The accreted businesses and organizations of the Better Business BBB are a select group who support the BBB. All Better Business BBB (BBB) accredited businesses subscribe and adhere to the BBB system's approved
Accreditation Standards.
In order to maintain their accreditation, accreted businesses must adhere to the standards which demonstrate their commitment to truth in advertising, customer satisfaction, and ethical marketplace transactions.
Should any accreted businesses practices appear to be in conflict with these standards, the BBB President/CEO may exercise his duty to terminate a firm from BBB accreditation. Any firm so notified in writing of the proposed termination may request a hearing before the Accredited Business Standards Committee.
The Accredited Business Standards Committee is comprised of accreted businesses of the BBB's Board of Directors. There is no representation of BBB management or staff on the committee. The accreted businesses of the committee represent a cross-section of the BBB's business community.
Committee Duties
The Accredited Business Standards Committee reviews the actions taken by the BBB President/CEO to determine if the information supports the decision to terminate an accredited business of the BBB. It may also determine what subsequent actions, if any, should be taken.
The Committee has very broad discretion. It may exonerate a member or it may recommend that the President/CEO terminate or suspend a company's accreditation.
Decisions of this Committee are final and cannot be appealed.
Process
Upon receipt of written notice via certified mail of a violation of BBB standards, an accredited business will be afforded the opportunity to seek a hearing before the Accredited Business Standards Committee. The first notice requests a response within ten days regarding the violation. If no response is received or the response is unsatisfactory, a second notice is sent affording the company five days to request a hearing of the Accredited Business Standards Committee, in writing, to the President/CEO. Prior to the hearing, the company, members of the committee, and one BBB staff member (not the CEO), will be furnished with the specific standards that have been violated and any other supporting evidence.
It is important for the owner, principal, or officer of the company to attend the hearing. The accredited business may, however, designate another individual or attorney to speak on the company's behalf. The accreted businesses of the Accredited Business Standards Committee will not have a business or personal relationship with the company and are not to be competitors of the company in question.
At the hearing, the accredited B\business company may present any rebuttal or extenuating information which may have bearing on the decision to exonerate, suspend, or terminate its membership. During the time of the hearing, the BBB will place the company's Reliability Report under review. Any report under review is not distributed to anyone.
Once the committee chair is satisfied that all relevant information has been received, the hearing will be adjourned. The committee conducts its deliberations in private.
The Decision
Approximately ten days following the hearing, the company will be notified, in writing, of the final decision of the committee. If the committee decides the information provided by the BBB is insufficient to warrant a termination, the committee will exonerate the company. A decision to exonerate is final and not subject to appeal.
All decisions of the committee acting on behalf of the Board of Directors of the BBB, are final. Decisions to terminate accreditation in the Better Business BBB will become a matter of public record.
Summary
BBB accreditation is a privilege reserved for those businesses, organizations, or professional firms who subscribe and adhere to the high standards. The reputation and integrity of both the BBB and individual companies are always under scrutiny. It is because the BBB feels so strongly about marketplace ethics that it has adopted the above due process procedure and enforces the BBB's Standards of Accreditation.