OMBUDSMAN COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

Any person may refer a complaint to the Convenor of the Ombudsman Panel by e-mailing ombudsman@unashamedlyethical.com.
Such complaint must be in writing to ombudsman@unashamedlyethical.com.
The Convenor shall decide who will deal with the complaint, inclusive of the option that both panellists deal with a specific complaint (hereafter the reference will be to "the Ombudsman" irrespective of which panellist deals with the complaint).
On receipt of the complaint the Ombudsman, if he deems it necessary, shall determine and clarify what the issues are from the Complainant.
The Ombudsman shall then give the member against whom the complaint has been lodged an opportunity to respond in writing to the complaint.
Thereafter the Ombudsman shall follow whatever procedure he deems necessary to arrive at a decision about the complaint, provided such procedure is consistent with natural justice.
All members of Unashamedly Ethical (UE) shall be obliged to co-operate with the Ombudsman.
Unless the Ombudsman deems it necessary, no legal representation shall be allowed at any stage of the process.
The parties shall pay their own costs.
The Ombudsman shall endeavour to arrive at a decision within two weeks of the complaint being laid.
The Ombudsman shall be entitled to take whatever action he deems appropriate, inclusive of, but not limited to, the termination of a member's membership of UE.
In arriving at his decision the Ombudsman shall be restricted to applying the constitution of UE.
The decision of the Ombudsman shall be final and binding on all members of UE and on UE.
The Executive of UE shall enforce all decisions by the Ombudsman.
The dealing with complaints and the decisions of the Ombudsman shall be confidential, unless the Ombudsman is of the opinion that his decision needs to be distributed amongst members and/or in any other forum.