Mississippi Consumer Protection Laws Should be Stronger

A couple of years ago, we learned that a number of "colleges" and "universities" with questionable credentials had set up shop in Mississippi, especially in the areas of the state nearest the New Orleans metro area. When we did a little investigating, we found that Louisiana had strengthened its consumer protection laws regarding so-called "diploma mills." They were coming here because of the increased pressure from Louisiana, where they had previously been based.

You may or may not know it, but Mississippi law has a glaring loophole in its laws regarding college accreditation standards. All colleges which grant degrees are required to hold accreditation from a recognized accrediting body, such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Yet, the law specifically grants an exemption for private, for-profit institutions. The statute (37-101-241, Mississippi Code of 1972), reads in part, ... (6) The provisions of this section shall not apply to private schools that are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) or to the proprietary schools as defined in Sections 75-60-3, 75-60-4 and 75-60-5.

This is one of many areas in which Mississippi consumer protection laws leave much to be desired. In the wake of Katrina, we have seen evidence of lax licensing laws for contractors. Recently, after the funeral home industry has come under scrutiny, we have found that there are insufficient standards for cemeteries.

While Mississippi has some good and tough requirements for some industries, we are way behind in others. There should be a concerted effort to look at all of Mississippi's consumer protection laws. Contrary to popular belief, consumer protection laws do not hurt business; they help business by ensuring that high standards are enforced. Tough consumer protection laws are good for everyone -- businesses and consumers alike.

What's In a Website?

Today marks a real milestone in the history of the BBB Mississippi, with the launch of our new website at www.ms.bbb.org. This "new and improved" site features a design which will be much easier to use. You may notice also that there is an intermix of local and national content. Photos of some of the people who run BBB accredited businesses are featured, for example, along with access to information from across the U.S. and Canada.

We have spent much time and effort on getting this site functional. That's because online access is so crucial to many of today's consumers. We also understand, however, that the people and businesses we serve might never use a computer. The website is not the sum total of our services; it is just one linkage between this organization and the community of businesses and consumers we serve.

I hope you will spend some time getting to know our new site. Bookmark it and use it often, because it can help you become a more educated and knowledgeable consumer. Thanks for visiting!

2008 Business Integrity Awards Winners Announced

Jackson, Miss., April 2, 2008 – Three Mississippi companies have received Business Integrity Awards by the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi and the Mississippi Business Journal.
The winners were announced on Friday, March 28 at the annual luncheon held at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson. An estimated 120 people were on hand to witness the presentation of the 6th Annual Mississippi Business Integrity Awards. The 2008 recipients of these prestigious awards were:

• Community Bank, Meridian


• Magnolia Gardens Assisted Living, Laurel


• Trinity Investment Services, LLC, Gulfport
  

Two individual awards were also presented – the Torchbearer Award and the CEO of Integrity Award. The Torchbearer Award, recognizing a business leader who has demonstrated integrity and ethics over a career, was presented to Aubrey Patterson, President of Bancorp South in Tupelo. The recipient of the CEO of Integrity Award was Dan Modisett, General Manager of WLBT in Jackson.

This year’s winners become part of the “Circle of Honor”. Other 2008 Circle of Honor inductees include: Duran Homes (Jackson), Joe E. Fountain, Jr. & Company (D’Iberville), Madison Planting & Design Group (Canton), McLaurin Carpets, Inc. (Soso), Pride Hyundai (Batesville), Two Men and a Truck (Ridgeland), and Waveland Furniture Liquidators (Waveland).

“We had a wonderful response to the Business Integrity Awards this year,” said Bill Moak, President of the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi. “The judges had many great entries. “They prove that success in business does not mean that you must make ethical compromises, and that a company’s ability to survive challenges is directly related to its commitment to a strong commitment to being a good corporate citizen.”

The BBB Mississippi serves consumers and businesses in 76 Mississippi counties with a variety of services including issuance of business Reliability Reports; dispute resolution, including handling of complaints, arbitration and mediation; advertising review; charity review; consumer education. The organization is supported by its nearly 2,500 Accredited Business members. The BBB’s services are available online at www.ms.bbb.org or by calling (800) 987-8280.