http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/WWWRoot//SitePage.aspx?site=75&id=a824b759-3137-43b5-aedf-a38056bcce73&debug=False 10 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT Cox has served as the Council’s Vice President of Communications since July 2006. He will assume leadership of the organization effective October 8 - at the conclusion of BBB’s International Assembly in Boston - replacing Steven J. Cole, who is retiring after 22 years with the Council, first as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, and for the past four years as President and CEO. http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/council-of-better-business-bureaus-names-stephen-a-cox-as-president-and-ceo-12245 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT "Trust in the marketplace is our mission. The Better Business Bureau ratings, reports and accreditation status are designed to offer consumers background on a particular company and their performance in the marketplace. We feel a company’s record with the Better Business Bureau can offer a consumer confidence or not. Our records can help people choose one business over another and Accreditation is certainly a factor to take into consideration,” said David Polino, Better Business Bureau President. “BBB Accreditation is an honor that not every business can achieve or maintain. Expulsion is always an unfortunate outcome.” http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/three-expelled-from-the-better-business-bureau-accreditation-status-can-help-consumers-choose-12294 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT Multi-level marketing is one form of compensation often employed by direct selling companies, whereby sales agents recruit other sales agents and receive a cut of their sales for products. Pyramid schemes, which are illegal, promise that participants can make money primarily by recruiting people who then pay for the opportunity to recruit more people. The money is then filtered up through the pyramid. http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/better-business-bureau-warning-ijango-possible-pyramid-scheme-12328 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT “Be it technology-based methods such as vishing, phishing and smishing, or low-tech means such as stealing wallets or credit cards, identity theft is a violation of trust,” said Steve Cox, Council of Better Business Bureaus. Cox will take over as CBBB president & CEO in October. “While businesses, nonprofits and government continue making progress in fighting identity theft and educating the public, consumers must remain vigilant and continue adhering to the adage, ‘trust, but verify,’ when it comes to providing personal information.” http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/consumers-feel-more-at-risk-for-identity-theft-when-making-certain-types-of-purchases-12560 Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT “The worst thing you could do when falling behind on a car payment is to bury your head in the sand and ignore the problem,” said David Polino, Better Business Bureau president. “People don’t realize until it’s too late that taking action can prevent a repossession. Car owners need to take responsible action and face the issue head on – there’s nothing good that will come of the situation if they don’t.” http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/behind-on-car-payments-youre-not-alone-bbb-offers-advice-on-how-to-avoid-the-repo-man-12749 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT The average victim’s loss per identity theft incident is $4,849, but more than that, the victim of identity theft will spend an average of 600 hours and $496 resolving the issues related to the crime. Prevention is the best answer to this growing problem. “Shredding sensitive paper documents is a good start, but there’s more for people to know and do,” said David Polino, Better Business Bureau president http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/free-identity-theft-prevention-event-aims-to-arm-attendees-with-important-information-free-credit-reports-and-on-site-document-shredding-12949 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT The malicious phishing e-mail attack is designed to mimic a confirmation e-mail from BBB and includes the full name of the recipient and the name of the company they supposedly filed a complaint about. http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/bbb-warns-of-new-phishing-e-mail-posing-as-bbb-complaint-confirmation-13037 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT In 2008, 10 million Americans fell victim to identity theft fraud costing more than $48 million. The BBB and CCCS are working to bring that number down and raise public awareness to prevent the silent crime that could strike anyone as well as place focus on this important aspect of overall personal financial literacy. http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/hundreds-shred-personal-documents-to-prevent-identity-theft-at-secure-your-id-day-13070 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative report shows marked progress in 2008 through self-regulation. http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/food-and-beverage-companies-continue-to-raise-the-bar-when-advertising-to-kids-13178 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT “Many families are looking for ways to earn extra money for the holidays and Web sites touting the huge money-making potential of working from home often seem like an answer to a prayer,” said David Polino, Better Business Bureau President. http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/bbb-warning-is-it-really-google-scammers-bet-on-trusted-name-13423 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT “Scammers are waiting,” said David Polino, Better Business Bureau President. “Just because consumers feel comfortable shopping online as part of their everyday lives doesn’t mean they should relax this holiday season. The threat of identity theft or tripping onto an unscrupulous retailer is very real, but there are steps you can take to shop safely online.” http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/holiday-shopping-online-check-this-list-bbb-offers-top-ten-tips-for-safe-shopping-online-13531 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT Revocation of BBB Accreditation occurs after a thorough review process by the BBB Ethics and Standards Committee and Board of Directors. "Accreditation Status" is one factor that impacts a business rating with the BBB. BBB’s letter grade rating system, announced in January of this year, gives businesses an A+ through F letter rating and replaces the scale of “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” used in the past. http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/five-businesses-expelled-from-the-bbb-accreditation-revoked-for-area-roofing-retail-and-professional-service-companies-13151 Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT Verizon based in New York and Villa Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center located in Springfield, OH – will receive the BBB International Torch Awards for Marketplace Excellence, which recognizes superior commitment to exceptional standards that benefit customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders and surrounding communities. Three businesses -Allsup (Belleville, IL),Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (Burr Ridge, IL) and Marrokal Construction (San Diego, CA) - were named Finalist in the Marketplace Excellence competition. http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/top-businesses-and-nonprofit-leader-to-be-honored-nationally-by-better-business-bureau-13566 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT “Layaway used to be the way to buy big ticket items like a TV, instead of charging it. Today consumers see the value and have the need to turn toward layaway,” said David Polino, Better Business Bureau President. http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/can-layaway-help-you-this-holiday-season-bbb-advice-on-using-this-oldie-but-goodie-service-option-13618 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT This year many charities are struggling to reach their goals and when New York’s Attorney General Andrew Cuomo released the state’s annual charities report last week, the news wasn’t good there either, with many efforts throughout the state falling far behind the Better Business Bureau’s Standards for Charity Accountability, where the recommendation states that at least 65 percent of the money raised should be retained by the charity for program activities. http://www.syracuse.bbb.org/article/the-art-of-giving-wisely-bbb-says-pose-these-five-questions-before-you-give-13756