File a Complaint

Greater Chattanooga REALTORS® partners with Tennessee REALTORS®* for the administration of formal ethics complaints and arbitration requests, as well as mediation and ombudsman services. There are many ways to resolve disputes, so what's the difference and the best way to proceed?

Communicate with the Managing Broker

  • If you've not already reached out to the agent's Managing Broker, we encourage you to do so. We find that step often clears up miscommunications. If that communication does not provide a successful resolution, you may need to file a formal complaint.
  • Look up a member by name or office. View their firm's office roster and find the Managing Broker as designated with **Denotes Responsible Member."

Ombudsman & Mediation Services

  • Seek guidance from an impartial person who can facilitate constructive communication with the parties in hopes of resolving the dispute in lieu of filing a formal complaint. Request an Ombudsman.

Ethics Complaints

  • Involve alleged violations of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
  • Must be filed within one hundred eighty (180) days after the facts constituting the matter complained of could have been known in the exercise of reasonable diligence or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the conclusion of the transaction, whichever is later.
  • File a formal complaint.

Arbitration Requests

  • Involve contractual and specific non-contractual disputes involving monies between REALTOR® firms or, in some cases, between REALTORS® and their clients.
  • Must be filed within one hundred eighty (180) days after the closing of the transaction, if any, or within one hundred eighty (180) days after the facts constituting the arbitrable matter could have been known in the exercise of reasonable diligence, whichever is later.
  • File an arbitration request.

Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Complaints

Many alleged violations of the MLS Rules are handled administratively by our Staff. We're glad to help, so don't hesitate to email our MLS Staff OR call 423.698.8001 and ask for the MLS Department. If after reviewing a matter with you, our MLS Staff might provide you materials to file a formal, written complaint, especially if the matter involves:

  • Unauthorized Access or Marketing of a Coming Soon Listing
  • Loaning/Sharing an MLS login
  • Using the MLS as Communication Vehicle for Unauthorized Users
  • Loaning/Sharing Key
  • Accessing a Keybox without Permission

Resources

*Our partnership with Tennessee REALTORS® for statewide administration provides these benefits:

•  Consistency across the state as to how the Code is enforced and how committee volunteers are trained.
•  No cost to the local association to participate in the program.
•  Frees up local association resources to offer other member programs and services.
•  Allows our local volunteers (Grievance, Professional Standards, Ombudsman, Mediators) to serve at the state level. This is a great opportunity for those interested in future leadership beyond the local level, not to mention the across-the-state networking opportunities.
•  Panels will be derived from a larger pool of committee members, to ensure more diversity and the ability to draw on a broader cross-section of industry experts.
•  The local association no longer assumes responsibility and liability when administering enforcement.