Acceptance of and adherence to this Code is a membership requirement of MMUA. If you're doing business with a mailing house this is the industry standard.

The members of MMUA adopted the Code at an extraordinary general meeting on 15 December 1999 and individual members who have joined the Association since that date have subscribed to it as part of their Application for Membership.

For its part, MMUA encourages the use of the Code to assist in the good conduct of business and the gaining of commercial advantages and rewards therefrom.

UNDERTAKINGS

(1) Subscribers to the Code will at all times discharge their allocated and accepted responsibilities with integrity and respect for the interests of the public, their clients, suppliers, employees and fellow members of MMUA.

(2) Subscribers will comply with the laws of Australia, at all levels, and will conduct their activities within the spirit of such laws.

(3) Subscribers will observe strict confidentiality of information in any business dealings.

MAIL DATES AND LODGEMENT ISSUES

(4) Where advice is given to clients, subscribers will provide open and frank advice on mail dates and methods used.

(5) Subscribers will not knowingly initiate, participate in, or condone fraudulent mail lodgement practice.

(6) Subscribers, where a Principal and Agent relationship exists, are committed to lodging the client's job within the times required by the contract and to delivering to the client for each job:

(6.1) a statement nominating the place, time and date of lodgement with Australia Post or the alternative postal service provider, and the volumes so lodged; and

(6.2) an offer to provide verification of the above from Australia Post or the alternative postal service provider of the date and quantities lodged.

INTEGRITY OF PRODUCT AND PRACTICE

(7) Subscribers are committed to maintaining commercially sound working relationships with Australia Post and other alternative postal service providers and to provide for their clients an assurance of knowledge and practice such that: (7.1) the appropriate products and services are used;

(7.2) postal terms and conditions are understood and satisfied; and

(7.3) clients benefit from co-operative innovation and, additionally, demonstrate knowledge and practice of controls wastage through systems and procedures that:

(7.4) effectively manage the inventory;

(7.5) generate clean (postally correct) addresses;

(7.6) reduce the spoils operationally; and

(7.7) use effective matching routines.

(8) Subscribers will not injure intentionally the professional reputation or practice of another member, provided that this does not prevent fair criticism of another member.

(9) Subscribers are committed to at all times observing and complying with all relevant industry standards of the Australian business community in respect to:

(9.1) the storage of data;

(9.2) addressing;

(9.3) ownership of lists;

(9.4) intellectual copyright; and

(9.5) privacy.

(10) Subscribers will openly declare positions of conflicting or vested interest and will not conceal such positions

MAINTAINING THE INDUSTRY'S STANDING

(11) Subscribers will refrain from knowingly associating with any enterprise which uses improper or illegal methods in obtaining or conducting mail business and acknowledge that they have a duty and responsibility to inform MMUA where evidence of such improper activity is available.

(12) Subscribers will co-operate with fellow members in improving the body of knowledge available through MMUA, in achieving the goals and objectives of MMUA, and in upholding and enforcing this Code of Business Practice.

HANDLING DISPUTES

(13) If any member wilfully refuses or neglects to comply with the provisions of this Code of Business Practice of MMUA then the Board may serve a notice on that member to cease the act which constitutes such refusal or negligence. If the member does not comply with the notice, then the Board may serve a notice on the member indicating that the member's action is to be taken to mediation to determine whether the member should be expelled from MMUA.

MMUA shall provide a list of 3 professionally qualified mediators to the member who shall choose a mediator. If the member does not choose a mediator within 7 days, MMUA may appoint a mediator from the list. Both parties must approach the mediation in a spirit of good faith and must seek to determine whether the member wilfully refused or neglected to comply with the provisions of this Code of Business Practice. The costs arising from the mediation shall be borne by the member if the member is found to have refused or neglected to so complied, and each party shall pay half if the parties cannot come to an agreement.

(14) If the parties cannot come to an agreement at mediation, an arbitrator shall be appointed to determine the matter. MMUA shall provide a list of 3 professionally qualified arbitrators to the member who shall choose an arbitrator within 7 days, MMUA may appoint an arbitrator from the list. If the arbitrator determines that the member did wilfully or negligently fail to comply with the provisions of this Code of Business Practice, then the member shall be expelled from the Company.

The arbitrator must return his/her decision within 21 days of his her/appointment. Both MMUA and the member shall be given notice of the arbitration and both MMUA and the member shall have an opportunity to give evidence orally or in writing. The costs arising from the arbitration shall be borne by the member if the member is found to have refused or neglected to so comply, or MMUA if the member is found to have so complied.