MEMBERSHIP STANDARDS

Formal application for membership in the Better Business Bureau of Eastern NC, Inc. (BBB) is by invitation only and is subject to approval or disapproval by the Bureau's Board of Directors or the Executive Committee. Any applicant receiving a majority vote shall be elected to membership and shall upon payment of the membership dues, be a member of this corporation. To qualify and maintain membership in the B BB, a member must:

HAVE been actively engaged in business for a minimum of one year. This requirement may be waived at the BBB's discretion if the principals are well know to the Bureau because of community reputation or prior demonstration of business ethics, or the business has moved from, or is an expansion of a firm in another Bureau city where it was, or is a member in good standing, or if the principals of the business sign an agreement pre-committing them to binding BBB arbitration in connection with any customer dispute. (The Bureau may at its discretion, extend the minimum time-in-business requirement to a period greater than one year if, in its opinion, such additional time is required for a proper evaluation of the application form.)

PROVIDE 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.

BE free from any governmental 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 Bureau's Board of Directors when an action is filed if the allegations suggest such a failure.

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

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

AGREE to promptly respond to any and all customer complaints forwarded by the Better Business Bureau, and to make good faith efforts to resolve all such complaints in accordance with generally accepted good business practices.

IN ADDITION, members who choose to participate in the Bureaus MEMBERSHIP IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM (MIP), agree to, for unresolved complaints, (a) binding arbitration under BBB rules of Arbitration (Binding) if the consumer also agrees, or (b) non-binding informal dispute settlement (IDS) under the BBB Rules for IDS, or (c) pre-commitment to a dispute settlement process through a provider other than the Bureau, and which the Bureau determines substantially complies with Bureau consumer dispute resolution criteria. (applicant's initials)

COMPLY with any decisions rendered through the Bureau or an alternative provider's binding arbitration program,. or make good faith determination as to whether to adhere to any informal dispute settlement decisions.

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.

ADHERE to established BBB standards of advertising and selling, and to cooperate with the Bureau on matters relating thereto.

BE free from a public image or reputation of such a nature which, in the opinion of the Better Business Bureau, would reflect unfavorably on the B BB, its members or objectives.

SUPPORT the purpose and function of the Better Business Bureau. Failure to maintain the requirements and standards of membership shall result in termination of membership and the right to use or display the B BB membership plaque and/or decal.

FULFILL all licensing and bonding requirements of applicable city, county, state and federal agencies and authorities, provide license numbers upon application for BBB membership and provide periodic updates on request of the Bureau.

REFRAIN from using the name and logo of the B BB for commercial, sales or advertising purposes in any manner not specifically authorized in writing by the B BB.

SIGN a Membership Application and pay the appropriate fees as set by the BBB.