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Application for membership in the Better Business Bureau of Central Florida, Inc. (BBB) requires the completed Standard Business Questionnaire, signed (or otherwise authorized ) Membership Application/Agreement, payment of appropriate level of membership investment in effect at the time, and is subject to approval by the Board of Directors. Any applicant receiving a majority vote shall be elected to membership and shall be a member of this corporation. To qualify and maintain membership in the BBB, an applicant must:
HAVE been actively engaged in the same business in the Bureau's service area, for a minimum of one year. This requirement may be waived at the BBB's discretion if the principals previously operated a firm with a satisfactory record in this or another BBB's service area; or the firm is a branch or affiliate of an existing member or company that has met these standards, and is not engaged in a type of business that historically generates unresolved complaints or patterns of complaints. (The BBB may at its discretion, extend the minimum time-in-business requirement to a period greater than one year if, in its opinion, such additional time is required for a proper evaluation of the applicant);
FULFILL all licensing and bonding requirements of applicable city, county, state and federal agencies or authorities, provide proof of same when requested, and license numbers upon application for membership including periodic updates within fifteen (15) days of request. Provide general information on the nature of its business and background information on the applicant's principals, or other information deemed essential to the BBB's responsibility to provide inquirers with factual reports which reflect on the reliability of the business, so the BBB may also make a determination of the applicant's eligibility for membership to present to the Board of Directors;
HAVE a good business reputation in the community and not be the subject of any adverse information in the BBB files, including any local, state, or federal governmental actions against the applicant, or its principals, or predecessor businesses, involving its business practices (past or pending), during the previous three (3) years. A member must be free of an unsatisfactory Bureau report at the BBB in whose service area the company is headquartered. A membership shall be suspended when a government action is filed if the allegation suggests a failure to support the principals and purposes of the Better Business Bureau. A suspension will result in referral to the appropriate committee of the Board for action in keeping with the by-laws.
AGREE to, pay the appropriate annual membership investment and other fees set by the BBB, promptly and properly respond to any requests for information and all customer complaints presented by the BBB, in accordance with established timelines and practices and to make any required corrections or adjustments in a timely and business like fashion.
AGREE to, for unresolved complaints, (a) binding arbitration under BBB Rules of Arbitration (Binding) if the consumer also agrees, or (b) non-binding informal dispute settlement (IDS) under the BBB Rules for IDS, or (c) pre-commitment to a dispute settlement process through a provider other than the Bureau, and which the Bureau determines substantially complies with the Bureau consumer dispute resolution criteria. Comply with any decisions rendered through the BBB, or an alternative provider's arbitration program, or make a good faith determination as to whether to adhere to any informal dispute settlement decisions. The company also agrees to cooperate with the BBB in efforts to eliminate the underlying cause of patterns of customer complaints which the BBB may call to the business's attention. Cooperate with the BBB's efforts to promote voluntary self-regulation within the business's industry.
ADHERE to, and abide by established, BBB standards of advertising and selling, including the Code of Online Business Practices, the BBB bylaws, the Fair Trade Practices Act and local, state and federal statutes. The company also agrees to cooperate with, and provide the BBB with substantiation of any challenged advertising or selling claims;
BE free from negative public image or reputation of such nature, which, in the opinion of the BBB, would reflect unfavorably on the BBB, its members or objectives, including having been the subject of bankruptcy or other insolvency proceedings under chapters 7, 11, or 13 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code within the last three (3) years;
AGREE not to use the Better Business Bureau name, logo or reports for commercial, sales or advertising purposes in any manner not specifically authorized in writing by the BBB.
SUPPORT the mission, purpose and function of the BBB and not engage in any activity that reflects adversely on the BBB or its members. Failure to maintain the Standards of Membership may result in termination of membership and all the rights associated with membership.
To protect the credibility and quality of BBB membership, our bylaws provide that if a member fails to comply with the Standards of Membership, or for any other appropriate cause, the BBB Board of Directors may revoke membership privileges. By agreeing to become a member, you understand and agree that revocation of membership will be reported by the BBB and a press release may be issued stating the facts surrounding the revocation. No refund of annual membership investment will be given by the BBB for a full or partial year of membership, if revocation has occurred. Upon revocation and/or cancellation, the company agrees to promptly return all trademark materials furnished by the BBB (such as plaques, decals, forms, etc.) which the member acknowledges are the property of the BBB.
The Better Business Bureau reserves the right, without prior notice, to change the membership standards subject to Board approval.
Revised. 6/23/05
Serving Central Florida  |