Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a private, non-profit organization that was founded in 1912. The BBB’s mission is to “foment an ethical marketplace” by accrediting businesses and providing dispute resolution services to consumers.
The BBB has 97 independently incorporated local organizations in the United States and Canada. Each local BBB is responsible for accrediting businesses and resolving disputes in its area.
To be accredited by the BBB, a business must meet certain standards, including:
- Having a good record of responding to customer complaints
- Having a clear and easy-to-understand refund policy
- Not being involved in any major legal or regulatory problems
The BBB also publishes customer reviews of businesses. These reviews are based on complaints that consumers have filed with the BBB, as well as positive feedback that businesses have received.
The BBB’s ratings system is a scale of A+ to F. The ratings are based on a number of factors, including the number of complaints that a business has received, how well the business has resolved those complaints, and the business’s overall business practices.
The BBB’s ratings are not a guarantee of a business’s quality, but they can be a helpful tool for consumers who are looking for businesses to trust.
Here are some of the benefits of using the BBB:
- The BBB can help you find businesses that have been accredited by the BBB. These businesses have met certain standards, which can give you peace of mind.
- The BBB publishes customer reviews of businesses. This can help you get an idea of what other customers have experienced with a particular business.
- The BBB can help you resolve disputes with businesses. If you have a problem with a business, the BBB can mediate the dispute and try to reach a fair resolution.
However, there are also some limitations to the BBB:
- The BBB’s ratings system is not perfect. There have been cases where businesses with poor ratings have been accredited by the BBB.
- The BBB’s dispute resolution services are not free. Businesses that are accredited by the BBB must pay a fee to use the BBB’s dispute resolution services.
Overall, the BBB can be a helpful resource for consumers. However, it is important to remember that the BBB is not a government agency and its ratings are not a guarantee of a business’s quality.
