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Presidents Message

It is an important time at the BBB; we are working diligently to make sure your Accreditation has maximum value and that our mission of advancing trust by promoting an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other, has real depth and meaning.

When your organization initially became Accredited by the BBB you agreed to the BBB Code of Business Practices and our Accreditation Standards. The BBB is vigilant that all of our Accredited Businesses meet AND maintain membership standards. We are initiating phone calls to all of our AB's and we will be reviewing websites, updating information and checking for proper BBB online BBB logo use, which we want you to use as it is a great benefit because it includes a clickable image linking straight to your BBB Reliability Report — so people quickly see your BBB Accreditation, high ranking and proven track record. If your BBB seal is not being fully utilized we will work with you to maximize this member benefit. Please take the time to speak to the BBB representative when they call so that we may help you make the most of your BBB Accreditation.

It is important to mention one of the standards. A requirement for our Accredited Businesses is to properly maintain required licenses and registrations. The State of Iowa requires that "construction contractors" register with the Iowa Division of Labor and renew that registration annually, paying a fee of $50. The law is found in Chapter 91C of the Code of Iowa. Individual contractors and businesses earning more then $2000 are required to register. The definition of "construction" is very broad and includes carpentry, electrical, plumbing, roofing, house painting, landscape and lawn sprinkler installation, cable TV installation and many other types of work.

The purposes of contractor registration are:

  • To ensure compliance with unemployment insurance laws.
  • To ensure compliance with workers' compensation laws.
  • To ensure payment owed to state agencies are collected.
  • To make information about contractors available to the general public.
Your BBB is embarking on a public campaign to make sure that consumers only hire BBB Accredited Businesses and those legally registered in the State. We want to work with all our members to make sure this is true and we will be happy to assist and encourage you. Registration information and forms are available at: http://www.iowaworkforce.org/labor/contractor.htm. You may also contact the State at (515)281-5387 or (800)562-4692. Should you have any questions about this process please feel free to contact us at (515)243-5027.

In other news...another scam using the BBB name again popped up and has been received by consumers and businesses across the U.S. and Canada...including many BBB offices! The BBB is working with a professional deactivation service to take down the websites that are spreading the malware and we have reported the incident to the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. Recipients are urged to delete suspicious emails and keep their anti-virus software up-to-date at all times.

Two versions of the email have been received. One claims to be following up on a complaint filed with BBB, the other is asking for updated contact information "as a service to BBB Accredited Businesses." Both are good fakes — they use correct grammar and follow formats often used by BBB, so they look quite realistic. Both refer to an online form, and the address appears to be that of a local BBB. However, if you hover your mouse over the web address (the part that begins with http), you can see that the real address is not BBB at all. DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINK! The link actually takes you to a rogue website that downloads a Trojan virus on your computer.

Finally, don't miss the Announcements section of this newsletter where you will learn about a couple of regional Member events, one in Cedar Rapids and the other in Mason City. Please take advantage of these free luncheon seminars and plan to attend. Watch for your invitation in the mail!

I'll be doing the rain dance as we move towards the end of summer and a time full of good things at the BBB.

-Chris Coleman