BBB Offers Safe Toy Advice
The toy industry spends an estimated $300 million a year on safety testing and inspection of toys, and approximately three billion toys are sold in America each year. And so far this year, more than 20 million toys have been pulled off shelves as a result of more than 60 recalls. This is more than twice the number of alerts the US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) issued last year. Perhaps even more concerning is that, according to the CPSC, less than 20 percent of recalled toys make it back to the manufacturer for proper disposal or repair.
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President's Message:
Spring Cleaning is also a good business idea
A year ago, our team at the BBB encouraged me to secure a service to collect and shred our documents here in the office. "It's the least we owe our Accredited Businesses," they said. They were right. After a year, I am has amazed at the level of sensitive documents that businesses and consumers provide us within the course of our work. The small investment for a professional service allows me to be confident we are doing our best for those who put their confidence in us.
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Scam Alert:
AKC and BBB Warn of Puppy Scams
The American Kennel Club^® (AKC^®) and the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB) are warning consumers about scams targeting unsuspecting puppy buyers. Both the AKC and the CBBB have recently received a number of reports from consumers throughout the nation who have lost money after responding to online or newspaper classified advertising. Commonly, the scammer —posing as a breeder—will place an ad offering free or inexpensive puppies. The scammer may claim to be affiliated with a religious organization, relocating to a foreign country or have another similar story designed to gain confidence or pull at the heartstrings.
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Keeping Kids Safe in the Age of MySpace
In an age where it is commonplace for kids to know more about technology and the Internet than their parents, do you know how and where your children spend their time in cyberspace?

In a report entitled Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later, researchers found that approximately one in seven youth (10 to 17-years-old) received a sexual solicitation or approach over the Internet. With kids using the Internet at school, with friends, and at home, it is important for parents to be aware of what their children are doing online, what the risks include, and what you can do to keep them safe.
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Ad Reviews
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New Members
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Membership Matters:
Dispute Resolution Services
We help consumers and businesses resolve marketplace disputes, and we offer training to prepare individuals to serve as mediators and arbitrators. The dispute resolution process is an alternative to going to court - it's informal and user-friendly and it helps resolve thousands of complaints each year. We take complaints involving all types of businesses - online, offline, BBB Accredited Businesses or non-accredited businesses. We also accept complaints against charities and non-profit organizations. We primarily handle complaints relating to marketplace transactions, including advertising claims.

BBB strongly encourages consumers to first attempt to resolve complaints directly with the company, however BBB will not reject a complaint if a consumer has not taken this step. All complaints are processed by local BBBs, most often the BBB where the company is located. Historically, over 70% of complaints filed through BBB are resolved.