The customer is free to pursue other alternatives such as legal action. The basic policy of the BBB is to refrain from recommending or endorsing any company, product or service. This is done to ensure continued public trust in our fairness. BBB members must meet certain standards to qualify for membership and to remain a member. Many Bureaus publish their entire membership lists, or you may request a list of Bureau members in a specific business category.
Reliability reports from most BBBs also state whether a company is a member.
Since the beginning of the BBB system, business has provided the funds so that BBBs could help consumers and business in the marketplace. Because the public demand for service has increased faster than the BBB's ability to provide it, about a dozen BBBs are testing the concept of having the public pay a small part of the cost of providing improved services. Fees for basic complaint and inquiry service are otherwise not allowed. The charge is either collected on the phone bill by means of a 900 number, or charged to a major credit card. Revenue from these charges is used to upgrade equipment, hire staff, and improve other aspects of our response system.