Do you have a complaint against a CVHBA member?

1. Members shall conduct business affairs with professionalism and skill.
2. Honesty is a guiding policy of the Association.
3. All housing shall be built to meet or exceed the minimum standards of the industry as defined by state and local codes.
4. Members shall comply with both the spirit and letter of business contracts, meet all financial obligations in good faith, and manage employees with fairness and honor.
5. Members shall not obtain any business through fraudulent means, knowing acts of omission, or by use of implications unwarranted by fact or reasonable probability.
6. Members shall not perform, or cause to be performed, any act which could reflect discredit or disrepute on any part of the building industry or the Association.
7. Members obtaining construction payouts shall promptly pay creditors and not use the funds for other purposes.
8. Members shall abide by all federal, state, and local laws.
9. Members shall seek to resolve controversies through a non-litigation dispute resolution mechanism.
10. Members shall support and abide by the decisions of the Board in promoting and enforcing this code of ethics.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT
If you have concerns about a CVHBA member, please contact our Executive Officer at (715) 835-2526 for additional guidance on whether the situation is a candidate for a complaint or mediation. We recommend contacting us before filling out a complaint form or mediation request. 

Complaint Procedures
If you choose to file an official complaint against a member, notification will be given to the member the complaint is filed against, along with the Human Resources & Grievance Committee. The member will be given an opportunity to address the situation and/or respond to the complaint. The Human Resources & Grievance Committee will review the complaint and respond within 10 business days of receipt of the complaint. The Committee can only recommend action if it is determined the member is violating the Code of Ethics. The only action that can be taking by the CVHBA against a member is to recommend to the Board of Directors removal of the member from the Association, which has to be done in compliance with anti-trust laws and the CVHBA Bylaws.

If you are looking to take legal action against a business, we recommend contacting an attorney. View a list of our Attorney Members.

Anticompetitive Practices. The Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association supports the system of free enterprise and open competition. Monopolies or any kind of price or wage fixing, are detrimental to the system of free enterprise. Unfair business practices are practices that are likely to reduce competition and lead to higher prices, reduce quality or levels of service, or less innovation. Anticompetitive practices include activities like price fixing, group boycotts, and exclusive dealing contracts or the application of trade association rules to bar competitors. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHALL NOT ISSUE ANY DISCINPLINARY ACTION ON ANY BASIS THAT WOULD BE AN UNFAIR OR ANTICOMPETITIVE BUSINESS PRACTICE.

View the Complaint Procedures & Complaint Form.

Mediation Program
The CVHBA offers a mediation program in the occurence of a dsipute with a CVHBA member. As a condition of membership in the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association, all members agree to submit to mediation proceedings. If any member refuses a mediation request, the membership may be suspended or revoked by the Board of Directors. Homeowners and businesses are eligible to apply for mediation with a CVHBA member. The party applying for mediation must submit a formal application with a deposit of $150. The mediation process timeline won't begin until both the formal application and the deposit have been received. The deposit is refundable upon completion of the mediation process as long as the party applying for mediation follows through on all requirements of the process.

Commonly Asked Questions About Mediation

• How does the process work? Mediation is a voluntary collaborative process. If an agreement is made, that agreement is legally binding in a court. The mediator is a neutral facilitator who assists the participants in reaching their own voluntary, fully informed resolution concerning the issues. Usually the goal is to find a middle ground with both parties. 
• Who facilitates the mediation? The facilitator is a CVHBA member who has received some training from an attorney on how to conduct mediations. The CVHBA works to ensure the mediator assigned does not have a personal or professional relationship with either party.
• Can the mediator make a decision on who is 'right'? A mediators duties do not include decisions concerning 'right' or 'wrong' and the mediator will not make a decision regarding the issues for the participant. Their role is to help the parties come to a decision together.
• What is a successful mediation? A successful mediation process is one where each participant makes a full and complete disclosure of all information and documentation. Both parties are willing to work together to a solution and come to an agreement. If either party fails to make a full and complete disclosure of all relevant information and documents, then any formal, legal, binding Resolution Agreement that may be reached based on the incomplete materials may be set aside.
• How long does it take? The mediation itself can vary. We've had mediations as short as 1 hour and as long as 4 hours. 
• What happens if we don't come to an agreement? If an agreement is not reached, then either party is open to pursue other courses of action including legal options.