Better Business Bureaus Help IAQ Council Fight Fraud
The American Indoor Air Quality Council is welcoming assistance in its fight against consumer fraud from the Better Business Bureau, officials said.
Local Better Business Bureaus around the country are contacting the IAQ Council office to verify claims of certification found on company Web sites. In cases where the claims are inaccurate, some BBBs are giving companies as little as 14 days to correct the errors or risk an unfavorable rating.
The IAQ Council has responded by encouraging its certificants to make sure that their websites are accurate and up to date.
"IAQ Council certifications are valuable assets," said Charlie Wiles, IAQ Council executive director. "It is very important to represent them properly."
Details that often trigger a Better Business Bureau investigation include the following: claiming certifications that have expired (the IAQ Council certifies for two-year periods); claiming that a company is IAQ Council certified (the IAQ Council certifies individuals only); and failing to identify the certifying body that sponsors a certification program (IAQ Council certifications should be named and listed as such).
The IAQ Council's Web site features an updated list of current certificate holders and their companies (http://www.iaqcouncil.org/locator/locator.htm).