In addition, the award recognizes an office that positively impacts the community and effectively deals with consumer issues and constituents.

Only one Myers Memorial Award is granted each year. Any BBB in the United States or Canada is eligible that concentrates on reviews of advertising, charities, trade practice or educational projects.

“Our BBB is extremely proud and honored to receive the Myers Memorial Award,” Mason said. “Our staff has been working tirelessly on these cases and others to help keep consumers and businesses in our North Alabama community, as well as those in other communities, aware and safe from fraud and questionable business practices.”

At the recent BBB Assembly in Washington, D.C., the North Alabama BBB received the award and $10,000 for its work with consumers.

In its application, North Alabama BBB highlighted several staff investigations, including “an air duct cleaning ring using bait-and-switch tactics to trick homeowners into paying hundreds or thousands of dollars unnecessarily for mold remediation,” Mason said.

Other investigations were “a questionable storm aid concert, issues with a local storm shelter company, as well as a business promoting women’s expos,” Mason said.

In addition, the North Alabama BBB’s investigation on air duct cleaning companies resulted in a “Dateline NBC” segment. Dateline’s Chris Hansen interviewed Mason.

A judge for the Myers award compared the North Alabama BBB’s efforts to “something you might see in the law enforcement sector and deserves to be recognized and commended.”

“I was impressed by the dogged determination of the investigators at the BBB of Northern Alabama,” the judge said. “Their efforts paid off in the bad companies being shut down and national media attention.”

For BBB reports on companies and charities, call 256-533-1640 or 800-239-1642 or visit northalabama.bbb.org.