Eastman Kodak resigned its membership in the Council of Better Business Bureaus after a prolonged dispute over its handling of customer complaints about defective digital cameras, product warranties or other issues, the consumer advocacy group said.

The council, the umbrella organization for the Better Business Bureau system begun in 1912, counted Kodak Co. among its founding members in 1971. With 2.7 million registered business members in the United States and Canada, Better Business Bureau Inc. handled 1.2 million complaints about goods and services in 2006 and helped resolve more than two-thirds of them.

It said Kodak has long refused to accept or respond to consumer complaints submitted by the Upstate New York Better Business Bureau, prompting expulsion proceedings in December.

Kodak was advised it could contest the termination but chose instead to resign its national membership in early March. The photography company allowed its membership in the Buffalo-based branch to lapse about five years ago.

``When things are going well and everyone is making money, companies don't think twice about refunding or doing the right thing. When things get tough, they start tightening up on quality control and implementation of parts and services and it reflects on the company overall,'' Wlaszyn said.

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