Code of Conduct and Ethics
Purpose:
This Code of Conduct and Ethics outlines the standards of behavior and ethical principles that all members, individual and corporate, of Association for Investigators, Mercantile Professionals and Compliance (AIMPAC) Inc must uphold.
1. Core Ethical Principles (All Members)
All members, whether individuals or corporations, must:
1.1 Integrity: Act honestly, transparently, and in good faith.
1.2 Professionalism: Maintain high standards of competence, reliability, and diligence.
1.3 Respect: Treat all persons fairly, respectfully, and without discrimination.
1.4 Confidentiality: Protect the confidentiality of information obtained through professional activities, unless legally required to disclose.
1.5 Accountability: Take responsibility for decisions and actions, including acknowledging and addressing mistakes.
1.6 Compliance: Comply with all relevant laws, licensing requirements, and the Association’s Rules, By-Laws, and this Code.
2. Conduct Expectations for Individual Members
Individual members must:
2.1 Uphold the reputation and standing of the Association at all times.
2.2 Act ethically and lawfully in the performance of professional duties.
2.3 Refuse to engage in unlawful, deceptive, unfair, or exploitative practices.
2.4 Maintain appropriate competence and seek continuing professional development.
2.5 Disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest when they arise.
2.6 Cooperate fully and honestly with any Association inquiry or investigation.
3. Conduct Expectations for Corporate Members
Corporate members must:
3.1 Promote and uphold the Association’s values and ethical principles within their organisation.
3.2 Ensure that their own staff, contractors, agents, and investigators comply with the law, professional standards, and this Code.
3.3 Exercise due diligence when outsourcing work to third-party agencies or individuals, including ensuring:
(a) Fair and appropriate remuneration is provided to subcontracted agents, investigators, and field operatives.
(b) Ethical business practices are followed by those subcontractors.
(c) Subcontractors are licensed, qualified, or otherwise appropriately authorised where required by law.
3.4 Take reasonable steps to verify that third parties engaged on behalf of the corporate member do not engage in exploitative, unlawful, or unethical practices.
3.5 Address any breaches of this Code by their staff, contractors, or subcontractors promptly and fairly.
4. Specific Ethical Obligations
4.1 Fair Payment of Contractors (Corporate and Individual Members)
Corporate members and any members who outsource work must:
4.1.1 Ensure that agents, investigators, process servers, repossession agents, or any contractors engaged are paid fairly, reasonably, and promptly for all work performed.
4.1.2 Exercise due diligence to verify that subcontractors, agents, and field operatives are not subject to:
- Exploitative pay arrangements,
- Sham contracting practices,
- Unreasonable or unpaid labour expectations.
4.1.3 Ensure that remuneration reflects both fieldwork time and associated administrative time, including but not limited to:
- Preparation,
- Report writing,
- Communication with clients.
4.1.4 Offer rates of pay that are proportionate to the risk, complexity, skill level, and time commitment involved in the assignment.
4.1.5 Not impose fee structures where payment is conditional solely upon the successful outcome (e.g., service, repossession, or recovery) unless such conditions are disclosed transparently before engagement and reasonably compensated for attempted work.
4.1.6 Avoid offering rates or conditions that effectively result in agents or contractors working for free or below industry-recognised minimum standards.
4.1.7 When subcontracting work to third-party agencies, the member remains responsible for ensuring that the ultimate service providers (individual agents/investigators) are paid fairly.
5. Breaches and Disciplinary Action
5.1 Breaches of these standards, including underpayment, exploitative contracting, or failure to remunerate for time worked, may constitute a serious breach of this Code.
5.2 The Association may impose disciplinary measures, including suspension or expulsion of members found to have engaged in conduct inconsistent with these ethical obligations.
This Code of Conduct and Ethics outlines the standards of behavior and ethical principles that all members, individual and corporate, of Association for Investigators, Mercantile Professionals and Compliance (AIMPAC) Inc must uphold.
1. Core Ethical Principles (All Members)
All members, whether individuals or corporations, must:
1.1 Integrity: Act honestly, transparently, and in good faith.
1.2 Professionalism: Maintain high standards of competence, reliability, and diligence.
1.3 Respect: Treat all persons fairly, respectfully, and without discrimination.
1.4 Confidentiality: Protect the confidentiality of information obtained through professional activities, unless legally required to disclose.
1.5 Accountability: Take responsibility for decisions and actions, including acknowledging and addressing mistakes.
1.6 Compliance: Comply with all relevant laws, licensing requirements, and the Association’s Rules, By-Laws, and this Code.
2. Conduct Expectations for Individual Members
Individual members must:
2.1 Uphold the reputation and standing of the Association at all times.
2.2 Act ethically and lawfully in the performance of professional duties.
2.3 Refuse to engage in unlawful, deceptive, unfair, or exploitative practices.
2.4 Maintain appropriate competence and seek continuing professional development.
2.5 Disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest when they arise.
2.6 Cooperate fully and honestly with any Association inquiry or investigation.
3. Conduct Expectations for Corporate Members
Corporate members must:
3.1 Promote and uphold the Association’s values and ethical principles within their organisation.
3.2 Ensure that their own staff, contractors, agents, and investigators comply with the law, professional standards, and this Code.
3.3 Exercise due diligence when outsourcing work to third-party agencies or individuals, including ensuring:
(a) Fair and appropriate remuneration is provided to subcontracted agents, investigators, and field operatives.
(b) Ethical business practices are followed by those subcontractors.
(c) Subcontractors are licensed, qualified, or otherwise appropriately authorised where required by law.
3.4 Take reasonable steps to verify that third parties engaged on behalf of the corporate member do not engage in exploitative, unlawful, or unethical practices.
3.5 Address any breaches of this Code by their staff, contractors, or subcontractors promptly and fairly.
4. Specific Ethical Obligations
4.1 Fair Payment of Contractors (Corporate and Individual Members)
Corporate members and any members who outsource work must:
4.1.1 Ensure that agents, investigators, process servers, repossession agents, or any contractors engaged are paid fairly, reasonably, and promptly for all work performed.
4.1.2 Exercise due diligence to verify that subcontractors, agents, and field operatives are not subject to:
- Exploitative pay arrangements,
- Sham contracting practices,
- Unreasonable or unpaid labour expectations.
4.1.3 Ensure that remuneration reflects both fieldwork time and associated administrative time, including but not limited to:
- Preparation,
- Report writing,
- Communication with clients.
4.1.4 Offer rates of pay that are proportionate to the risk, complexity, skill level, and time commitment involved in the assignment.
4.1.5 Not impose fee structures where payment is conditional solely upon the successful outcome (e.g., service, repossession, or recovery) unless such conditions are disclosed transparently before engagement and reasonably compensated for attempted work.
4.1.6 Avoid offering rates or conditions that effectively result in agents or contractors working for free or below industry-recognised minimum standards.
4.1.7 When subcontracting work to third-party agencies, the member remains responsible for ensuring that the ultimate service providers (individual agents/investigators) are paid fairly.
5. Breaches and Disciplinary Action
5.1 Breaches of these standards, including underpayment, exploitative contracting, or failure to remunerate for time worked, may constitute a serious breach of this Code.
5.2 The Association may impose disciplinary measures, including suspension or expulsion of members found to have engaged in conduct inconsistent with these ethical obligations.
