporated businesses throughout the United States. They help consumers avoid scams and avoid doing business with dishonest businesses. To find out more, visit their website.
Accreditation
To get Better Business Bureau accreditation, businesses must adhere to several requirements. These requirements include transparency, acting with integrity, and doing what is reasonable and expected. In addition, they must be in business for at least six months and must adhere to government regulations and laws on advertising. Accredited businesses also must honor their contracts and resolve disputes with customers promptly.
To apply for Better Business Bureau accreditation, a business must operate in the BBB service area for at least 12 months and meet all licensing and bonding requirements. Additionally, they must meet certain standards and provide periodic updates. They must also have no unresolved complaints and maintain a B rating.
Membership dues
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) receives operating funds from dues paid by businesses and professional groups in its service area. In exchange for membership dues, companies receive a variety of benefits. Among these are membership identification on their place of business and access to BBB publications and programs. Additionally, members have the opportunity to participate in training programs on customer service, arbitration, and mediation. In addition, they can join a network of other BBB members.
A membership in the Better Business Bureau can be costly, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. However, the benefits far outweigh the price. BBB members receive priority in dispute resolutions. In addition, membership dues help support a wide range of services provided by the organization.
Complaints
Consumers can file complaints with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to resolve problems. They must be in writing and a complaint must meet certain criteria to qualify for evaluation. The complaints do not have to be monetary in nature, but they must allege a deficiency in a company’s performance. Additionally, a complaint must not be currently involved in litigation or have been resolved in a previous legal dispute. In addition, complaints against government agencies are not considered.
Better business bureau complaints can also be made about deceptive advertising, such as misrepresenting the nature of the goods or geographic origin. A common example of this is telemarketing fraud, which deceptively lures people with promises of prizes and sweepstakes or advance fee loans. Other types of deceptive advertising include magazines and travel offers.
Criteria for rating businesses
The Better Business Bureau’s rating system ranks businesses based on how well they treat their customers and how they respond to complaints. Each of these factors is weighted differently, with some factors being more important than others. These factors include the number of complaints a business has received, the amount of time it has been in business, and the number of positive and negative customer reviews. The BBB also keeps track of complaints, government actions, and license violations against companies.
The BBB also requires that businesses operate ethically and not engage in practices that negatively reflect on the organization. To receive an accreditation from the BBB, a business must be in business for at least six months and comply with all of the organization’s policies. Additionally, businesses must be fully transparent about their operational policies and procedures.