Better Business Bureau System Posts Draft of New Code of Online Business Practices and Solicits Public Comment / Proposed Code Posted Online and to be Discussed

Arlington, Va. (PROTEXT) - The Better Business Bureau system today released a draft of its new Code of Online Business Practices and began seeking public comment on the code. December 30 is the deadline for comment on the proposed code, which can be viewed at http://www.bbbonline.org/businesses/code/draft. The proposed code builds on the Better Business Bureaus -- eight decades of experience in fostering ethical business practices. The code also draws on the experience BBBOnLine has gained while reviewing more than 5,000 commercial Web sites to evaluate their qualifications for participation in the BBBOnLine Reliability Seal and BBBOnLine Privacy Seal Programs. The BBB system has a long history of developing codes of business practices and a respected reputation for working effectively with consumers, businesses and government to build trust in the marketplace. "This new code will be a roadmap for businesses engaged in e- commerce, including many that are new and inexperienced," said Kenneth J. Hunter, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, the umbrella organization for the 132 BBBs in the United States and Puerto Rico. "We believe the best way to protect consumers is to develop common business practices that reflect high standards of conduct, and to encourage the business community to adopt them." The Better Business Bureau system is actively seeking input from the e-business community, the government and the public to help make sure the new code reflects the best practices in e- commerce. To maximize public participation, the Web site provides an easy-to-use email response system. "We look forward to comments from those merchants that are actively involved in offering a quality shopping experience to online consumers," said Russell Bodoff, senior vice president and COO of BBBOnLine, a subsidiary of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. "At the same time, we would welcome input from consumers -- those who have enjoyed a safe online shopping experience, and those who have suggestions for improving the Internet marketplace." In conjunction with posting the proposed code, BBBOnLine and Better Business Bureaus will host three regional meetings to discuss the new code face-to-face with interested consumers, regulators, trade association leaders and business executives. The meetings will take place in Denver, Colorado, on December 1; Palo Alto, California, on December 2; and Washington, D.C. on December 9. Registration for the regional meetings is available online at http://www.bbbonline.org/businesses/code/register/default.cfm. Bodoff said that government officials and regulators, here and abroad, have encouraged development of the code. BBBOnLine will be working with global corporations to solicit input from businesses, consumers and government officials in other countries. The BBB's new code of online business practices is the latest effort to give consumers confidence in doing business online and follows the creation of the BBBOnLine Reliability Seal and Privacy Seal Programs. Five basic principles drive the proposed Code's detailed recommendations: * Disclose, Disclose, Disclose. Online businesses shall disclose to their customers and prospective customers, clearly, conspicuously and in easy-to- understand language, accurate information about the business, any goods or services offered through an online transaction and, if applicable, the transaction itself. * Tell the Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth. Online businesses shall not engage in deceptive or misleading trade practices with regard to any aspect of electronic commerce, including advertising, marketing, or in their use of technology. * Have Respectful Information Practices. Online businesses shall adopt information practices that respect the consumer's concerns and treat the information with care. They shall post and adhere to a privacy policy based on fair information principles, take appropriate measures to provide adequate security, and respect consumer preferences regarding unsolicited email. * Aim to Please. Online businesses should make online shopping a positive consumer experience and shall seek to resolve disputes that are raised by their customers, clients, or licensees in a timely and responsive manner. * Take Special Care with Children. If online businesses target children under the age of 13, they shall take special care to protect them. For additional information on the Better Business Bureau, visit: www.bbb.org. For additional information on BBOnLine, visit: www.bbbonline.org. ots Original Text Service: Better Business Bureau Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Holly Cherico of the Better Business Bureau, 703-247-9311 Web site: http://www.bbb.org http://www.bbbonline.org Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial service providing distribution of press releases from clients, who are identified in the text of Protext reports and who bear full responsibility for their contents. PROTEXT