Appeals and complaints

Appeals

  1. An appeal is understood to be initiated by a client in the event of them querying the rating issued by Allied Ratings.
  2. Measured entities may appeal, in writing, to the verification manager within 5 working days of receiving their B-BBEE rating.
  3. The appeal shall be acknowledged, in writing, by the Verifications Manager within 2 working days of receipt.
  4. The verification manager shall establish the appeals committee to conduct a review of the measured entities’ file and if necessary, carry out an onsite evaluation to establish the validity of the appeal.
  5. The chairperson of the appeals committee shall make use of the relevant document to record the appeal, the process followed, and remedial actions implemented.
  6. The committee conducting the investigation into the appeal / complaint shall be independent from the activities for which the appeal / complaint was lodged.
  7. The appeal should be resolved within 30 working days of receipt.
  8. In the event of additional time being needed the measured entity will be informed thereof and the reasons therefore in writing.
  9. Findings will be discussed and agreed by the members and the outcome communicated to the measured entity by formal written communication.
  10. If the appeal finding upholds Allied Ratings’s original rating the measured entity will become liable for costs incurred in the execution of the appeals process. In the event of the appeal finding is in favour of the client Allied ratings will become liable for all costs incurred in the execution of the appeals process and the rectification of the verification process.
  11. Allied Rtings retains responsibility for all decisions at all levels of this process.
  12. The appeals process shall be handled in a non-discriminatory manner and shall in no way prejudice the measured entity who has lodged the appeal.

Complaints

  1. A complaint is understood to be initiated by a third party in response to actions / omissions taken by Allied Ratings / its employees / members.
  2. Third parties may lodge a complaint, in writing, with a member within 5 working days of the incident they are complaining about having occurred.
  3. The complaint shall be acknowledged, in writing, by the member within 2 working days of receipt.
  4. The verification manager shall then establish the Complaints Committee which will then investigate in order to establish the basis of the complaint.
  5. The committee conducting the investigation into the appeal / complaint shall be independent from the activities for which the appeal / complaint was lodged.
  6. The verification manager shall make use of the relevant document to record the complaint, the process followed, and remedial actions implemented.
  7. The complaint should be resolved within 30working days of receipt.
  8. In the event of additional time being needed the complainant will be informed thereof and the reasons therefore in writing.
  9. Findings will be discussed and agreed by the members and the outcome communicated to the complainant by formal written communication.
  10. Allied Ratings s retains responsibility for all decisions at all levels of this process.
  11. The appeals process shall be handled in a non-discriminatory manner and shall in no way prejudice the third party who has lodged the appeal.
Complaints & Appeals Lodgement Form