It never ceases to amaze me when I read of the shenanigans our fellow agents pull, then get fined for. This month's batch has some real winners in it (no names mentioned of course).
1. Rules Violated: NWMLS Rule 2 (Required Turn-in), Rule 11(b)(ii) (Restrictions on Showing and Sale), Rule 25 (Cooperation in Showing and Submitting Offers and Disclosing Information to Other Members), and Rule 20 (Notice of Sale)
Summary of Complaint: Agent took a listing and failed to deliver it to NWMLS for input or input it by 5:00 p.m. the next day, failed to timely present a buyer's offer to seller, and failed to report status change in a timely manner. Agent listed own telephone number in the owner's phone field.
Penalty: $5,000. Agent altered listing information on many listings before they expired.
2. Rules Violated: NWMLS Rule 1 (Listing Input) and Rule 10 (Incomplete, Inaccurate, and/or Inappropriate Exclusives)
Summary of Complaint: Agent altered listing information on many listings before they expired.
Penalty: $5,000 fine with $2,000 suspended on the condition that the member not be found guilty of any further Rules violations within 12 months. Agent must take Rules and Regulations class within 1 year.
3. Rules Violated: NWMLS Rule 2 (Required Turn-in), Rule 22 (Duplicate Listings), and Rule 122 (Notification Sale Closed)
Summary of Complaint: Agent input duplicate listing without submitting it to NWMLS for input and payment of fee, and failed to report notice of sale in a timely manner.
Penalty: $3,000 fine with $1,500 suspended on the condition that the member not be found guilty of any further Rules violations within 12 months.
4. Rules Violated: NWMLS Rule 17 (Solicitation of Listings)
Summary of Complaint: Agent solicited another member's active listing.
Penalty: $5,000 fine.
5. Rules Violated: NWMLS Rule 17 (Solicitation of Listings) and Rule 62 (Limited Forms Usage)
Summary of Complaint: Agent solicited another member's active listing, including preparing a Form 19 to cancel the listing.
Penalty: $1,000 fine.
6. Rules Violated: NWMLS Rule 1 (Listing Input), Rule 2 (Required Turn-In), Rule 10 (Incomplete, Inaccurate, and/or Inappropriate Exclusives), Rule 101 (Division of Commissions), and Rule 120 (Notice of Sale)
Summary of Complaint: Agent failed to disclose a Short Sale, listed inaccurate information, pressured the selling agent to lower the selling office commission, and failed to report status change in a timely manner.
Penalty: $500 fine with $250 suspended on the condition that the member not be found guilty of any further Rules violations within 12 months.
7. Rules Violated: NWMLS Subscription Agreement (Sections 1, 12, and 13)
Summary of Complaint: Agent removed the key from the keybox and left it outside so the home inspector could access another member's listing.
Penalty: Subscriber fined $5,000 with $2,500 suspended on the condition that the subscriber not be found guilty of any further Rules violations within 12 months. Member and agent must take Rules and Regulations Class within 60 days
8. Rules Violated: NWMLS Rule 17(a) (Solicitation of Listings)
Summary of Complaint: Agent sent another member's listing client an email alerting them to errors in the current listing and suggesting the client change listing agents.
Penalty: $5,000 fine with $4,000 suspended on the condition that the member not be found guilty of any further Rules violations within 24 months
9. Rules Violated: NWMLS Rule 50(b) (Electronic Keys), Rule 86 (Billing Verification Report), and Subscription Agreement
Summary of Complaint: Agent used his Supra Key to access another member's listing after his real estate license had expired. Office failed to notify NWMLS that agent's license had expired.
Penalty: $2,500 fine with $2,000 suspended on the condition that the member not be found guilty of any further Rules violations within 24 months.
Michael: Thanks for posting these. It is interesting to see how other MLS police their members and gives some perspective on how thorough different MLS groups are. The fines there are much greater than they are here in Austin, but then again we have many agents who are NOT the most professional here and there is a lot of "tomfoolery" that goes on here. Keep posting these! I may start for here in Austin as well to show the variance! Thanks! Steve
Do these people think they will not get caught? Did they not read -understand the rules? Does it show on their license that they have been fined?
At least the locaal board is actually doing something that should be done. Sounds like the biggest problem is keeping up with the data.
Numbers 3, 4, & 5 were by the same agent! Your welcome Steve.
Thanks for sharing these amazing facts. I think if more agents were fined and these deviations from the rules were brought to light, it would actually fortify the professionalism around here!
WOW! The agent who was hit by three of these must be close to quitting by facing $7500 in cash outlay! Whew! That is stiff but as I said in my first comment, house cleaning is a good thing!