Now that it is officially declared to be “ethical” for members to sell their clients’ personal information to “third parties” for compensation and consideration that does not have to be revealed to the client … and that it is considered “ethical” by the association for its members to include language in their inspection agreements that could interfere with a home buyer’s right to privacy and/or their use of restrictions or limitations to avoid telemarketing calls … the need has been made even greater for home inspectors who do NOT participate in such things to set themselves apart from those who do.
The Client Fidelity Pledge is NOT a NACHI program.
It is available to all inspectors in all associations (or no associations) who do not exchange private information about their clients with ANY third parties in exchange for any compensation or consideration (such as discounts, products, services, cash, or anything of value). Participating inspectors will also promise that they are not including language in their inspection agreements that could waive or interfere with the home buyer’s right to privacy (such as waiving or eliminating any restrictions or limitations to being contacted by a third party, including telephone contact).
There will be an affidavit available for the inspector to download, print and physically sign and have notarized.
The hard copy of the affidavit will be sent to an address where the document will be uploaded and made available to the public to view and to verify. When the affidavit has been made public, the inspector will be able to publish the logo identifying his participation with the pledge to the public.
The website where the affidavits will be published will identify the participating inspectors by Zip Code and will include tips to the public to help them identify when a home inspector might be selling their private information.
This will help them (and other inspectors) identify anyone who has falsely advertised themselves as participating in this program so that they can be reported to the proper authorities.
When the site is up and running, instructions will be provided in this thread as to where it can be located.
Please understand that no one is being “recruited” to participate. It is a business decision that should not be made lightly since taking the pledge while selling client personal information could result in serious consequences.
If you have doubts that your business model may be in violation … DO NOT TAKE THIS PLEDGE. Only take this pledge if you are fully compliant and are not providing any third party with any information about your client in exchange for any thing … and are not including language in your inspection agreement that could be used to waive or otherwise interfere with any restrictions or limitations that they have placed on being contacted by any third party.
There is no vendor or association staff member who has the authority to declare anyone “compliant”. There is no committee, club or rules. There is only a written, signed and notarized promise made by you, the promise maker, that can be used to promote your business … or used by your client to recover damages from you if you are dishonest in making this promise.
It’s almost ready.
