The Best PTC Sites List Updated Jan 01 2010

Code of Online Business Practices Download the Code [MS Word 97 Format] [PDF Format]
- In Spanish [MS Word 97 Format] [PDF Format]
- In French [MS Word 97 Format] [PDF Format]
- In German [MS Word 97 Format] [PDF Format]

1. The following Code of Online Business Practices is designed to guide ethical "business to customer" conduct in electronic commerce. These guidelines represent sound online advertising and selling practices that the Better Business Bureau ("BBB") and BBBOnLine believe will boost customer trust and confidence in online commerce.
2. This Code serves two purposes:
   1. First, the Code provides desirable standards for e-commerce generally. Adherence to the provisions of this Code will be a significant contribution toward effective self-regulation in the public interest. We urge online businesses to comply with the Code and to establish the necessary management procedures that will assure success.
   2. Second, it is the underpinning for the BBBOnLine Seal Program participants must agree to follow it and to dispute resolution, at the customer’s request, for unresolved disputes involving products or services advertised or purchased online. Online businesses that are or become BBBOnLine Seal participants will be able to demonstrate to the public their commitment to the Code’s good business practices by displaying the BBBOnLine Seal.
3. The Code contains practical, performance-based guidelines, rather than dictating methods for achieving the goals that could interfere with particular business models. While the Code establishes goals for the online business, it does not dictate how these goals should be reached, leaving those decisions up to the online business that knows its business model best. As such, the Code is designed to allow online businesses to take advantage of evolving technology and to foster innovation while adhering to principled business practices that provide truthful and accurate information to online customers.
4. The Code uses the term "should" in recognition that this is a voluntary code. However, all provisions are recommended for implementation by the online business community.
5. BBB and BBBOnLine encourage online businesses, to the extent they target particular geographic markets or countries with their online advertising or marketing, to consider the targeted geographical markets’ or countries’ regulatory requirements. However, the Code does not address whether the laws, if any, of any particular jurisdiction apply to online advertising or transactions. Online businesses are therefore advised to make a determination that their practices are in compliance with applicable laws.
6. E-commerce is developing at a rapid pace and BBB and BBBOnLine recognize that this Code may need to be modified over time to keep it current with developing technology, new business models, and customer needs. BBB and BBBOnLine are committed to review the Code and update it as needed.
7. Terms:
   1. Online Advertiser: A person or entity acts as an "online advertiser" when it promotes its own goods or services on the Internet. Therefore, code provisions referring to online advertisers apply when the business is acting as an online advertiser for a particular activity. If in certain situations an online advertiser acts as an online merchant (see definition below), then in those situations, it must also comply with the online merchant Code requirements. (Click here for examples)
   2. Online Merchant: A person or entity acts as an "online merchant" when it offers its own goods and services online and accepts online orders. A business may act as an online merchant in certain situations but not in others. Therefore, Code provisions referring to online merchants apply when the business is acting as an online merchant for a particular activity. All online merchants are also online advertisers and as such, should adhere to online advertiser Code provisions as well. (Click here for examples)
   3. Purchase: For purposes of this Code, the term "purchase" is intended to be used broadly and is meant to include other transactions, including but not limited to, leasing, licensing or barter.

Principles: Summary List of Principles. Principle I: Truthful and Accurate Communications. Principle II: Disclosure. Principle III: Information Practices and Security. Principle IV: Customer Satisfaction. Principle V: Protecting Children. Download the Code [MS Word 97 Format ] [PDF Format ] Upon request to bbbcode@cbbb.bbb.org, the Council may grant copyright permission if the Council determines such permission would be in the public interest and appropriate attribution is made. more info at www.bbbonline.org