Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC)
The Direct Selling Self-Regulatory Council (DSSRC) was established in 2019 to proactively monitor the marketplace and enforce program standards to promote truth and transparency in the growing direct-selling industry.
DSSRC provides impartial monitoring, enforcement, and dispute resolution regarding product claims or income representations (including lifestyle claims) disseminated by direct selling companies and their salesforce members. This program provides a robust challenge process that also includes the opportunity for a company to appeal a decision.
DSSRC provides impartial monitoring, enforcement, and dispute resolution regarding product claims or income representations (including lifestyle claims) disseminated by direct selling companies and their salesforce members. This program provides a robust challenge process that also includes the opportunity for a company to appeal a decision.
Case Decisions
This program offers companies in the direct-selling industry a fast and efficient forum for review of express or implied claims about earnings and product performance.
Policies, Procedures, & Guidance
Policies
Any company, consumer, or non-governmental organization can submit a DSSRC inquiry against a direct-selling company or part of their salesforce.
DSSRC will independently review any submitted inquiry to ensure that the matter is appropriate for review and a proper expenditure of program resources. Once they are final, all case decisions are available to the public.
Guidance
Activity Reports
DSSRC Activity Reports outline the notable initiatives undertaken by DSSRC each year, including its monitoring of direct selling advertising and marketing, its case work, and DSSRC’s continuing educational initiatives for the direct selling channel.
DSSRC Activity Report: January-October 2020
Appellate Board
Members of the DSSRC Appellate Board play an important role in the direct selling industry’s self-regulatory program designed to ensure the truthfulness and accuracy of direct selling advertising. DSSRC Board members serve on panels that hear appeals taken by direct selling companies whose advertisements were the subject of a DSSRC decision.
The direct selling industry is greatly appreciative of the voluntary service of DSSRC Appellate Board members.
The direct selling industry is greatly appreciative of the voluntary service of DSSRC Appellate Board members.
- Adonis E. Hoffman, CEO, The Advisory Counsel, LLC, DSSRC Appellate Board Chairman
- Michael J. Collins, CEO, M&L Collins Group
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your relationship with DSA?
The Direct Selling Association (DSA) provides funding for DSSRC. However, substantively, DSSRC operates autonomously from DSA.
Who can submit an inquiry?
Any company, consumer, or non-governmental organization can submit a DSSRC inquiry against a direct-selling company or part of their salesforce. DSSRC will independently review any submitted inquiry to ensure that the matter is appropriate for review and a proper expenditure of program resources. Once they are final, all case decisions are available to the public.
What is required to submit a challenge?
In order to file a challenge, the company must provide DSSRC with an opening letter listing and substantively explaining the explicit and implicit earnings or product claims made by the advertiser(s), as well as copies of the claims found on the company website and/or social media outlets.
Is there a filing fee?
There are no filing fees associated with any consumer or non-governmental organization inquiries. There is a $10,000 filing fee for challenges. DSA partners can file a challenge at the discounted price of $5,000.
When does an inquiry result in an administrative closure?
If, upon receipt of a DSSRC inquiry, a direct-selling company informs DSSRC in writing that the claim and/or representations at issue has been or is the process of being immediately and permanently withdrawn from use or significantly modified to address DSSRC’s concerns, DSSRC may determine and advise the relevant parties that the inquiry is not, or is no longer, appropriate for formal investigation in this forum. Upon making such a determination, DSSRC shall advise the party or parties that the inquiry shall be administratively closed and summarize the disposition of the inquiry on the DSSRC page of the BBB National Programs website.