United States Organizations for Bankruptcy Alternatives (USOBA) Announced Best Practice Standard Accreditation Program at the 2006 Winter Conference in Austin, TX
USOBA announced its Best Practice Standard Accreditation Program which is the first program of its kind for the debt negotiation industry. A 2nd party audit will determine if the program participants are in compliance with the USOBA Best Practice Standard. This standard was drafted and unanimously approved by the USOBA membership in order to establish consumer protection guidelines and best practice procedures and policies. This accreditation program will be based on the USOBA Best Practice Standard and will represent the first opportunity for consumers to make informed choices about debt negotiation companies with more assurance.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) February 10, 2006 -- United States Organizations for Bankruptcy Alternatives (USOBA) announced Best Practice Standard Accreditation Program at the 2006 Winter Conference in Austin, TX.
USOBA announced its Best Practice Standard Accreditation Program which is the first program of its kind for the debt negotiation industry. A 2nd party audit will determine if the program participants are in compliance with the USOBA Best Practice Standard. This standard was drafted and unanimously approved by the USOBA membership in order to establish consumer protection guidelines and best practice procedures and policies. This accreditation program will be based on the USOBA Best Practice Standard and will represent the first opportunity for consumers to make informed choices about debt negotiation companies with more assurance.
“USOBA has developed a good set of best practices,” commented Tom Shelley, VP, Marketing for BSI Management Systems. “The best practices include ensuring companies are not engaging in any misleading advertising; that they clearly explain upfront to consumers the costs and timescales, and include this in the agreements, communicate regularly with consumers and much more besides. What is even better is that the requirements have been written in unambiguous and therefore auditable terms. This means that BSI can truly verify that each accredited company is really doing what they should be doing.”
USOBA concluded its 2006 Winter Conference on Friday, February 3. The 2 day conference, held in Austin, TX, welcomed distinguished guests and regulators from 6 states. These industry conferences provide a vital arena for regulators and legislators to participate in shaping the debt negotiation industry by presenting valuable information to the USOBA membership regarding the expectations of state governments. Speaker Leslie Linfield from the Institute for Financial Literacy remarked, “I enjoyed the opportunity to meet the membership and found them to be engaging and particularly interested in the topic of financial literacy and educating their clients.”
USOBA, as the oldest and largest trade association representing 75 debt negotiation companies, was founded by members of the industry seeking representation specifically for debt negotiation outside of credit counseling and bankruptcy law. USOBA represents and advocates for the fair regulation of the industry and the protection of consumers.
With record levels of consumers filing for bankruptcy each year, the credit counseling industry under fire from the IRS, FTC, U.S. Senate and House, consumer advocates and the state legislatures, USOBA members are often the last line of help to aid consumers that wish to avoid bankruptcy.
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