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BBB AUTO LINE Program Continues Local Operation

1 August 1997

BBB AUTO LINE Program Continues Local Operation

    ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 1 -- In a first step toward restoring
full BBB services to consumers in counties serviced by the former Better
Business Bureau (BBB) of South Florida, the Council of Better Business Bureaus
(CBBB) today announced that the BBB AUTO LINE program is fully operational
throughout the state of Florida.
    "A CBBB employee is on location in Miami to operate BBB AUTO LINE for the
immediate future," said James L. Bast, president and CEO of the CBBB.  "We
therefore have the capability to assist Miami and Ft. Myers area consumers
with disputes involving alleged defects in a motor vehicle's material or
workmanship."
    Consumers throughout the state of Florida, including those in the Miami
and Ft. Myers area, in need of assistance with such automotive disputes can
contact BBB AUTO LINE by calling 1-800-955-5100.
    Consumers with access to the World Wide Web can contact the BBB AUTO LINE
program through the Better Business Bureau Web site.  Go to
 http://www.bbb.org/complaints/autolineform.html for a complete listing of
participating auto manufacturers and an on-line BBB AUTO LINE claim form.
    The BBB AUTO LINE program, which is free to consumers, does not handle
disputes between consumers and auto dealerships, auto repair facilities or
automobile insurance companies.
    One of the largest customer/business, out-of-court dispute resolution
programs in the country, BBB AUTO LINE serves the customers of more than 30
automobile manufacturers.  Most BBB AUTO LINE cases are resolved through
mediation.  In cases which cannot be resolved through mediation, trained
volunteer BBB arbitrators, who serve without compensation throughout Florida,
conduct hearings and make decisions on individual cases.  Auto manufacturers
have agreed in advance that they will be bound by the arbitrator's decision;
consumers may accept the arbitrator's decision or reject it and pursue other
legal remedies.
    The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for
135 Better Business Bureaus in the U.S.  The following BBBs serve Floridians:
the BBB of West Florida (Clearwater), the BBB of Northeast Florida
(Jacksonville), the BBB of Central Florida (Orlando), the BBB of Northwest
Florida (Pensacola) and the BBB in West Palm Beach.

SOURCE  Council of Better Business Bureaus