Vehicle Protection Association
The Vehicle Protection Association (VPA) is a not-for-profit organization committed to giving consumers the resources they need to enjoy a first-rate vehicle service contract experience. As a watchdog association, the VPA monitors automotive service contract providers and helps promote fair business practices throughout the industry.
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Since informed consumers are the best way to ensure good business practices, we have created a range of materials designed to educate you about vehicle service contracts, service contract providers and the buying process.
Membership Categories
VPA Gold Certification
VPA Gold-Certified member marketing companies have passed a comprehensive, third-party review process that tests and monitors their conformity to industry standards and best practices. To attain this certification, the company and its staff are subjected to on-site interviews, procedural reviews, call monitoring and a process improvement initiative that ensures that the organizations policies and procedures are fully compliant.
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For consumers who want to protect their vehicles after their manufacturer's warranty expires, VPA Gold-Certified companies are the best choice. Rather than doing business with an unproven marketing company, consumers can be assured that their VPA Gold-Certified provider is committed to treating them fairly and meets or exceeds all applicable federal and state regulations.
VPA Silver Certification
VPA Silver companies are VPA member firms that administer or finance the vehicle service contracts that are offered by vehicle service contract marketing companies. The firms who are Silver level members have agreed to adhere to the VPA's Standard of Conduct, which are designed to protect consumers.
VPA Bronze Certification
VPA Bronze companies are members who market vehicle service contracts (extended service agreements) that have agreed to adhere to the VPA's Standard of Conduct. This is a uniform ethical code, applicable to the entire automotive service contract industry that protects consumers and establishes a baseline of integrity for our VPA members. Companies that market vehicle service contracts and that join the VPA automatically receive Bronze-level membership, based on their commitment to adhere to our industry standards. In many cases, they have applied for Gold Certification but have not yet been through the complete process.
Consumers Standard of Conduct
VPA Standards of Conduct are a uniform ethical code that applies to the entire automotive service contract industry. Our Standards have been intentionally crafted to help vehicle service contract providers meet or exceed federal and/or state regulations, establishing a baseline of integrity for our member organizations and the industry as a whole.
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The Standards of Conduct cover a range of concerns that are relevant to regulators and vehicle service contract consumers. VPA members are required to comply with our Standards of Conduct as a condition of membership. However, members are encouraged to build upon the Standards by implementing measures that offer additional protection for consumers and further their reputation as an ethical vehicle service contract provider.
Administration
Phone: (954) 343-6959
Direct Fax: (954) 343-6960
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2255 Glades Road, Suite 400-E, Boca Raton, FL 33431 100 West Cypress Creek Road, Suite 700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Robby H. Birnbaum began his law career with Greenspoon Marder in 1998 and has practiced with the firm ever since. Mr. Birnbaum is a Partner and Practice Group Leader of the Regulatory Compliance and Financial Services Practice Groups and serves on the firm’s Management Committee. Mr. Birnbaum also Chairs the firm’s Health and Consumer Insurance Sales Regulatory Group.
For over 20 years, Mr. Birnbaum has provided proactive, successful compliance strategies and outcomes to financial and health industry clients. Mr. Birnbaum also has substantial experience in the travel and vacation resort industries, representing and counseling some of the largest travel providers and sellers of vacation and business travel services in the world.
Mr. Birnbaum’s practice focuses on providing comprehensive legal advice and regulatory advocacy to a broad spectrum of clients, such as nonbank financial products and services providers; advertisers and marketers; health insurance and health-related service sellers; along with trade and professional associations. Mr. Birnbaum practices before the CFPB, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), offices of state attorneys’ general, state banking and financial services departments and federal and state insurance regulators.
A substantial portion of Mr. Birnbaum’s work involves assisting clients with proactive regulatory compliance to remain out of the cross-hairs of regulators and expensive class action lawsuits. Mr. Birnbaum immerses himself in the industries of his clients, advising clients on how to minimize the legal risks related to providing, advertising, and marketing financial and health insurance products and services to consumers under federal and state consumer protection laws, including laws and regulations under the jurisdiction of the CFPB and FTC. Mr. Birnbaum’s team also assists with state licensing and agency compliance reviews. Mr. Birnbaum regularly advises on the design of compliance management systems tailored to specific client needs and government expectations.
Mr. Birnbaum is an experienced advertising attorney who regularly advises clients on consumer protection issues, specifically with regard to advertising and promotions, including digital media and lead generation, as well as consumer credit and financial services laws, privacy laws and regulations. He has extensive experience in the issues surrounding mobile marketing, target marketing, lead generation, affiliate marketing, social media, and user-generated content. Mr. Birnbaum has widely counseled clients on compliance with state and federal banking and insurance regulations, along with the sweeping wave of recent state privacy law regulations.
Mr. Birnbaum focuses on defending clients in regulatory investigations and enforcement actions pursued by the CFPB, FTC, state attorneys’ general, and other state regulatory agencies, as well as advising in private litigation involving claims, such as false or misleading advertising, TCPA and telemarketing challenges, and unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts and practices.
Mr. Birnbaum is heavily involved as the “go-to attorney” for the debt settlement, consumer credit counseling, vehicle service contracts, seller of travel, and the credit repair industries, actively representing over 500 companies in those industries in all areas from lead generation to administrative licensing and contract fulfillment. Mr. Birnbaum also counsels the financial partners and supporting vendors of those industries, and is active in their trade associations.
Mr. Birnbaum regularly counsels private equity and venture capital funds, along with public companies on their potential investments and market activity in regard to his practice areas. Mr. Birnbaum regularly supports and serves as lead counsel and advisor on multi-million dollar buyouts and investments. Mr. Birnbaum serves as outside general counsel to many of the firm’s largest advertising, financial, insurance and other public companies.
Mr. Birnbaum is a Director and Vice Chairman of the American Association for Debt Resolution, served as the elected president of the American Fair Credit Council, the National Association of Credit Service Organizations, and the Administrator of the Vehicle Protection Association. Mr. Birnbaum is exceptionally active in Congressional and legislative affairs groups, bringing those direct insights and current updates back to the firm’s clients. Moreover, affiliate marketing, publisher/affiliate lead generation and sales, and network referrals round out Mr. Birnbaum’s practice areas.
Over the last twenty years, Mr. Birnbaum has likely resolved, without the need for litigation and to the great satisfaction of his clients, more state and federal government investigations and inquiries than any other attorney.
Mr. Birnbaum graduated from the University of Wisconsin for both his undergraduate studies and law degree. He resides in Boca Raton, Florida, practicing from the firm’s Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami offices.
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