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Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics for the Private Investigator

I. General

1. This Code of Ethics defines the principles and rules of conduct of each member of the ASSOCIATION of PRIVATE DETECTIVES for (SЧD) to guarantee professional ethics, fair competition and equality when carrying out its activities in market conditions.

2. Any natural or legal person within the meaning of Article 8 of the Charter of the SSC is a member of the SSC.

3. A private detective is any member of the SSC working in the field of detective services in certain directions or in the full range of detective activity.
4. Each member of the SSC declares that, in addition to the Statute, they will also observe this Code of Ethics.
5. The norms of the Code of Ethics are equally binding for all members of the SSC.
6. In this document, any reference to the application of a provision of the Statute of the SSC is a reference to the provision after its last amendment or introduction.
7. The Code of Ethics is subject to development and improvement.

II. Relations between members of the SSC

6. The relations between the members of the Association are based on the principle of mutual respect, trust, tolerance, ethics and loyalty.
7. A member of the governing body of the SSC has no right in any form to use his position to obtain any advantages or benefits for a company he manages or is connected to.

III. General clauses relevant to the activities of members of the SSC

8. All members of the SSC, regular and associated, undertake to strictly comply with the Laws of the Republic of Bulgaria, the Statute of the Association, the Code of Ethics of the private detective and the rules for the internal order of the SSC, for which, in addition to the sanctions provided for by law, they bear responsibility to the Association.
9. In their agreements with trustees and with each other, the members of the SCH always act honestly and openly.
10. A gross violation of ethics is considered to be the intentional recruitment of trustees for the activities of another colleague, regardless of whether he is a member of the SSC or not.
11. The members of the SCHD cooperate in the investigation of the obstruction of the activity of the association.

IV. Obligations of the members of the SSC

12. The members of the SSC shall notify their trustees of the existence of this Code of Ethics and of the complaint procedure when this procedure is available to the client.
13. Each Member of the Association is obliged to provide the Association with information related to the activities of the association or in case of violation of this code by individual members.
14. The members of the SSC make optimal efforts for the professional execution of the detective orders and guarantee a high degree of confidentiality to the trustees.

15. The members of the SCHD are obliged to prevent and not stimulate actions damaging the prestige of the Association, both by its members and by third parties.

V. Announcements, advertisements and pricing information

16. The manipulative and misleading offer or imposition of prices and services is unacceptable.
17. Any announcement, advertisement or other public appearance creating a false impression of the quality and conditions of the activity performed or the services offered is considered unethical.
18. Members of the SSC shall use their best efforts to ensure that pricing information, activity announcements or advertising materials:

a) are not of such a nature as to mislead by inaccuracy, vagueness, exaggerations or other omissions.
b) are not used to describe, encourage or facilitate practices that contradict the laws of the Republic of Bulgaria.
c) do not contain material that discredits, insults or misrepresents other market participants.

VI. Information for the members of the SSC

19. BACD has the right to provide, at the request of third parties, information related to the nature of the activities of its members only in accordance with the data contained in the Public Register of non-profit associations. The information must be objective and not give advantages to one company over another.
20. The inaccurate presentation of information or the submission of false and misleading information about one's own activity or the activity of other companies that are members of the SSC, is contrary to ethical norms and is considered a gross violation of this Code of Ethics.
21. Any person may provide information to the Association that affects the interests of members of the Association or the Association as a whole.

22. Members of the SSC may not be required to provide information that is internal or constitutes a trade secret for the company.
23. Each member of the SCHD must notify the other members in case he learns information that harms the interests of the association as a whole or of companies that are its members.

VII. Grievance procedure and sanctions

A complaint

24. A Member of the SSC, a Client or another person (Complainant) may submit a complaint to the Management Board of the SSC (SSC Board) that a Member of the SSC has acted in violation of the Statutes and Code of Ethics of the SSC (Complaint).
25. The Board of Directors of the SCD requires the relevant Member to make the necessary efforts within a period acceptable to both parties to resolve the Complaint.
26. When a Complainant notifies the SCH Board that his Complaint has not been resolved in a manner satisfactory to him within the specified period and in accordance with his contract, the SCH Board informs the Complainant that he may request that his Complaint be considered under The complaint procedure set out below.

Complaint handling procedure

27. The procedure for consideration of a complaint is applied when a Complainant requests from the SC of the SCHD that his Complaint be considered in accordance with this procedure.
28. The Board of Directors of SChD initiates this procedure within five working days after receiving the written Complaint.
29. The complainant submits his/her Complaint in writing and submits it to the Board of Directors of SCD together with a non-refundable fee of BGN 50 (fifty) for the administrative costs of handling the Complaint.
30. The Management Board of the SCM forwards the Complaint to the relevant Member and requires him to send a written response to the Complaint to the Management Board of the SCM within ten working days.
31. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of BACD or members of the Board of Directors of BCD authorized by him may carry out an additional investigation of the Complaint, for which they present a report on the Complaint at the next meeting of the Board.
32. At its meeting, the Board of Directors of the SCD examines all materials related to the Complaint and decides whether there has been a violation of the Code of Ethics. Persons who are members of the Board and represent the Member against whom the Complaint is filed or the Complainant may not participate in the deliberations and decision-making of this Complaint.
33. The final decision on the Complaint shall be taken by the Board of Directors of the SCHD. A copy of the decision of the Board shall be provided in writing to the Complainant and to the relevant Member.
34. When the Board of Directors of the SCHD considers that the subject of the Complaint is subject to judicial consideration, the Complainant is recommended to refer to the court.

Sanctions

35. When, as a result of the Grievance Procedure and taking into account all the relevant circumstances, the Board of Directors of the BCHD considers that a Member of the BCHD has violated the Statute or the Code of Ethics, it may decide:

a) request the Member to remedy the violation;
b) to request assurances from the Member or other related person, regarding future conduct under conditions determined by the Board;
c) to temporarily terminate the membership of the Member in the SSC until the final clarification of the problem;
e) to propose to the General Assembly of the SSC the exclusion of the Member, in accordance with the Statute of the SSC.

36. The decision of the General Meeting of the SSC on the exclusion of the Member is published.

 

             The current Code of Ethics was created based on Art. 4. item 8 of the statutes of the Association of Private Detectives and was adopted at a general meeting held on 01.05.2010г.   in the city of Sofia.