I was wondering why BBB changed their name........

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Better Business Bureau L.A. chapter changes name after expulsion

March 12, 2013|By Ricardo Lopez

 The just-expelled Better Business Bureau of the Southland has no plans to end its mission of fighting for southern California consumers.

The former Los Angeles affiliate of Council of Better Business Bureaus has renamed itself the Business Consumer Alliance and is going on the offensive after being booted from the council Tuesday over allegations that it strong-armed businesses into paying cash for inflated ratings.

As a result, the new group can no longer use the BBB name or logo. Kiry Peng, chief executive of the Business Consumer Alliance, defended the BBB of the Southland. In a statement, Peng said the chapter had followed all BBB policies. Peng said it followed the practice of awarding an A-plus rating only to accredited businesses.

"It is ironic that the BBB accuses us of failing to follow organizational policy on the one hand, and then labels us a bad apple when we do," Peng said. "The reality is very simple: The pay-for-play policy was the BBBs, not ours."

The rare move by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, based in Arlington, Va., follows a two-year investigation into the Southland chapter's alleged "pay to play" culture.

"Over a period of more than two years, BBB of the Southland failed to resolve concerns about compliance with several standards required of BBBs, including standards relating to accreditation, reporting on businesses, and handling complaints," Carrie A. Hurt, president and chief executive of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, said in a statement.

The saga began unraveling in 2009 when The Times' consumer affairs columnist, David Lazarus, wrote about chef  Wolfgang Puck, who owns several restaurants in Southern California. Puck's non-BBB restaurants were rated poorly, while lesser-known eateries paid roughly $300 in dues and were graded A-plus.

A year later, a group of Los Angeles business owners that had been critical of the BBB conducted a sting operation by paying dues for fake companies, including one named after the Palestinian organization Hamas, which the U.S. government considers a terrorist group.

The fake businesses were all accredited and given ratings, according to an ABC News report. Hamas received an A-minus rating.

Hurt said in a statement that the national group will operate a "virtual BBB" until a local group is established and running again. Other BBB staff from around the country will take on local responsibilities in the interim.

In a Friday letter to the national group, Jerry Dominguez, chairman of the board of the BBB of the Southland, defended his chapter's record and resigned its membership in the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

"Our board has endured repeated, unjustified criticism that we haven't been exercising our governance responsibilities as the auditors believe we should," Dominguez wrote.

In the letter, he detailed what he called the group's accomplishments and handling of consumer complaints.

"Frankly, we're disgusted with the actions of Council and we find resignation to be not just the only, but the best, course of action for us," he ended the missive.

Spring Into Summer Savings!

 

 Customer Appreciation Days at Evenflow Mechanical

 

2 Ways To Save:

1.     Tell Us About Your Experience With Evenflow Mechanical

 Simply Submit Either:

- Your Blog

- Your Personal Video 

- Your Written Testimonial

- Website Survey

 

Receive a free service call/inspection (Includes New Filter) an $85 value!

 

*Applicable to existing customers only*

 

*Labor only, does not include refrigerant*

 

2.     10% off any service/install

             Provide (3) qualified leads:

            - Estimate

            - Install

            - Service

 

*Labor only, does not include parts or materials*

 

*New: Refer a friend, receive a complimentary tune-up*

 

* Referral must receive: service, repair or estimate

Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV)

 

Suwanee, Ga. - Mitsubishi Electric HVAC has introduced an advanced line of Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) to meet the growing demand for improved indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in buildings and help satisfy requirements of ASHRAE standards 62 and 90.1. The new Lossnay ERVs recapture cooling and heating energy, control humidity extremes and are compatible with Mr. Slim and CITY MULTI HVAC systems, according to Chuck Applebee, product manager.

"The unique combination of Lossnay ERVs and CITY MULTI allows for easy maintenance and troubleshooting," says Applebee. "Lossnay enables users to target different zones with varying heating and cooling needs on a case-by-case basis." In addition to helping equalize humidity levels and removing harmful indoor pollutants, Lossnay ERVs are an efficient and effective step toward improving overall indoor environmental quality.

Within the LGH-F-RX3 series, there are four available ERV models, offering CFM levels from 300-1200 CFM and two remote controllers - one for use with Mitsubishi Electric's M-NET controls network and one for independent control.

"Key to the system's ability to improve IEQ, the Lossnay cross-flow, low-maintenance energy exchange core, constructed of a specially treated cellulose fiber membrane, prevents the inbound air and exhaust air from mixing, while exchanging energy to precondition the air," says Applebee. At the same time, Lossnay ERVs exhaust irritating indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde, pollen, cigarette smoke, dust, and carbon dioxide.

Lossnay models transfer fresh and exhaust airstreams through adjacent passages in the Lossnay core with minimal cross contamination. In cold months with low humidity, inbound air is warmed and humidified with the warmer indoor air, and in warm months, air is cooled and dehumidified with the cooler exhausted air. This minimizes the load on the cooling and heating system. Humidity control is enhanced because the ERV's core incorporates heat transmission plates specially treated to allow water vapor molecules to pass through and to help equalize the indoor humidity levels. "In a nutshell, Lossnay ERVs help improve the efficiency of HVAC systems by pre-cooling or pre-heating incoming outside air with the available energy in the stale exhaust air," says Applebee. "The ERVs are cost-effective, energy-efficient and provide a healthier living and working environment."

Lossnay ERVs are compatible with TG-2000 software, LMAP LonWorks device and BACnet, further increasing the scope of total system management. Additionally, each Lossnay ERV unit comes standard with the M-NET adapter, so networking systems connected with CITY MULTI VRFZ systems has never been easier.

About Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division

For 25 years, Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division, headquartered in Suwanee, Ga., has been a leading marketer of intelligent air-conditioning and heating technology, manufactured by its parent corporation, Mitsubishi Electric. The Division's market distribution includes North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Bermuda.

Mitsubishi Electric HVAC continues to build brand loyalty, increase its market position and deliver exceptional customer service through the Diamond Alliance program, a strategic platform of training-based achievement programs designed to coordinate Mitsubishi Electric HVAC, distributors, contractors and design engineering firms. For more information on the Diamond Alliance, Mr. Slim split-ductless systems, CITY MULTI Variable Refrigerant Flow Zoning (VRFZ) Systems, compressors, PlasmaPure room air purification systems, a full line of accessories for the Mr. Slim product line, including Line-Hide line-set covers and the Mitsubishi Electric HVAC Advanced Products Division, call 800/687-1966 or visit www.mehvac.com.

Accomplishments

A 2004 survey by ACH&R news listed Mitsubishi Electric as contractors' most preferred ductless manufacturer and the number one brand in price/value, availability, reliability and performance specifications. In 2004, Mr. Slim received a Bronze Award in ACH&R news' Dealer Design Awards contest and CITY MULTI received a Bronze Award in the HVAC product category in 2005 for Consulting Specifying Engineer's Product of the Year contest. Additionally, in 2003 and 2004, the Air- Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute (ARI) recognized Mitsubishi Electric HVAC for achieving a 100 percent success rate for the Mr. Slim product for three consecutive years. In 2005, CITY MULTI was named as one of the top 100 smart products for buildings by Buildings Magazine.

Register your product to put warranty coverage in force and to get the latest product information and owner notices.

Thank you for purchasing a York product and taking this brief time to register it. Your registration enforces your warranty coverage and will keep you up to date on product information and offers. If you have questions about your warranty, please contact your York Dealer.

To register your product, you will need your model and serial numbers found on your dealer invoice or located on the unit.

Once you have the model and serial numbers,
register your product at UPProductRegistration.com

Take Care of Your Air

Feel healthier and keep your home cleaner with advanced products that can replace stale air with fresh, filter germs, control humidity and clean your comfort system to ensure high indoor air quality.

Spring and Summer Tips

Have your Air Conditioning system tuned-up for the season, so that you are running at peak efficiency. Operating at peak efficiency will save money because the system doesn't have to work as hard to do its job.

Replace your furnace or air handler filters on a regular basis. Lack of regular filter changes and maintenance is the Number 1 cause of system breakdowns and costly repair bills.

If you disconnected the power to your central air conditioning system in the winter, wait 24-hours after turning power back on to the system to run it. Your compressor needs that time to warm-up.

Keep the thermostat constant. Continuously adjusting the thermostat can be very inefficient. You can, however, raise the thermostat 2-3 degrees during the day while you're away to save money. For every degree you raise the setting, you can expect to cut energy consumption by up to 3-5 percent.

Flip the fan switch on your thermostat into the fan on mode when cooling the house. This process will ensure that air is always being stirred to prevent hot and cold pockets from forming.

Set air vents on the second floor to receive approximately 75 percent of the conditioned air. This will help even out the temperatures from the first to the second floor of the home.

Keep the shades and curtains drawn to reduce the radiant heat of the sun.

Install awnings or plant trees that will shade southern facing windows. This keeps the hottest rays of the sun from shining directly into the house.

Replace older windows with more efficient low-E glass. These windows help to reduce the effect of the suns warming rays. Also, keep storm windows closed. The above 3 tips will reduce the heat load gain on your home which means your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard to keep the home at a comfortable temperature. This saves money and extends the life of the system.

Install an attic fan to help ventilate some of the hot air out of the attic. Attics can reach temperatures of 140 - 150 degrees and this build of warm air can make the upstairs of a home warmer than it needs to be. This makes the air conditioner work harder to do its job. It costs you more to cool your home and the life of the system can be decreased.

Run a dehumidifier in the basement if the basement is humid. A damp basement can add moisture to the whole house. With the humidity levels as high as they are around here on their own, you don't need that! A dehumidifier in the basement will help to reduce the humidity levels in the home, making it more comfortable throughout in the hot summer months.

Clear or cut back shrubs and bushes from the outdoor unit. The sides of the unit require at least 12-18 inches of clearance for proper performance.

Keep fallen leaves, grass clippings, foliage and other dirt and debris away from your outdoor unit. And keep the a/c coils clean, following manufacturers' instructions.

Don't block vents or ducts inside the house to assure air flow in the home.

Caulk and install weather stripping around windows and doors (especially the attic) to close air gaps.

Avoid using the oven during the day. Run the dishwasher, washing machine and dryer in the evening, when electricity rates may be lower and heat from those appliances won't increase a/c demands.

Turn off lamps, TV and other appliances when not in use.

Consider use of a programmable thermostat to automatically increase or decrease temperatures during day and night to suit a family's lifestyle and reduce energy cost.

Use shades, blinds or curtains to keep sunlight out of the house.

Keep windows and doors closed when the a/c is on.

Pre-Service Checklist

Reduce service costs by reviewing this checklist of issues.

Before calling your York Dealer for service, take a moment to make sure you're prepared for the appointment. Here are a few things to do in preparation for your service appointment:

Review the troubleshooting guide and be prepared to explain the issues that you're experiencing.

• Check your air filter. A dirty air filter is a common cause of problems.
• Write down the model numbers of all your York products.
• Know how long ago your problem began.
• Make sure the system is accessible, remove anything blocking your products.
• Keep pets in a separate room so they don't get overly excited.
• Arrange for an adult (18 or over) to be home to allow entry to your home.
• Provide a phone number to receive a call from the technicians to confirm the service visit.
• If you rent your home, get your landlord's permission to have your system serviced.
• If you discover your heat pump or air conditioner is frozen, shut it off to allow it to thaw before the technician arrives.

Have You Asked The Evenflow Guy?
 

Maintenance Questions

How long can I expect a new system to last?

If you have a qualified technician perform regular preventative maintenance and service suggested for your unit, industry averages suggest that an air conditioner should last 12-15 years (sea coast applications may be less) and a gas furnace should last as many as 20-25 years.

...

Should I change my indoor coil?

When replacing your air conditioner or heat pump, the answer is most likely yes. The efficiency ratings that are advertised for an air conditioner or heat pump are based on the performance as part of a matched system. If only the outdoor portion is changed, the efficiency and savings could be less than that of a matched system.

...

 Where do I get replacement parts?

Contact your York Dealer for help obtaining replacement parts.

...

 What is covered in my warranty?

All York products come with a written limited warranty on parts. This warranty states that a replacement part will be furnished for any part of the product that fails in normal use and service during the applicable warranty period specified in accordance with the warranty's terms. Your authorized York® Dealer can review with you the warranty periods for the products you select.