MONTEREY, Calif., July 7, 2009 — In an effort to better serve consumers and constituent organizations, Better Business Bureau (BBB) has chosen leading interpretation and translation provider Language Line Services to implement a language access program allowing for instant communication in more than 175 languages.
"Nearly 23 million people in this country are considered to have limited English proficiency, a segment of the population that is often exploited by companies that employ predatory tactics to take advantage of language barriers," said Louis Provenzano, Language Line Services President and COO. "I commend the Better Business Bureau for their commitment to protecting the rights of all consumers, regardless of language, and am proud they chose Language Line Services to deliver this language access program."
By using Language Line Services' over-the-phone interpreters, BBB will now offer limited-English-proficient consumers the ability to file complaints and communicate with BBB in their own languages. In addition, BBB's multilingual call centers will field calls from consumers in more than 175 languages ranging from Spanish to Fukienese.
According to Stephen Cox, Vice President of Communications for the Council of Better Business Bureaus, enhanced language capabilities were necessary to best serve the growing limited-English-speaking population. Cox noted that the U.S. Census Bureau's most recent reports show the country's foreign-born population has reached an all-time high of 38.1 million, and predicts that combined ethnic minorities will become the majority of the country's population by 2042 as a result of immigration.
Language Line Services will also provide document translation and web localization services to BBB, making the BBB's published resources for consumers and businesses available in Spanish, with more languages planned as needed.
"Limited English speakers own an increasingly growing share of buying power in the United States, yet were previously met with difficulty when trying to resolve consumer-related issues," added Provenzano. "Now, these customers can feel comfortable knowing that, if needed, they can report issues, present complaints, or seek assistance from the Better Business Bureau in their preferred languages."
About Language Line Services
Language Line Services, the global leader in telephone interpreting and language solutions, serves clients in government, health care, telecom, financial services, insurance and many other industries by quickly connecting them to their customers, patients and sales prospects in over 175 spoken languages as well as American sign language and Mexican Sign Language. Growth of the language interpreting industry has soared with increased immigration and government regulatory policies mandating that organizations provide services to limited English speakers in their own languages. Language Line Services is recognized as a trusted partner to thousands of clients throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, providing access to the industry's fastest language interpreting service at highly competitive rates. For more information about Language Line Services' suite of telephone and video interpreting, document translation, interactive software-based translation, interpreter training and certification programs, please call +1 (800) 752-6096 or visit http://www.languageline.com.
Media Contacts:
Dale Hansman
Email
831-648-7436
Julie Jimenez
Email
305-461-5794
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