Terms of Service

📋 Agreement to Terms

By accessing our website at onlinebusinessbureau.org, submitting an application for accreditation, or using any OBB services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, do not use our services.

These terms apply to all visitors, applicants, accredited members, and others who access or use our services.

🏢 About OBB Accreditation

The Online Business Bureau is an independent accreditation body for online businesses. OBB accreditation is a voluntary program that certifies businesses have met our 8 Standards of Trust. Accreditation is not a guarantee of any business's performance, and OBB is not responsible for the actions of accredited businesses.

📝 Application Process

Eligibility

• Applicants must operate a legitimate, legally registered business
• Businesses must be willing to undergo review and verification
• Applicants must provide accurate and truthful information

Review Process

All applications are manually reviewed by the OBB team. We reserve the right to approve or reject any application at our sole discretion. Approval is not guaranteed. The review process typically takes 24–48 hours but may take longer.

No Charge Until Approved

You will not be charged any fees until your application is approved and you confirm your accreditation membership. Submitting an application does not obligate you to pay.

💳 Membership & Billing

Subscription Terms

OBB accreditation operates on a monthly subscription basis. By activating your accreditation, you agree to:

• Monthly recurring charges at the agreed rate
• Automatic renewal until cancelled
• Charges to the payment method on file

Cancellation

You may cancel your membership at any time by contacting us at info@onlinebusinessbureau.org. Upon cancellation, your accreditation seal will be deactivated and your business will be removed from the active directory. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.

Refunds

Refund requests are handled on a case-by-case basis. Contact us within 7 days of a charge if you believe a refund is warranted. We do not issue refunds for partial months.

Failed Payments

If a payment fails, your accreditation seal will be automatically deactivated until payment is successfully processed. You will be notified via email of any failed payments.

🔒 The OBB Seal

License to Use

Upon maintaining an active, paid OBB accreditation membership, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to display the OBB seal on your website and marketing materials.

Restrictions

• The seal may only be used while your membership is active and in good standing
• You may not alter, modify, or misrepresent the OBB seal
• You may not transfer the seal to another business
• Use of the seal after cancellation or deactivation is strictly prohibited

Revocation

We reserve the right to revoke accreditation and seal usage rights at any time if a business violates these terms, fails to maintain our standards, or engages in conduct harmful to consumers.

⚖️ Standards of Accreditation

To maintain accreditation, businesses must continuously comply with all 8 OBB Standards of Trust:

• Business Legitimacy — Maintain verifiable registration and accurate public information
• Honest Advertising — All marketing claims must remain truthful
• Data Privacy — Maintain a public privacy policy and secure data practices
• Responsive Customer Service — Respond to customer inquiries promptly
• Clear Refund & Return Policy — Honor your published refund policy
• Transparent Terms of Service — Maintain clear, accessible terms
• Complaint Resolution — Participate in OBB mediation when required
• Annual Re-Verification — Submit to annual compliance review

Failure to maintain any standard may result in immediate suspension or revocation of accreditation.

🚨 Complaints & Disputes

Consumer Complaints

Consumers may file complaints against accredited businesses through our website. Accredited businesses are required to participate in good faith in the OBB complaint resolution process. Failure to respond to complaints may result in accreditation suspension.

Business Disputes with OBB

Any disputes between you and OBB shall first be attempted to be resolved through direct communication. If unresolved, disputes shall be subject to binding arbitration in accordance with applicable law.

🚫 Prohibited Uses

You agree not to:

• Provide false or misleading information in your application
• Use the OBB seal without an active membership
• Impersonate OBB or claim endorsements not granted
• Use our services for any unlawful purpose
• Attempt to manipulate or circumvent our review process
• Engage in any activity that harms consumers or damages OBB's reputation

⚠️ Disclaimers & Limitations

No Warranty

OBB accreditation is provided "as is." We make no warranties that accredited businesses will perform to any particular standard beyond our published criteria. OBB is not responsible for any business's products, services, or conduct.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, OBB shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of our services or your reliance on any accredited business.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless OBB from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of our services or your violation of these terms.

🔄 Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. We will notify active members of material changes via email. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

📬 Contact Us

Questions about these Terms of Service? Contact us: