The Value of Accreditation

Associating your business with the National Consumer Protection Bureau is a sign to potential customers that you are committed to treating them fairly. Accreditation with a consumer advocacy group such as NCPB can be what sets apart your business from your competitors.

Official accreditation is our most powerful tool for letting consumers know which businesses they can trust. Accreditation tells consumers a member business is a reputable, trustworthy company that cares about providing excellent customer service. For consumers that do online research to make informed buying decisions, NCPB accreditation indicates a respect for service and satisfaction that stands out from competition. It gives consumers confidence.

When you apply for accreditation with NCPB, we conduct due diligence to confirm your company meets our Gold Standard Code of Ethics so that consumers can continue to trust our endorsement. Upon successfully completing our due diligence process, we will award accreditation to your business. Accredited members are authorized to use the NCPB name and logo to promote their dedication to reliable service.

NCPB attracts consumers who prefer to hire accredited companies they can trust, making our website an easy and effective tool for generating more business. What’s more valuable than that?

The Importance of Feedback

Feedback can be one of the greatest assets a business has for attracting more customers, or it can be one of the most harmful in driving them away. This is not necessarily dependent on whether the feedback is positive or negative, but how a business chooses to use the feedback they receive. Here are three simple rules a business can follow to use feedback to its advantage.

Collect your feedback. It is important to note that feedback is inevitable. All businesses receive feedback based on their performance, whether it is good or bad. Customers will always have an opinion about how they were treated and although systematically collecting these opinions isn’t always easy to do, it is crucial for any business to have an organized database of feedback from customers that are willing to take the time to share their experience. By providing a forum where customers can be heard, you indicate to them that you are listening and that you care about satisfying them. Essentially, you allow them to build your business by sharing their feedback.

Don’t avoid negative feedback. Feedback may not always be positive, but it is always useful. Nobody likes to receive negative feedback, but it is unavoidable and can be more helpful in the long term than positive reinforcement. The key is to use your negative feedback in a positive way. When you get a complaint from a customer, do what you must to make sure that you never hear that complaint again. If you listen and improve, you’ll begin to collect more positive comments that you can use to your advantage. This is known as “course correction”, and it is the best strategy for guiding your business to its most effective level. Potential customers like to know that if they do have a complaint, it will be resolved and showing them that you’ve resolved previous customer complaints will instill confidence.

Use your positive feedback. If you treat your customers well and genuinely aim to conduct fair business, you should let people know. Customers are more than happy to reward a good business with their positive feedback, and an organized forum for collecting and displaying this feedback is the best way to promote yourself. It is one thing to tell potential customers that you are reliable, trustworthy and honest but quite another for your previous customers to say this for you. Real feedback gives the customer a chance to imagine what it will actually be like to work with you and if it’s positive, they will know they are going to have a good experience. Displaying positive feedback from customers you have actually worked with is genuine and the best way to market your business.

The National Consumer Protection bureau helps businesses systematically collect customer feedback and utilize that information to build their business. We work with our members to collect and display reviews that genuinely reflect customers’ experiences and insights about the business’ performance. Consumers can trust our members, knowing that the feedback they read has been verified. Start collecting with us today.

Business Ratings

The NCPB star-rating system is a quick and easy way to measure a company's performance in the marketplace.

Our two-fold rating system provides customers with comprehensive information, allowing them to select the company that best meets their needs.

Firstly, we provide a quantitative, star-based rating that customers can use to quickly evaluate businesses.
Unlike other organizations that only track complaints, our system tracks both positive and negative feedback so that larger companies and smaller ones are on a level playing field. Rating stars are earned by positive and negative points. Events carry different point levels, but all points are weighted equally in the computation of the percentage leading to the star score.

Secondly, we provide qualitative feedback through customer reviews and NCPB verified references, which are displayed on member profiles.

These reviews and references give prospective consumers a complete sense of what working with that business will really be like. We verify feedback for members to make sure that it is fair and accurate.

To achieve a 5-star rating with NCPB, a business must:

• Be invited to join NCPB through its solid reputation
• Pass NCPB’s background check to become accredited
• Agree to uphold NCPB’s Gold Standard Code of Ethics
• Have positive feedback from previous customers

Less than 10% of the over 14 million businesses in the NCPB database nationally hold a 5-star rating.

Member Spotlight: Fast-Tek On-Site Computer Services

Fast-Tek On-Site Computer Services is one of the latest businesses to become accredited with us. Their decision to become NCPB accredited and adhere to our Gold Standard Code of Ethics shows a commitment to customer service and satisfaction and we are proud to recommend this business to consumers.

Fast-Tek On-Site Computer Services serves the Northern Somerset and Morris Counties areas of New Jersey as the leading on-site and call-in remote diagnostic computer service company. Fast-Tek specializes in virus, worm and spyware removal, DSL and cable modem setup, wireless networking, data back-up and recovery, web development, consulting and more.

Owner Harold Grossnickle has over 30 years of experience in the computer and service industry and his team is ready to provide emergency service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Fast-Tek On-Site Computer Services is a perfect solution for anyone that uses a computer, whether at home or in business. Some benefits that members enjoy include same day, weekend, or holiday service calls, same day repairs, zero travel charges, affordable website design and support, free internet security/virus protection.

The staff is highly trained and committed to professional service at affordable rates. Fast-Tek knows that dealing with computer problems can be frustrating and accessing your data can be crucial, which is why their help desk and remote support is available anytime.

Don’t wait to protect your data and begin enjoying the benefits of Fast-Teks’ knowledgeable and helpful staff. To learn more, visit their member profile here.

Becoming A Member of NCPB

Starting a membership with the National Consumer Protection Bureau is quick and easy.

Applications are accepted by phone or online. To apply by phone, call toll-free (877) 414-6272 to speak with a representative. When calling, please have basic company information such as primary contact name, address, phone, e-mail and website.

To apply online, go to www.natcpb.org and click “Join Today!” You will be prompted to fill out a web form with basic company information, such as primary contact name, address, phone, e-mail and website.

After receiving your membership application, we will conduct due diligence. Provided you pass this process, you will become an accredited member. Accreditation allows members the use of NCPB’s accreditation logo to indicate their commitment to customer service and satisfaction.

Members receive a star rating and a profile on natcpb.org. The profile includes descriptions of the services offered, contact information, as well as ratings and customer reviews, all of which inform consumers and assist them in making purchasing decisions.

For these services, NCPB member dues are $49 per month, or save 15% by prepaying the annual dues of $495.

Not sure if NCPB is beneficial for your business? We offer a no obligation 30-Day Free Trial to allow businesses to try our system before making a commitment. The 30-Day Free Trial does not require financial information to get started. After the trial period, you have the option to convert your business profile to a paid membership or opt out.

Go to natcpb.org and click “Join Today!” or “30 Day Free Trial” to get started.

JAZ Press Wins Consumers Choice Award

The National Consumer Protection Bureau is proud to present The Consumers’ Choice Award to an accredited business that has shown outstanding commitment to customer service and received positive feedback reviews within a rolling 180-day period.

This award serves as a notification to consumers that this is a business they can trust.

For over 21 years, JAZ Press has been dedicated to providing its clients with well-designed and expertly crafted prints. Located in Norristown, PA, they have become an integral part of their community. They value their customers’ time and budget parameters and understand the demands that come with running a business.

JAZ Press works with various types of clientele; from big businesses to small family-run operations and they offer great deals on logo design and promotional printing for stationery, labels, booklets, posters and more. You name it and they’ll put your logo on it. As a “one-stop-shop”, they have established expertise in design, proofing and color matching and can be counted on for reliable shipping, volume pricing and quick turn-around.

Ever since owner George Parnes signed up with NCPB, more customers have been informed about the great work his business does. Regarding becoming a member, he shares, “so many people go online and want some sort of confidence that they are going to come here and get the work done. [Being NCPB accredited] will just give people confidence in us, so we don’t have to spend time building that confidence. We can go right to what they are trying to do and understand that and supply the goods and services they are requiring for their business.”

Over the last two decades JAZ Press has proven that they understand the needs and concerns of their customers and do everything they can to make sure that their prints will be remembered. “Customers expect quality,” George said. “They are expecting quality and I always treat people fairly, so they are expecting a good bang for their buck.”

At JAZ Press, you are not just an order number. Their emphasis on personal customer interaction and their ability to satisfy clients of all sizes with a range of services sets them apart from competitors. Who is better to handle your promotional needs than a printer that understands first-hand what it takes to run a successful business?

The NCPB Gold Standard Code of Ethics

The National Consumer Protection Bureau aims to connect consumers with the most trustworthy businesses across the country through online research. We ensure customer satisfaction by requiring every accredited member to adhere to our Gold Standard Code of Ethics. By doing so, customers conducting online research know they can trust member businesses associated with our name and logo.

We expect member businesses to take the Gold Standard of Ethics very seriously and to respond to consumer complaints in a timely manner, treat customers fairly, keep their word, deliver on promises they make to customers and maintain a positive track record with customers and government agencies.

Accredited businesses must maintain any applicable licenses and bonding requirements for the industry, stay free of an unusual amount of complaints with government agencies, maintain a satisfactory NCPB rating, abide by agreements made with customers whether verbal or written, remain truthful in advertising and use our name and logo in accordance with our policies.

By requiring NCPB accredited businesses to maintain this Gold Standard of Ethics, we ensure that associating your business with NCPB will make it stand out to consumers. Our research shows that 94% of consumers prefer to do business with a company that is highly rated by the NCPB. Don’t hesitate to show potential customers that you take service seriously by meeting our Gold Standard Code of Ethics.

To learn more about the NCPB Gold Standard Code of Ethics, visit our guidelines page here.

To become a member and enjoy the benefits of NCPB accreditation, sign up here.