Accreditation Standards for Trust

Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan Dallas, Inc.

Application as a BBB Accredited Business is by invitation only and is subject to approval or disapproval by the Business Standards Committee of the BBB Board of Directors. Any applicant receiving a majority vote shall be elected as a BBB Accredited Business and shall, upon payment of the Accredited Business dues, become an Accredited Business subject to the BBB Standards of Trust applicable to all BBB Accredited Businesses. To qualify and maintain status as a BBB Accredited Business, an Accredited Business must:

  1. Be in business in the BBB’s service area for not less than twelve months, or such longer period of time as necessary to evaluate an applicant’s record, unless:
    • the principals previously operated a firm with a satisfactory record in this or another BBB’s service area; or,
    • this firm is a branch of an existing BBB Accredited Business or company that has met these standards; or
    • the business has signed a Pledge to Arbitrate agreement and/or an Alternative Dispute Resolution Pre-commitment with the BBB and is not engaged in a type of business that historically generates unresolved complaints or patterns of complaints.
    • In addition, participants in the BBB Trustmark Program must be in business for at least twelve months, unless the principals previously operated a firm with a satisfactory record in this or another BBB’s service area; or the firm is a branch of an existing BBB Accredited Business or company that has met these standards. For unresolved complaints, the business agrees to binding arbitration under BBB Rules of Arbitration.
  2. Sign a BBB Accredited Business application and pay the appropriate dues and fees as set by the BBB.
  3. Supply background information about the business, its principals or other information deemed essential to the BBB’s responsibility to provide inquirers with factual reports that bear on the reliability of the business.
  4. Fulfill all licensing and bonding requirements of applicable city, county, state and federal agencies and authorities, provide license numbers upon application as a BBB Accredited Business, and provide periodic updates upon request of the BBB.
  5. Promptly respond to any and all complaints forwarded by the BBB, and make good faith efforts to resolve all such complaints in accordance with generally accepted good business practices.
  6. Comply with any decisions rendered through the BBB arbitration programs in which the business agrees to participate.
  7. Cooperate with the BBB in efforts to eliminate the underlying causes of patterns of customer complaints that the BBB may bring to the company’s attention.
  8. Adhere to established BBB standards of advertising and selling, including the Code of Online Business Practices for businesses that apply for the BBBOnLine seal, and cooperate with the BBB in matters relating thereto.
  9. Be free from an unsatisfactory report at the BBB in whose service area the business is headquartered, as well as any governmental action concerning the marketplace and its customers that demonstrates a significant failure of the business to support the principles and purposes of the BBB.
  10. Refrain from using the name or seal of the BBB for commercial, sales, or advertising purposes in any manner not specifically authorized in writing by the BBB.
  11. Support the principles and purposes of the BBB and not engage in any activity that reflects unfavorably on the BBB and its Accredited Businesses.
  12. Cooperate with the BBB’s activities and efforts to promote voluntary self-regulation within the industry of the business.

Suspension or Expulsion of BBB Accredited Businesses

Any Accredited Business may be revoked by a majority vote of the Business Standards Committee of the BBB Board of Directors if the business fails to comply with the Standards for Trust or if the business conduct or practices of the business are determined to be contrary to the purposes of the BBB or prejudicial to the best interest of the BBB or the public. An Accredited Business may be suspended by the President for any reason deemed sufficient for Accredited Business revocation, provided that action by the Business Standards Committee is taken within 30 days of said suspension. The committee may suspend or expel any Accredited Business in accordance with procedures, rules, and regulations proclaimed by the Board of Directors.

If the committee determines that further action is necessary to enforce among the Accredited Businesses compliance with the purpose of the BBB, or desires that further protection or enforcement of the rights of Accredited Businesses is required to prevent or eliminate activity which is contrary to those purposes, it shall authorize the President to initiate and to cooperate in the prosecution of any and all criminal or civil actions to the extent allowed by law.