Dallas, TX, October 12, 2011 -- The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving Dallas and Northeast Texas was honored with six awards for outstanding operations and BBB Accredited Business development on October 3, 2011, at the 41st International Assembly of BBBs in Seattle, WA.
The awards recognize outstanding work by the BBB in Dallas in local advertising review promoting truth in advertising, investigations, special projects, and in BBB Accreditation of qualifying businesses. BBB Accredited Businesses must meet BBB standards and dues support the accreditation process as well as BBB services. BBB accreditation is revoked for BBB Accredited Businesses that do not continue to meet BBB standards.
The Outstanding BBB Awards recognize innovation and celebrate great ideas to help BBBs address challenges and work for continuous improvement. BBBs submit award entries outlining programs or projects and the results. A committee of BBB professionals selects the winners.
“The BBB in Dallas works to provide a marketplace built upon trust for the benefit of both consumers and businesses,” said Jay Newman, President and CEO of the BBB serving Dallas and Northeast Texas. “We look for businesses that uphold the BBB’s high standards to help consumers find businesses with good records to trust.”
The BBB in Dallas was recognized with these awards for operations:
Outstanding Local Advertising Review Program – BBB asks local advertisers to substantiate, modify or discontinue advertising to adhere to the BBB Code of Advertising. Most businesses comply, improving the public’s trust in local advertising. The BBB in Dallas closed 146 advertising review cases in 2010 and 102 cases to date in 2011. Submitted by David Beasley, Director of Trade Practice Investigations, and Phylissia Landix, Director of Advertising Review.
Outstanding Single Advertising Review Case – Following customer complaints alleging bait and switch, BBB anonymously shopped Suzuki Cars of McKinney. A TV news report on CBS 11, Dallas, covered the investigation. BBB referred details to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and a case is pending. The dealer is no longer operating under that name. Submitted by Phylissia Landix, Director of Advertising Review.
Outstanding Investigation – Thousands of consumers asked BBB about a multi-level marketing opportunity from Narc Technologies, Dallas. The business did not substantiate to the BBB that there were buyers for data that MLM participants were gathering. Several TV news stories covered the BBB’s investigation: NBC 5, Dallas-Fort Worth; Fox 4, Dallas-Fort Worth; Fox 5, Atlanta; and Fox 11, Los Angeles. The business is no longer operating. Submitted by David Beasley, Director of Trade Practice Investigations.
Outstanding Special Project – From 2008 through 2010, debt relief businesses were the subject of 178,655 requests for BBB Business Reviews and 2,417 complaints to the BBB in Dallas. Beginning in December, 2010, the BBB requested data and reviewed details of 90 debt relief businesses in the Dallas area for compliance with BBB standards and new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Telemarketing Sales Rule provisions on debt relief businesses. BBB reviewed the data and in some cases requested additional information or met with businesses, then updated BBB Business Reviews with the findings. Submitted by Chris Burgess, VP, Chief Compliance Officer.
The BBB in Dallas received these awards for BBB Accreditation development:
Highest BBB Accreditation Development by a BBB – To recruit BBB Accredited Businesses, the BBB contacts businesses to tell about the BBB’s mission and services and offer the opportunity to apply for BBB accreditation. BBB Accredited Businesses are screened, approved, and monitored, and dues cover the costs of the accreditation process and make BBB services possible. The BBB’s Business Services team is led by Herb Pratt, Sr. VP of Marketing and Accreditation, and Jeremiah McClure, Inside Performance and Development Manager.
Highest BBB Accreditation Development by an Individual – Travis Boedicker, District Manager.
BBBs are local, independent non-profit organizations working for trust in the marketplace that are supported by businesses with good records. Services include BBB Business Reviews with information to help consumers check out businesses; lists of BBB Accredited Businesses; alerts and tips for consumers and businesses; customer complaint processing; and advertising review to promote truth in advertising. BBB services are free to the public, and are available for both BBB Accredited Businesses and non-accredited businesses alike.
The BBB Standards for Trust recognize good business practices for businesses in general and for BBB Accredited Businesses specifically:
- Build Trust
- Advertise Honestly
- Tell the Truth
- Be Transparent
- Honor Promises
- Be Responsive
- Safeguard Privacy
- Embody Integrity
In 2010, the BBB in Dallas provided 5,070,186 instances of service, including 2,386,995 web page visits, 1,955,713 requests for BBB Business Reviews, 35,272 complaints filed, and more.
To learn more, start at www.bbb.org.
