BBB Cleveland October Newsletter

1. theMarketMonitorN E W S F O R B E T T E R B U S I N E S S B U R E A U A C C R E D I T E D B U S I N E S S E S®
B E T T E R B U S I N E S S B U R E A U S E R V I N G G R E A T E R C L E V E L A N D
Cybersecurity Myths & Facts
FACT: Estimated that the toll
of cyber fraud will reach over
$2 trillion by 2019.
FACT: In just the last 12 months
approximately 1 in 4 small busi-
nesses (under 25 employees)
were attacked.
FACT: The average financial
loss for small businesses under
cyber-attack is approximate-
ly $4,400; some have lost as
much as $150,000.
MYTH: 35% of small businesses
erroneously believe that their
bank will reimburse them for
cyber-crime losses.
MYTH: 36% of small business-
es don’t know who would be
responsible if such a substantial
loss happened.
Source: CBBB, The State Of
Cybersecurity Among Small
Businesses In North America
(2016)
INSIDE: B2B Discounts • ProtectingYourChildFromIdentityTheft • TechSupportService
Investigation • USPSStatementofOwnership • ShredDay • GetYourStarRating
OCTOBER2016
SERVICE TO THE
COMMUNITY
Greater Cleveland BBB Activity
Report: January - September 2016
BBB’s “Celebration of Integrity” is December
8th at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. You won’t
want to miss the changes we have made to
this year’s event. The morning kicks off with a
hot breakfast at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s
Stillwater Place. Ed “Flash” Ferenc, (of WMMS
Buzzard Morning Zoo fame) will lead us in
honoring our 2016 Champion of Integrity and
this year’s Students of Integrity scholarship
recipients.
Shuttle transportation from the parking lot
to Stillwater Place will be provided. Doors
open at 7:30 AM and the program begins at
8:00 AM. Arrive early to mingle and visit our
sponsors.
• Win a door prize!
• Explore the Zoo and RainForest following
the event.
A limited number of tax deductible
sponsorship opportunities are available at
several levels. Contact Brigid Woodland at
brigid@cleveland.bbb.org or (216) 623-8964
x206 for details.
This event supports BBB’s Educational
Foundation. A $10 donation per attendee is
requested. Watch your email for more event
and registration information.
Employers, mark your calendars!
On December 1st, 2016, the U.S. Department
of Labor’s (DOL) new rules governing
employee overtime pay will go into effect.
These new rules make important changes to
overtime requirements under the federal Fair
Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Overtime / Exemption Basics
In general, the FLSA requires you to pay your
employees overtime pay at a rate of one-
and-one-half times their normal hourly rate
for each hour that an employee works over
40 hours in a given workweek. While most
hourly and salaried employees fall under this
general rule, certain “white collar” employees
have traditionally been “exempted” from
overtime pay requirements.
The most common basis for exempting
“white collar” employees from overtime pay
requires satisfaction of a three-part test:
i. the employee must be paid a fixed
salary (the “Salary Basis Test”);
ii. the employee must be paid more
than the specified minimum weekly
salary level (the “Salary Level
Test”); and
iii. the employee must primarily
perform executive, administrative,
or professional duties (the “Duties
Test”).
Continued on page 3
HAVE A WILD TIME AT BBB’S
CELEBRATION OF INTEGRITY
ARE YOU READY FOR OVERTIME?
Reports issued on companies/
charities: 1,089,841
Customer complaints filed: 6,452
Online Accredited Business
Directory listings viewed:
12,303,391
bbb.org/cleveland visits: 817,415
Advertising review cases
initiated: 350

2. ®
Follow usat:
PROTECTING YOUR CHILD
FROM IDENTITY THEFT
A child’s credit report is pristine and a prime target for
identity thieves. A new Ohio law that went into effect
in September makes it harder for an imposter to open
unauthorized accounts in your child’s name.
A parent or guardian can ask the three major credit
reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion)
to create and freeze a credit record in the child’s name.
The freeze restricts the credit reporting agencies from
releasing information about the child, making it more
difficult for an imposter to use the child’s personal information to be approved for credit,
loans, or services in the child’s name.
To place a freeze, a parent should contact each of the credit reporting agencies and provide
proof of authority to act on behalf of the child, such as a birth certificate, and proof of
identity for both the child and the adult. The cost to place or to lift a security freeze may be
up to $5 each per agency. For victims of identity theft, the fee may be waived. Once in place,
the freeze will remain in effect unless it is lifted by the parent or by the child after reaching
the age of 16.
For more information on how to ‘freeze’ your child’s credit, visit www.OhioProtects.org.
BBB INVESTIGATES
TECH SUPPORT SERVICE
BBB launched an investigation of Pro PC Repair, LLC when complaints surfaced from
consumers who felt they were tricked into believing their computers had been compromised.
They reported getting a popup with a warning that a virus or hackers had infiltrated their
computers and immediate action was needed. Some consumers reported a loud audio
warning accompanied the popup.
The phone number displayed in the warning led users
to Pro PC Repair, a business that operates from a virtual
office in the Cleveland area. Its website, propcrepair.net,
was created in June, 2016 and boasts of “200 K Satisfied
Customers.” Several professional certifications are also
displayed along with a claim of “114 Awards Won So Far.”
The business responded to complaints claiming they only
communicated with existing clients and denied that they
used any popups. When pressed, Pro PC Repair stated
they would cease contacting new clients as of mid-
September. However, BBB received a complaint from
a New York man who said he received a popup on his
computer in October that directed him to call Pro PC Repair. He is now being charged $849
for repairs.
Pro PC Repair did not respond to BBB’s request to substantiate the professional
certifications and awards noted on the website.
BBB has referred this matter to the Federal Trade Commission.
B2B DISCOUNTS FOR
BBB ACCREDITED
BUSINESSES
Office Depot offers discounts
up to 10% on many of
your office needs, with
special pricing on copying
and printing. Go to bit.ly/
bbbohdepo or call Jessica at
(264) 842-7514 for details.
Easton Telecom Phone
service rates ranging as
low as 5% off most retail
services. For a no-obligation
cost comparison and service
analysis, contact Jim Butler at
(800) 222-8122.
All Ohio Secure Shred will
shred documents on site for
$25/month for one container.
Also, one-time bulk purge for
10 cents/lb. $50 minimum.
Call (330) 659-0840 or
(888) 747-3394.
Intellicorp Records, Inc.
offers online criminal checks
for $17.07 each. Other reports
also discounted. Call
(800) 539-3717.
PartnerShip® offers
discounts on select FedEx®
services including express
packages, ground packages,
and residential delivery,
on both new and existing
FedEx® accounts. Also save
at least 70% on standard
and guaranteed LTL freight
shipments with UPS Freight,
YRC Freight, Con-way Freight,
and other reputable carriers,
including competitive pricing
on truckload, expedited, and
tradeshow shipments. Call
(800) 599-2902.
Some member discount programs
generate revenue which BBB reinvests
into the organization’s operations.

3. bbb.org/cleveland
theMarketMonitor
USPS STATEMENT OF
OWNERSHIPARE YOU READY FOR OVERTIME?, continued
In addition, certain employees (such as doctors, teachers, and *ahem* lawyers) are not
subject to the Salary Basis Test or the Salary Level Test, while certain so-called “highly
compensated employees” (or “HCE’s”) are exempted from overtime pay if they earn above a
minimum total annual compensation level and satisfy a minimal duties test.
The New Rule
While there are many changes to the FLSA that will
go into effect on December 1, 2016, one change will be
of particular important to most employers: the DOL is
essentially doubling the minimum required salary for
employees exempted under the Salary Level Test (or part
(ii) of the three-part test cited above).
Specifically, the DOL is increasing the minimum
compensation threshold for traditionally exempted “white
collar” employees from its current level of $455 per week
to $913 per week. On an annual basis, this represents
an increase from the current level of $23,600 per year
to $47,476 per year. Moreover, these thresholds will
now be subject to automatic increases every three years
(commencing on January 1, 2020) to compensate for
inflation.
Conclusions
If you haven’t already reviewed your payroll practices to ensure that they comply with the
DOL’s new overtime rules, now is the time to do so. There are many ways you can modify
your existing payroll practices to bring them into compliance, such as (i) increasing the
pay for certain employees above the new minimum threshold to remain exempt, (ii) paying
formerly-exempt employees overtime in accordance with the new rules; (iii) reducing (or
eliminating) overtime hours for non-exempt employees, or (iv) using a combination of the
foregoing in concert, just to name a few.
To be certain you are in compliance and avoid penalties, you should routinely review your
payroll policies with your accountant, attorney, or other trusted professional.
Matthew J. McCracken, Esq. is a Partner at the Cleveland-based law firm of Weston Hurd LLP. Matthew serves as
outside general counsel to Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland, as well as numerous regional and closely-
held businesses. He can be reached at (216) 687-3249 or at mmccracken@westonhurd.com. This article is for general
information purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice.
HELP CUSTOMERS HELP YOU!
As a BBB Accredited Business, you can now place
a button on your website or in your emails that
will take your customers right to your unique
Customer Review page on your BBB Business
Review. Want to know more? Join your BBB
Staff for a FlashWebinar “BBB Dynamic Seal &
Customer Review Button” on Thursday November
10th at 9 am. Email Brigid@clevleand.bbb.org
with more questions.
WORKERS COMP
GROUP ENROLLMENT
DEADLINE
APPROACHING
Be sure to get a free quote for
BBB’s Workers Comp Group
Rating program.
Contact Don Hicks at:
(440) 879-0152
don.hicks@sheakley.com
with your BWC policy number
before November 18th.
“We made leaving a BBB Customer
Review so easy - Anyone could do it!”

4. The Market Monitor
Better Business Bureau
2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115-2417
The Market Monitor (ISSN 1085-5122). October 2016. Volume 12 No. 5. Published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October and December by the Better Business Bureau, Inc. 2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor,
Cleveland, OH 44115-2417, Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, OH. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Market Monitor, 2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44115-2417.
Periodicals Postage PaidThe Market Monitor
Better Business Bureau
2800 Euclid Avenue, 4th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44115-2417
Periodicals Postage Paid
OCTOBER2016
®
ACCREDITED
BUSINESS
Add the
Dynamic Seal
And at least one
Customer Review
Make sure you have a Star Rating on
your BBB Google search results
GET YOUR STAR RATING
SecureYourIDDay
Thank you to our sponsors:
18,690 pounds of documents were securely shredded at
BBB’s Secure Your ID Day on October 1st.