Self Regulation

About ERSP

The Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program (ERSP) was established in 2004. ERSP's mission is to enhance consumer confidence in electronic retailing by providing a quick and effective mechanism for resolving inquiries regarding the truthfulness and accuracy of claims in direct response advertising. ERSP is managed as a separate self-regulatory program administered for the National Advertising Review Council (NARC) by the Council of Better Business Bureaus. ERSP continues to play an important role in preventing deceptive claims from remaining on the air. To date, companies working with ERSP have modified or discontinued nearly two hundred advertisements. ERSP is an example of how industry self-regulation can improve industry standards and the consumer experience. 

ERSP Frequently Asked Questions

NARC Self-Regulation Program (ERSP) Policies

ERA policies regarding ERSP

ERSP Cases and Findings

ERSP Blog

Report a Problem

ERSP uses feedback from both competitors and consumers. If you had a bad experience with a product you bought, please visit Consumer Information to learn your rights. If you believe a marketer is making unsubstantiated claims, please contact Peter Marinello at pmarinello@narc.bbb.org to file a competitor challenge.

ERSP Statistics 

(August 2004-May 2011)
Total Direct Response Advertising Tracked 5800
Individual Products Tracked 3450
Home Shopping Hours Monitored 335
Email Spam Monitored
Approximately 4200
Website Pop Ups Monitored
Approximately 3350
Consumer Complaints Pursued
176
Spanish Language Consumer Complaints
6

 

Total Cases Current and Closed
305
Average Case Length (Calendar Days)
65 days
Cases from Monitoring
174
Cases from Consumer Challenges*
77
Cases from Competitor Challenges*
92
Compliance Cases
35
*some cases duplicate competitor/consumer challenge
Published ERSP Case Decisions
283
Advertising Modified or Discontinued
264
FTC Nonparticipation Referrals
16
Compliance Referral to FTC
3
Pending Cases 9
Total Supplement Cases
137