1. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
1.1. Consumer (Customer) is a citizen or a legal entity intending to order, purchase or ordering, purchasing or using goods (works, services).
2. FBB MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
2.1. Any legal entity which is a seller, manufacturer or provider under legislation of the Russian Federation, i.e. an entity making products or providing services which meets the requirements of this Statute and adheres to the Code of Honor shall be eligible to be a member of the Fair Business Bureau (FBB).
2.2. A member of the FBB may be a branch or representative office of a legal entity meeting the requirements of Clause 1.1 above, provided that the branch or representative office is registered with tax authorities of Saint Petersburg or Leningrad Region and has an independent balance and/or seal.
2.3. A legal entity that has been in business in the Saint Petersburg or Leningrad Region market for less than one year shall not be eligible for the FBB membership.
2.4. A legal entity against which there are valid but not implemented court judgments on consumers' claims shall not be eligible for the FBB membership.
2.5. There shall be no limitations for the FBB membership other than those mentioned in this Statute.
3. PROCEDURE FOR ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION IN THE NON-PROFIT PARTNERSHIP
The FBB membership shall be voluntary.
3.1. A legal entity desiring to become a member of the FBB (an applicant) shall file an application in the prescribed format with the Board of the Non-Profit Partnership (NPP) Fair Business Bureau. The application shall be accepted for consideration within two working days from the filing date (based on the incoming reference number).
3.2. The applicant shall enclose with the application two letters of recommendation from his business partners.
3.3. The Board of NPP Fair Business Bureau shall turn over the application to the Expert Council of the Saint Petersburg Consumer Association which shall within two weeks give its opinion on the possibility of admission of the applicant as a candidate member of the FBB. The expert work shall be started only after the applicant has paid the cost of the consumer audit (see Clause 5.2). The consumer audit shall be carried out on the basis of a separate contract with the FBB.
3.4. The decision on admission of the applicant as a candidate or a rejection of his application shall be made by the FBB Board at the meeting that follows the application filing date.
3.5. In case of positive results of the consumer audit the applicant shall become a candidate for the FBB membership and shall prepare documents for participation in NPP FBB.
A unified candidate membership term shall be established which shall be one month from the date of admission fee payment.
3.6. Upon expiration of the candidate membership term the candidate shall make a contract with NPP Fair Business Bureau and sign the Code of Honor. Upon signature of the two documents the candidate will become a member of the non-profit partnership.
Thereafter, the relations between the member and the FBB will develop according to an individual activity plan which shall be annexed to the agreement on participation.
3.7. Members shall adhere to the Code of Honor and follow recommendations related to their business.
3.8. Simplified audit procedure and personnel policy quality examination shall be used for Russian small businesses.
4. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FBB MEMBERS
4.1. FBB members shall have the right to:
- participate in implementation of the FBB Programs, make proposals for their development and improvement;
- receive information on the FBB activities and members;
- use information available in the FBB database;
- be familiarized with all consumers'/customers' claims against them;
- participate in all events sponsored by the FBB.
4.2. FBB members shall:
- adhere to this Statute;
- adhere to the Saint Petersburg Business Code of Honor;
- implement decisions of the FBB governing bodies;
- pay membership dues in a timely manner;
- provide true and full information about their businesses, goods and services offered to consumers/customers and other relevant information pertaining to the FBB activities;
- take measures for out-of-court resolution of disputes with consumers/customers;
- abide by mediators' decisions concerning resolution of disputes with consumers/customers;
- not take any actions which are against the principles of relations between consumers/customers and businesses/providers which the members have voluntarily chosen to adhere to, or actions that adversely impact the fair business image.
5. FBB MEMBERSHIP DUES
5.1 The candidates and members shall pay the appropriate membership dues in a timely manner. The amount of the monthly dues shall be established by the Board of NPP Fair Business Bureau according to the level of the business activity.
For individual entrepreneurs without a legal identity of their own: 100 conventional units;
For small businesses: 200 conventional units;
For medium-size businesses: 300 conventional units;
For large businesses: 500 conventional units.
The monthly dues for NPP FBB members may not be changed in the course of year.
5.2. The consumer audit cost shall be 120 conventional units.
Funds received as payment for the consumer audit shall be used only for evaluation of the candidate compliance with the requirements of the Statute, formulation of recommendations related to corrective measures, processing of information about the candidate and preparation of an individual image-building activity plan.
5.3. At the FBB member's option, membership dues shall be paid on a quarterly basis or one year in advance in the amount specified in the agreement on participation in the program.
5.4. In case of voluntary withdrawal from the non-profit partnership, members shall settle the membership dues arrears for the past period.
6. TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION IN THE FBB ACTIVITIES
6.1. The FBB membership may be terminated on the basis of a voluntary notification of withdrawal in writing to be sent to the Board of NPP Fair Business Bureau.
6.2. The FBB membership may be terminated or suspended pursuant to a special decision of the Board of NPP Fair Business Bureau by reason of regular (more than 3 times) infringement by the member of this Statute or documents adopted on its basis or by reason of membership dues in arrears (for 2 months).
6.3. Information on FBB membership termination shall be made public through the media.
6.4. In case of terminated FBB membership the legal entity (business) may not use the FBB attributes.
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