Amid criticism that the Better Business Bureau boosts ratings of dues-paying members, the chief executive of Chicago’s BBB acknowledged a “stigma” of  “pay to play”  but took pains to point out that 158 local businesses have been thrown out of the organization in the last three years and another 40 have been denied membership in the last 12 months.

“So you just can’t buy into the organization and write the check,” Chicago BBB Chief Executive Steve Bernas said in an interview. “You have to meet and maintain standards.” Get the full story »