Business Assistance Program

Need Assistance in Collecting Commercial Past Due Accounts?

For over 80 years, the Bureau has been recognized as the place people turn to resolve disputes. We developed the BBB Business Assistance Program as a member benefit for those who have business-to-business disputes with another company within our 50 county service area. Disputes of this type often result in non-payment for goods and services or past due accounts.

Experience tells us that a certain percentage of accounts won't pay no matter what. But there are those businesses that may respond to a Better Business Bureau appeal or may feel that they have a legitimate reason for withholding payment. The Business Assistance Program can open up a line of communication that has otherwise deteriorated.

The Better Business Bureau is not a collection agency and cannot function as such, nor can we offer assistance in collecting on consumers' past-due accounts. However, with debts that are at least $200 and 45 days or more overdue, we will contact a business in our service area in writing, alert them to your complaint, and provide an opportunity for the business to respond.

Complaint processed by the BBB - When a BBB member files a business-to-business complaint, we send a copy to the company named in the complaint for review and resolution. The company has 15 days to respond; if necessary, we will send a second request. If the company responds to the complaint, we will send a copy of the response to our member. If the complaint is resolved or the member wishes to close the case, we take no additional action.

Complaint answered but not resolved - If the company responds but the complaint remains unresolved, further services might be available to resolve the dispute. The BBB will also keep the complaint on file and track patterns of similar complaints.

Complaint not answered - The other company's BBB reliability report will state the outcome of the unanswered complaint and will be reported to the marketplace and callers for a 3-year period, as well as reported on the BBB website.

The BBB's Business Assistance Program is only for complaints against companies located in Upstate New York.

To file a Business Assistance Program complaint, call the member hotline: (877) 478-8083.

BBB Regional Office:
741 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY 14209, (716) 883-5269, (716) 883-5349 (fax) (800) 828-5000, ext.291

BBB Branch Offices:
1153 W. Fayette St. Syracuse, NY 13204, (315) 478-8083, (315) 475-0769 (fax)
55 St. Paul St., Rochester, NY 14604 (585) 546-6868, (585) 454-7025 (fax)
P O Box 1225, Binghamton, NY 13902 (607) 723-5141, (607) 723-5158 (fax)

In compliance with the BBB Privacy Policy, the Upstate New York BBB will use the information you provide below only for the purposes for which you have given permission.
Your Company Information:
Your Company Name   
Your Company Address
City   State   Zip
Company Contact Name
Contacts Email Address  
Contacts Phone Number

Information On The Business In Dispute With:
Their Company Name   
Their Company Address
City   State   Zip
Company Contact Name
Contacts Phone Number

Complaint Description:
Briefly describe your dispute:

Settlement Being Sought:
What settlement would you consider fair?

Return to Benefits Summary   
OR Use your browser's back button to return to the Members Only Homepage