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Arbitration Program
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All Tri-Counties members are required to settle their monetary disputes (usually a commission issue) through the use of our
Arbitration program. Members submit to Tri-Counties an arbitration request including a summary of the events and pay a $500
filing fee. We then begin the process and contact the Respondent for their response. A hearing will be scheduled and
three panel members from our well-qualified Professional Standards Committee members (all volunteers) will be selected
to hear your case and come to a conclusion. Before beginning any arbitration proceedings, we first strongly encourage
members to settle their dispute through voluntary mediation, also available through our association.
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Commission Disputes ($500 Filing Fee)
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Member-to-member disputes
Both the Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual require members to arbitrate certain disputes with certain members and
clients. For example, if two members are in a dispute over a commission issue or if there is a dispute between a listing
agent and the seller, these are the types of cases we can process. The filing fee for the complainant is $500. This is
considered a filing fee and non-refundable but you may submit your costs to the panel and they will take your filing fee
into consideration when determining the award. You may use an attorney for arbitration but the association must be notified
at least 15 days prior to the hearing. All brokers must be named in the arbitration since commissions are paid to the broker.
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Requirements
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An arbitration must be filed within 180 days from close of escrow. However, if the transaction has not closed
(and never will), then it is 180 days from the time the facts giving rise to the dispute occurred. If you prefer to
mediate the dispute (and all parties agree), the cost for mediation between two members is $250.
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Procedure
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Once a complaint is filed, the association will contact the other parties and request their response. All parties will go to the
PWR association for a hearing to present and prove their case to the panel (the respondent also has the right to invoke arbitration
by counterclaiming). After the hearing, the parties are dismissed. The panel will deliberate and issue an arbitration award which is
then mailed to both parties.
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| Arbitration Program Forms |
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