Home

BBB's Beginnings

Originally called “Vigilance Committees” or Advertising Clubs, the first BBBs were established in the early 1900s. Their goal was to correct advertising abuses. In response to marketplace demands, BBBs quickly expanded to monitor business performance and provide consumers with vital information to avoid the pitfalls in the marketplace.

Today’s BBBs are committed to the belief that the majority of marketplace problems can be corrected through voluntary self-regulation. We champion the cause of consumers and hold businesses accountable to the highest standards of honesty in their advertising and selling.

There are 128 BBBs in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico that directly help nearly 20 million consumers and businesses each year. True to their faith in the virtues of the private sector, we are nonprofit organizations that are financed almost exclusively by accredited business dues—dues paid for by businesses and professional firms in local communities.

American government and business leaders from the past to the present day have proudly acknowledged that BBB has rightly "earned the confidence and gratitude of the American public."

BBB Accredited Business

BBB Accredited Businesses are businesses and firms which meet tough accreditation standards, agree to follow the highest principles of business ethics and voluntary self-regulation, and have accepted an invitation from us to join.

BBB Accredited Businesses are subject to the same scrutiny we give all businesses. Staunchly neutral, we provide reports on a business' general background and consumer complaint history, if any. These reports cover accredited and non-accredited  businesses alike.

As a rule, a BBB Accredited Business report will contain:

• General Background: Information about the length of time a business has been in business and known to the BBB;
• Complaint History: A summary of the business' complaint history and other experience in the marketplace; and/or
• Pertinent Information: Information developed through special BBB investigations and relevant government actions.

BBBs also report a business' accreditation status in the BBB or participation in BBB programs.


Complaint Handling

Usual Steps To Follow

1. Consumers should first contact the business and attempt to resolve the complaint. If there is no satisfactory resolution, consumers can submit the complaint to us or file it electronically using our online complaint form;
2. We present the complaint to the business involved. Because the majority of businesses seriously consider customer satisfaction to be good business, complaints are generally resolved in short order and the matter is closed;
3. Despite extensive efforts, some complaints cannot be resolved through initial contacts with a business. In such cases, we may offer a dispute settlement process such as mediation or arbitration.

In some situations, we may be unable to obtain cooperation from a business. A pattern of unanswered or unresolved complaints becomes a part of that business' BBB record and is reported to any persons who ask about that business. An unsatisfactory report will lead to termination of a business' accreditation status if applicable. In extreme cases, we may refer the file on a business to a law enforcement agency to determine if legal action is warranted.

Dispute Resolution

BBBs help to resolve buyer/seller disputes with businesses by means of conciliation, mediation, and arbitration, as appropriate.
We may offer the following dispute resolution options:

Conciliation: We help the customer and business communicate so they can resolve their dispute informally;

Mediation: A professionally-trained mediator meets with the parties and guides them in working out their own mutually-agreeable solutions; or

Arbitration: The parties state their views at an arbitration hearing, offer evidence, and let an impartial third party from our pool of certified arbitrators make the decision that will end the dispute.

Many businesses sign pre-commitment pledges with us to arbitrate disputes. These pledges offer interested businesses the opportunity to commit in advance to resolve any disputes not settled through conciliation. We draw upon the experience of over 2,000 BBB-trained arbitrators, mediators, and staff to resolve buyer/seller disputes.

Authority

Although we greatly help consumers and businesses through information and business self-regulation, we are not a government agency, nor do we have law enforcement powers.

• We cannot force a business to do what the customer wants, although most businesses work with us to ensure customer satisfaction;
• We do not have legal authority, although we can inform you of applicable laws and refer you to legal assistance;
• We cannot help either party involved in a dispute break a legal contract; however, we will attempt to assist if misrepresentation or fraud is involved;
• We do not make recommendations or endorsements, but can provide you with a list of BBB Accredited Businesses that have pledged to follow BBB standards;
• We do not appraise items or pass judgment on the price charged for merchandise, the operating efficiency of devices, or the length of time merchandise should last; however, we can process complaints regarding misrepresentation in these areas.

How BBBs Help You

As a private, non-profit organization, our purpose is to promote an ethical marketplace. We do so by providing the following information and services to consumers and businesses:

• Business Reports: Information on a business’ performance in the marketplace, which can alert you to a history of unanswered or unresolved complaints, law enforcement actions, and advertising violations;
• Charity Reports: Information on charities and other soliciting nonprofits that seek public donations;
• Dispute Resolution: Help in resolving a complaint against a business, using conciliation, mediation and arbitration services when appropriate;
• Consumer Information Clearinghouse: Brochures, books, public library videos, and Internet advisories on many important topics to assist consumers and businesses in making wise purchasing decisions;
• Business Ethics Promotion: Promoting truthful, accurate advertising and selling practices, both online and off-line, by monitoring advertising and seeking appropriate corrections;
• Fighting Fraud: Alerting consumers and law enforcement agencies about current marketplace scams and frauds.