meet tough BBB membership standarts, agree to follow

the highest principles of business ethics and voluntary

self-regulation, and have a proven record of marketplace

honesty and integrity .

 

Staunchly Neutral
Today's BBBs are committed to the belief that the majority

of marketplace problems can be solved through voluntary

self-regulation. They understand the perspective of both

consumers and businesses.

 

To be a member of the Better Business Bureau, an applicant

must, at a minimum:

  

Area Ties
Be in business in the Bureau's service area for not less
than six months, or such longer period of time as
necessary to evaluate an applicant's record, unless: 
  *  The principals previously operated a firm with a 
      satisfactory record in this or another Bureau's service 
      area, or 

 *  The firm is a branch of an existing member or 
     company which has met these standards, or

 *  The company has signed a Pledge to Arbitrate agreement 
     and/or an ADR precommitment program with the Bureau and is 
     not engaged in a type of business that historically 
     generates unresolved complaints or patterns of complaints.
  
Membership Dues
Sign the Membership Application and pay the appropriate dues
and fees as set by the BBB.
 
Background Info
Supply background information about the company, its
principals and/or other information deemed essential to the
Bureau's responsibility to provide inquiriers with factual
reports which bear on the reliability of the business.
 
Licensing
Fulfill all licensing and bonding requirements by applicable
 city, county, state and federal agencies and authorities,
provide license numbers upon application for BBB membership
and provide periodic updates on request of the local BBB..
 
Customer Service
Promptly respond to any and all complaints forwarded by the
Bureau, and make a good faith effort to resolve all such
complaints in accordance with generally accepted good business
practices.
 
Headquarters Record
Be free from an unsatisfactory report at the BBB in whose
service area the company is headquartered.
 
Arbitration
Comply with any decisions rendered through Bureau arbitration
programs in which the firm agrees to participate.
 
Complaint Prevention
Cooperate with the Bureau in efforts to eliminate the underlying
cause of patterns of customer complaints which the Bureau may call
to the company's attention.
 
Self-regulation
Cooperate with the Bureau's activities and efforts to promote
voluntary self-regulation within the business's industry.
 
Policy Adherence
Adhere to established Better Business Bureau standards of

advertising and selling, and cooperate with the Bureau in matters

relating thereto.
 
Non-actionability
Be free from any governmental action concerning the marketplace

and its customers that demonstrates a significant failure of the

company to support the principles and purposes of the Better

Business Bureau. A membership must be suspended by the BBB's

board when an action is filed if the allegations suggest such a failure.
  

BBB Logo Integrity
Refrain from using the name or logo of the Better Business Bureau

for commercial, sales or advertising purposes in any manner not

specifically authorized in writing by the BBB.
 

Probity
Support the principles and purposes of the Better Business Bureau

and not engage in activity that reflects adversely on the Bureau or its

members.