Editing Better Business Bureau (section)

==Rating system and accreditation==
Until 2008, BBB rated companies "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory." On January 1, 2009, BBB moved to a new system based on a school-style A<sup>+</sup> to F rating system.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.enewspf.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7686:new-bbb-letter-grade-a-through-f-ratings-system-helps-businesses-evaluate-suppliers-improve-operations-&catid=88888960&Itemid=88889783 |title=New BBB Letter-Grade A<sup>+</sup> Through F Ratings System Helps Businesses Evaluate Suppliers, Improve Operations |date=April 5, 2024 |publisher=eNews Park Forest}}</ref> The 16 factors have been posted on each business profile since the program's inception<ref name="What are BBB Ratings">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbb.org/business-reviews/ratings/ |title=What are BBB Ratings? |publisher=BBB |access-date=March 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725050613/http://www.bbb.org/business-reviews/ratings/ |archive-date=July 25, 2011 }}</ref> and the details on the points awarded as well.<ref name="What are BBB Ratings"/> Initially there was a 17th factor worth 4&nbsp;points for businesses that were Accredited.  That process was changed in November 2010 in response to criticism in the media and from the Connecticut attorney general who accused BBB of using "pay to play" tactics.<ref name="nbc4i1"/> The [[Connecticut Attorney General|Attorney General of Connecticut]] demanded that BBB stop using its weighted letter grade system, calling it "potentially harmful and misleading" to consumers.<ref name="Rhee">{{cite news |last1=Rhee |first1=JOSEPH |last2=Ross |first2=Brian |date=November 12, 2010 |title=Terror Group Gets 'A' Rating From Better Business Bureau? Consumer Watchdog Accused of Running 'Pay for Play' Scheme With Grading System |work=20/20 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/print?id=12123843}}</ref>  In response, the Council of Better Business Bureaus changed the BBB ratings system to cease awarding points to businesses for being BBB members, and to institute closer monitoring of BBB sales practices.<ref>"A Message from the President of CBBB", November 18, 2010, reproduced at {{cite web |title=BBB revises rating system to regain consumer trust |url=http://reloroundtable.com/blog/examinercom/bbb-revises-rating-system-to-regain-consumer-trust/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126094339/http://reloroundtable.com/blog/examinercom/bbb-revises-rating-system-to-regain-consumer-trust/ |archive-date=November 26, 2010 |access-date=December 2, 2010 |publisher=RELO RoundTable}}</ref>

If a business chooses not to provide basic information, such as size and start date, BBB may assign a not-rated (NR) rating.<ref name="What are BBB Ratings"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/pressroom/2010/11/the-better-business-bureau-checks-up-on-companies-but-who-checks-up-on-the-better-business-bureau-brian-ross-investigates-on.html |title=The Better Business Bureau checks up on companies but who checks up on the Better Business Bureau? |publisher=blogs.absnews.com }}</ref> An "NR" rating due solely to a company not providing information would state: "BBB does not have sufficient background information on this business."{{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}

A business is eligible for BBB accreditation if it meets, in the opinion of BBB, "BBB Standards for Trust".<ref name="BBB Mission"/> There are eight BBB Standards for Trust that BBB expects its accredited businesses to adhere to: build trust ("maintain a positive track record in the marketplace"), advertise honestly, tell the truth, be transparent, honor promises, be responsive (address marketplace disputes), safeguard privacy (protect consumer data) and embody integrity.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbb.org/us/bbb-standards-for-trust/ |title=The Better Business Bureau Standards for Trust – U.S. BBB |publisher=Bbb.org |access-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323122353/http://www.bbb.org/us/bbb-standards-for-trust |archive-date=March 23, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>