HALIFAX BRIDGE CLUB COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS PROCEDURES
1. BACKGROUND
a) Now that Bridge is played online and face to face and in the future these methods of playing may be conjoined it is important to recognise that these procedures must be available to all players in ways that can be accessed by all.
b) In view of this a range of methods of contacting individuals will have to be used in order to resolve problems and complaints.
c) Because of this forms will be made available online on the HBC website or by contacting the Club Secretary.
d) Any contacts that cannot be easily recorded so that others can access them will be summarised and individual will be asked to sign the summary as a true record. Typically this will apply to all verbal contacts.
e) The Committee will nominate at least two people within the Club to act as investigators for the above type of procedures. At least one of them will be a qualified Tournament Director. Other persons may be nominated to do this as required.
2. APPEALS PROCEDURE
a) Any Tournament Director has the right to rule on member behaviour up to and including suspension for that session. EBU rules 74 & 91 refer.
b) Tournament Directors will provide a report of occasions (on a usual report form) when any such action has been taken in a duplicate session under EBU regulations and this report shall be provided to HBC Committee.
c) Should a person receiving such a ruling wish to Appeal against it then an Appeals Procedure Form must be completed and sent to the HBC Committee to arrive within 7 days of the ruling. Appeals Procedure forms can be downloaded from the HBC website or from the club secretary.
d) The Committee will select a person (normally one of those nominated) to deal with Appeal. This person will investigate and then provide their findings to the Committee. The appointed person will be independent of the original event. A formal meeting (electronic or personal) will then be convened to discuss the Appeal in order to determine a decision.
e) Appeals may be withdrawn by the originator at any time.
3. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
a) Unfortunately from time to time events occur, such as poor behaviour, which give rise to complaints being made against individuals. These complaints may be covered under the EBU guidance but are often not seen or actioned by the Tournament Director. On such occasions individual members may wish to make a complaint about the behaviour they have experienced or witnessed.
b) A Complaints Procedure Form, available on the website or from the Club Secretary, should be submitted within 7 days of an incident.
c) An investigator will be allocated who is independent of the problem. The aim is for the investigation to be completed within 10 days of the receipt of the form. The investigator will confer with others and, should the complaint fall within the EBU rules a formal meeting (electronic or personal) will be arranged to discuss the complaint. This meeting may determine various outcomes
i. fault or no fault on behalf of the person/s being complained about
ii. fault or no fault of the person/s complaining when there is a counter complaint
d) Any person who receives a penalty as a result of a Complaints Procedure may make an Appeal on the basis of new evidence only within 7 days of receiving the penalty from the Complaints Procedure. See the above Procedure.
e) In the event that the complaint does not fall under EBU rules/recommendations mediation will be attempted. If this is unsuccessful then a formal meeting will be used to determine the best outcome.
4. RULINGS
a) Laws 74 and 91 refer to the circumstances which may give rise to rulings.
b) In addition the Committee may withdraw the membership of individuals who are repeatedly being the subject of complaints or receiving penalties.
c) In extreme cases a one off incident may lead to membership being withdrawn.
5. REFERENCES
a) Best Behaviour at Bridge, EBU rules 74 and 91.
b) HBC online Bridge Systems information.
Complaint Form
Appeal Form
EBU Appeal Form
|