BBB National Programs Blog

Arbitration is a form of dispute resolution and is an alternative to litigation (going to court). In some cases, a process called mediation will precede arbitration. In fact, more than 60% of claims that come through AUTO LINE are resolved in mediation. But, if a dispute cannot be resolved in mediation, the claim will proceed to arbitration.

The FTC recently put direct sellers, and other companies offering money-making opportunities, on notice: false promises about earnings potential and other aspects of a company’s business opportunity could subject the company to civil penalties. DSSRC published the Guidance on Earnings Claim for the Direct Selling Industry to reinforce fundamental tenets regarding the dissemination of earnings claims by direct selling companies and their independent salesforce members.

Today, children have increased access to technology as well as increased screen time. As a result, business models have adapted, with apps reliant on ads and in-app purchases for revenue, rather than up-front purchase fees. These new business models require special design considerations outlined in CARU's revised Advertising Guidelines.

The FTC recently sent a Notice of Penalty Offenses Concerning Deceptive or Unfair Conduct around Endorsements and Testimonials. This action demonstrated the FTC’s continued interest in challenging the deceptive or misleading use of endorsements or testimonials.

While representation by an attorney is essential in some corporate, personal, or civil matters, when it comes to lemon laws our experience at BBB AUTO LINE is that an attorney may not need to get involved at all.

In the 2010s, the confluence of social media and digital advertising generated two new issues in advertising law: the use of influencers for marketing and the propriety of native advertising. Both the FTC and NAD provided guidance on these emerging issues during NAD’s fifth decade of work in ad law.

Independent industry self-regulation, when developed and implemented properly, is a powerful tool for enhancing consumer trust in business and protecting consumers. And as we emerge from the reduced trust in government wreaked by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is time for independent industry self-regulation to help solve vexing business problems. In-house counsel can play an important leadership role in those efforts.

Businesses face many common pitfalls as they prepare to handle consumer privacy requests. They may be referred to as “data rights,” “data subject rights” (DSRs), or “data subject access rights” (DSARs). No matter what they are called, there are consistent themes in the best practices and pitfalls inherent in these essential elements of any privacy program.

Over the years, we have learned that success in mediation comes as much from utilizing emotional intelligence as it does from knowing the nuts and bolts – and the legalities – of the mediation process. This blog outlines three strategies for making the most of a mediated settlement.

At BBB AUTO LINE we help consumers and manufacturers resolve their automotive warranty disputes before they go to court. In fact, more than 60% of all cases filed with AUTO LINE are resolved through mediation, which involves one of our trained specialists facilitating settlement discussions between the consumer and manufacturer.