Forum Moderators: phranque
On their site (netiba.com), they say:
"NetIBA strives to reduce internet fraud by taking the anonymity out of the on-line experience. NetIBA makes the internet a safer place for consumers"
They claim that they will thoroughly check the identity of every applicant: they will call you on the phone to see whether you are a "real" person, then they will send you a letter with an access code that you must confirm on their site.
So, I paid the yearly contribution fee and waited...
I never got any phone call of them to check my identity, but after a month, I got a letter from NetIBA. I entered the confirmation code on their site, and from that moment on my site was "certified by NetIBA".
To gain confidence of potential customers, they advized me to insert a link to a javascript on the netiba.com server. That javascript should display a "certified by NetIBA" graphic on my pages (BTW: most of the time, their server is unreachable, so that graphic doesn't load onto the page!)
As EVERYBODY can get that certification with ease, I wonder how a "certified by NetIBA" graphic on my site "makes the internet a safer place for consumers"?
I asked what Tombola meant, I thought it was some arcane vegetable used in Minestrone or whatever.
It turns out tombola is their equivalent of "Bingo!"
As for NetIBA: If they pay me whatever you paid them, I will gladly certify them for a year.
I won't put up a link to some outfit I never heard of however.
Best wishes -Larry
"NetIBA strives to reduce internet fraud by taking the anonymity out of the on-line experience. NetIBA makes the internet a safer place for consumers"
Actually I would be happy to see such an organization take up this ball if demonstrates some sort of credentials. The anonymity is half the problem with hackers and spammers, I would gladly give up mine for a non-anonymous Internet! :)
For so many dollars, you can put up a plaque or logo on your (brick & mortar)
storefront indicating membership, and implying you are more legitimate than
the little shop down the street.
Frankly, am honest recommendation from you or me would be worth more.
As soon as I see one of those BBB gizmos I wonder what sins are being covered up.
I had to get a transmission job on my Olds once. I had several choices of shops.
I chose a Mexican jernt where the owner was proud of his pet hot-rod.
I was never sorry. The Olds finally died, the engine gave out but not the tranny. - Larry
After many requests of customers why my site was not "certified by NetIBA", I decided to apply for a NetIBA certification.
Never been asked about this. BUT as a consumer as well as publisher, I am aware of the dangers of anonymous web istes. For this reason we publish our office address on the site, not a PO BOX, but a real physical address where suspicious customers can drop round for a cup of tea (by appointment please!). We also include our full details in our "whois" record, hopefully instilling confidence that we are a legitimate and accountable organisation.
Matt
OTOH, if you have one of those sites where you're careful never to give away any clues to your name or location, maybe those queries are telling you that you're losing customers because people aren't even sure you exist at all. For all they know, their money is going straight to Nigeria.
After many requests of customers
Also for whatever reason their site has been unreachable since yesterday.
[edited by: trillianjedi at 5:19 pm (utc) on Feb. 6, 2006]
[edit reason] See sticky [/edit]
Have those customers actually made a purchase in the past? or are they spammers.
