Company Calling Businesses with Unauthorized BBB Accreditation Offer

How does free BBB Accreditation for the life of your business sound? This is exactly what Member Financial, a credit card processing company out of Santa Barbara, CA is pitching to businesses in several states, including Arkansas.

 Member Financial appears to offer credit card merchant services to businesses accepting credit cards. BBB has recently learned that in Member Financial’s sales presentations to BBB Accredited businesses, Member Financial representatives are reported to state:

 “The first 100 Accredited Businesses signing up in each state will get 100% of their BBB fees paid for during the life of the business.”

 Member Financial and representatives of Member Financial are not authorized to make such an offer. BBB Accreditation is earned and re-certified each year, making a “lifetime offer” of accreditation unauthorized.

 The unauthorized offer of free accreditation isn’t the only issue. In February of 2012, the BBB located in Santa Barbara, CA asked the company to remove unauthorized uses of the BBB name and logos from their advertising and marketing materials. It appears the company continues to make representations on their website that create the impression they are partnering with the BBB. They are not.

 If your company receives a phone call or other type of solicitation offering free BBB Accreditation or other free BBB services; check them out at www.bbb.org; call our office at 501-664-4888; or email us at info@arkansas.bbb.org .