BBB membership is not offered to every business. Only certain companies are invited to join-those committed to maintain a fair marketplace and to work fairly with customers who support their business. Because the BBB stands for integrity and honesty in business, we can't accept the support of some businesses. Members of the Better Business Bureau agree to adhere to our membership standards. These standards are no obstacle to an established, reputable company that supports our efforts to ensure integrity and honesty in the business community.

To be a member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of South Central LA, Inc., an applicant must, at a minimum:

1. Be in business in the Bureau's service area for not less than one year, 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 Bureau's service area; or
   • The firm is a branch of an existing member or company that has met these standards.

2. Sign a Membership Application/Agreement and pay the appropriate dues and fees as set by the BBB.

3. Supply background information about the company, its principals or other information deemed essential to the Bureau'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, parish, state and federal agencies and authorities, provide license numbers upon application for BBB membership and provide periodic updates on request of the Bureau.

5. Promptly respond to any and all complaints forwarded by the Bureau and make good faith efforts to resolve all such complaints in accordance with generally accepted good business practices.

6. Be free from an unsatisfactory report at the BBB in whose service area the company is headquartered.

7. Agree to, for unresolved complaints, binding arbitration under BBB Rules of Arbitration (Binding) if the consumer also agrees.

8. Comply with any decisions rendered through the Bureau's binding arbitration program.

9. Cooperate with the Bureau in efforts to eliminate the underlying causes of patterns of customer complaints that the Bureau may call to the company's attention.

10. Cooperate with the Bureau's activities and efforts to promote voluntary self-regulation within the business's industry.

11. Adhere to established Better Business Bureau standards of advertising and selling, including the Code of Online Business Practices for online businesses that apply for the BBB OnLine Reliability seal and cooperate with the Bureau in matters relating thereto.

12. Be free from any government action concerning the marketplace and its customers that demonstrates a significant failure of the company to support the principles and purposes of the Better Business Bureau. A membership must be suspended by the BBB's board when an action is filed if the allegations suggest such a failure.

13. Refrain from using the name or logo of the Better Business Bureau for commercial, sales or advertising purposes in any manner not specifically authorized in writing by the BBB.

14. Support the principles and purposes of the Better Business Bureau and not engage in any activity that reflects unfavorably on the Bureau and its members.