Innovia Tips and Tricks

THE POLICE ICON

Have you ever seen something incorrect in the MLS?
If so, there are a couple of options available to you.

1. You can hit the police icon.  This sends an email to the listing agent, their broker of record and the MLS Administrator at the board office.  In the past, this email notification used to be anonymous.  This is no longer the case.  The email will disclose to all recipients where it originated from.  THIS IS NOT A BAD THING.  Initiating a police icon email is simply a notification from you to a fellow REALTOR® that there is incorrect information contained in their listing.  Provided the overtone of your email is friendly, many REALTORS® are glad to receive these notifications and are prompt in making the necessary correction.  Many times, errors in the MLS are inadvertent and REALTORS® are glad to have these errors brought to their attention.  It gives them a chance to correct these errors, and avoid getting a potential fine.  The intent of the police icon email notification system is to maintain the integrity and accuracy of our MLS data…….and this benefits all REALTORS®.  Do not be afraid to use this friendly and useful tool.
2. If you do not want to use the police icon to notify an agent of an MLS violation, you have the right and the ability to call or email that agent personally and alert them of the error contained in their listing.

If you do not want to exercise option 1 or 2, then your third and final option is to fill out an “MLS Violation Report” and fax or email it to the board office.  This form is in “Standard Forms” under the “MLS Governance” sub-directory.  This form must be completed in its entirety and signed by you, the complainant.

We’ve just discussed the recommended solutions available to you.  However, now let’s discuss some actions that are neither recommended nor effective:

1. Contacting the board office without first exercising one of the 3 recommended solutions.  Procedurally, there has to be an official complaint filed, whether it be via the police icon or an MLS Violation Report.  When one of these is received by the board office, it then becomes “official” and we can take the necessary steps to have the violation corrected.  If there were ever the need to have a hearing, it is necessary for the board office to have a paper trail…...and phone calls to the board office do not allow for this.
2. Sending anonymous letters or faxes to the board office or to listing agents/brokers.  Anonymous letters or faxes do NOT constitute a formal complaint and are therefore ineffective.

Everyone needs reminders.  Sometimes you’ll get them and sometimes you’ll give them.  If we remember this and work together, everyone wins.