|
Ethics Complaints
|
|
Complaints can be filed against a member and/or broker of Pacific West by members of the public or any other member.
An ethics complaint should be filed when you want to charge our member with a Code of Ethics or MLS Rules violation.
If you want to file a complaint, please complete Disciplinary Complaint Form D-1, identify the Code of Ethics you want to charge
and return it to the Association office with a detailed summary of the events that took place (no filing fee to file an ethics complaint).
|
|
|
Requirements
|
|
Any person, member or non-member, may file an ethics complaint against a member and/or broker alleging a violation of the
Code of Ethics or MLS Rules & Regulations. A Complaint must be filed within 180 days from close of escrow or date of
discovery. You must submit a typed-written summary of the events that took place and identify which Code of Ethics you
want to charge against the member. Your typed-written summary should support the Code of Ethics or M.L.S. Rules you are
charging against the agent and/or broker.
|
|
Procedure
|
|
Your complaint will then be sent to the Grievance Committee and they will determine if it should go forward for a hearing.
If they vote to send it forward, the Respondent will then be notified a complaint has been filed against them and they will
have 20 days to send in a response. A hearing will be scheduled at which you will present your case to a panel of three
members from the Professional Standards Department. They will come to a decision and administer disciplinary action if
deemed appropriate. To ensure due process to both sides, the entire process takes approximately 2-3 months.
|
|
Disciplinary Action
|
|
What will happen to the agent if he is found in violation? The penalties range from a letter of warning in their file,
to required education, a fine of up to $5,000, suspension of M.L.S. or association services and/or notification to the
Department of Real Estate about the complaint. The Association does not, however, have the authority to remove or terminate
a member's license.
|
|
|
back to top
|