The BBB gave Entertainment Career Connection its worst possible rating --an "F" out of a scale from "AAA" to "F." The lawsuit alleges that therating is unfair and is the product of unfair practices employed by theBBB, including using a separate but undisclosed more favorable ratingsystem for businesses that pay for costly BBB memberships.

The BBB filed papers asking the court to dismiss the case on the groundsthat it was protected from lawsuits of this nature, but the court ruledthat the BBB operates, in many respects, as a commercial enterprise and issubject to suit for its actions. According to papers filed with the court,the BBB generates more than $9 million per year in membership sales andthose sales make up more than 90 percent of its revenues.

According to papers filed with the court:

--  The BBB provides consumers with a rating for business from "AAA" to    "F."  But the BBB falsely represents that it makes no difference for    ratings purposes whether or not a business has paid for a BBB membership.    The fact is that businesses that pay for memberships are automatically    awarded more points under the BBB's rating system. The BBB charges    businesses as much $9,000 per year for memberships.--  Similarly, the BBB does not tell the public that it uses a separate,    more lenient rating system for larger businesses that pay larger membership    fees. The result is that a small, non-member company like Entertainment    Career Connection can have a small number of complaints against it with the    BBB -- small in terms of raw numbers and as a percentage of its    customers -- and get a bad rating; but a big dues-paying BBB member    like Cingular, with more than a thousand complaints against it,    receives one of the BBB's top ratings.--  Although the BBB claims that only legitimate businesses can become    members, the fact is it gave memberships and ratings of "Members in Good    Standing" to an auto repair shop and a sushi restaurant -- neither of which    actually existed.  It required only that the purported "businesses" provide    payment for memberships, i.e., the BBB did not check to see if they really    were businesses. The address provided for one of the alleged businesses    turned out to be someone's apartment.--  The BBB lowered its rating of Entertainment Career Connection to an    "F" in retaliation for the company challenging what it believed to be an    unfair rating. In fact, the BBB's president, William Mitchell, personally    directed the BBB to change its report on the company to include allegations    of misleading advertising when, in fact, no consumer had ever made such a    complaint.    

According to the Orange County Register, the BBB was the subject of pastinvestigations relating to allegations of improper ratings.

Entertainment Career Connection's Founder and Chief Executive Officer James(Jimi) Pettula said, "We continue to lose substantial business on a monthlybasis as a result of this unfair and unwarranted bogus rating. Our schooldeserves to compete in the marketplace fairly." By 2010, the globalentertainment and media industry is projected to be a $1.83 trillionindustry-- up from $1.33 trillion in 2005.

Other companies listed by the BBB of interest include Google, who has a "C"rating and zero complaints against them, yet they are not a member of BBB.Warner Brothers Entertainment, Inc. has an "F" rating, while they have twocomplaints against them, and they are not a member of BBB. Loews Theaters,now AMC Theatres, officially known as AMC Entertainment Inc., have a "B"rating, zero complaints against them, and they are not a member of BBB.Cingular Wireless (AT&T) has a "BB" rating, 1284 complaints against themand they are a member of BBB. CyberDefender Corporation has a "BBB"rating, 25 complaints against them and they are a member of BBB.

Once courses are completed, a large number of Entertainment CareerConnection students go on to land jobs in their chosen industry.

Businesses who have had similar experiences with the BBB may contact BrianKraft at 1 800 295 4433.

About Entertainment Connection, Inc.

Founded in 1984, Entertainment Career Connection, certified by the NationalPrivate Schools Accreditation Alliance, has provided educational apprenticeprograms for the film, radio, television and the music recording industriesin more than 100 U.S. cities in all 50 states. The schools, where graduatesfind their dream careers, provide the entertainment industry withapprentices. Entertainment Career Connection offers a complete financialaid package from Sallie Mae the nation's leading provider of student loans,and other financial aid programs.

Entertainment Connection has a reputation for having the finest radioschool, music production and film making schools in the entertainment mediaindustry. Unlike any other school, students learn from successful mentorsin real world situations including active recording studio sessions, onreal film sets and at actual on air radio stations as opposed to simulatedclassrooms where the pressures of client interaction and real deadlines donot exist. Applicants who wish to learn how to be a DJ, or talkshow host, or radio announcer are screened and then re-screened by thementors. Entertainment Career Connection's programs can be completed inapproximately half the time of degrees obtained from other schools.

The company is headquartered in Hollywood, by the historic Walk of Fame inLos Angeles, California. Visit www.recordingconnection.com,www.radioconnection.com or www.film-connection.com. For additionalinformation, please contract Brian Kraft at 1 800 295 4433 or 310 592 3780.

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