Our BBB is now providing services to the consumers and businesses of Hamilton, Halton, Niagara and Brantford areas. The change occurred as part of the integration of BBB operations in Canada and the United States into one North American system. The Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus (CCBBB) continues to advise the organization on issues of importance to businesses and consumers in the Canadian provinces.

For nearly 100 years, BBB has helped consumers make smarter buying decisions. More than 400,000 businesses meet the organization’s rigorous standards and are BBB Accredited. In addition, BBB maintains information on more than 4 million businesses, and every year helps millions of consumers through free business reviews, consumer tips, fraud alerts, dispute resolution, and consumer advocacy. 1.1 million complaints to BBB were resolved in 2010.

Integrating the Canadian and U.S. operations offers an improved customer experience for those who purchase goods and services across the border, according to the Council of Better Business Bureaus (CBBB), the governing body that licenses local BBBs and provides support services to increase their effectiveness. Most notable is the ability for cross-border dispute resolution, an issue that has increased in importance as technological advances have made it even easier for citizens of both countries to do business in either country. Every day more than $1 billion in goods, services and investments are exchanged between the two nations.

There are 23 standards that local organizations must meet in order to use the BBB name and logo, and to receive services from CBBB. Currently, there are 116 local, independent BBBs across the U.S. and Canada. The new territory being served by Mid-Western and Central Ontario BBB was the result of boundary alignments in several Canadian provinces.