1.
Superior Topicals, Inc.
hereinafter "Company," is a direct selling Company of personal health care
products and services and other consumer products and services to the consumer
via wholesale or through Independent Distributors (hereinafter "ID"). These
policies and procedures herein are applicable to all ID’s of the Company.
2. An ID is one who has completed a Company application and agreement and
such application and agreement has been accepted by the Company as an ID. The
Company reserves the right to accept or reject anyone as an ID.
3.
All ID’s must be the age of majority in the state in which they distribute
Company products and services.
4.
Unless waived in writing by the Company upon application, the Company will
consider each married couple a single ID.
If
one spouse is already an ID, the non-participating spouse may elect to become an
ID, but must join the same ID position as his or her spouse. The Company
reserves the right to reject any applications for new ID positions or
applications for renewal. Should a husband/wife ID divorce, they should notify
the Company as to how the ID position is to be managed thereafter. Otherwise,
the Company will recognize the final judicial or adjudicatory disposition of the
ID position.
5.
ID’s are independent marketing representatives of the Company and are not to be
considered purchasers of a franchise or a distributorship. The agreement between
the
Company and its ID does not create an employer\employee relationship, agency,
partnership, or joint venture between the Company and the ID. Each ID shall hold
harmless the Company from any claims, damages or liabilities arising out of ID
business practices. Company ID has no authority to bind the Company to any
obligation. Each ID is encouraged to set up his\her own hours and to determine
his\her own methods of sale, so long as he\she complies with the policies and
procedures of the Company.
6.
Transaction Submission Integrity. It is essential to the success of the Company,
its ID and customers that submissions of transactions to the Company maintain
integrity of communication. It is to be expected that all transaction
submissions to the Company, including, but not limited to, ID applications, ID
communication, ID financial transactions and consumer transactions, be submitted
by the individual or entity involved in the transaction. Third party submission
of any and all transaction submissions is prohibited. An ID may not communicate
any transaction submissions on behalf of another ID, ID applicant or customer.
An ID may not use his or her credit card or bank account on behalf of another
individual or ID. This rule is applicable to any and all forms of transaction
submissions, including, but not limited to, online, telephone, fax, email, etc.
7. In the conduct of its business, the ID shall safeguard and promote the
reputation of the products, services and trademarks of the Company and shall
refrain from all conduct which might be harmful to such reputation of the
Company or to the marketing of such products and services or inconsistent with
the public interest, and shall avoid all discourteous, deceptive, misleading,
unethical or immoral conduct or practices. An ID shall not interfere with,
harass or undermine other IDs and, at all times, shall respect the privacy of
other IDs. An ID must not disparage the Company, its affiliate entities, other
Company IDs, Company products and/or services, the marketing and compensation
plans, or Company employees.
8. The company's program is built upon internet sales to the ultimate
consumer.
The company also recognizes that IDs may wish to purchase product or service in
reasonable amounts for their own personal or family use.
9.
Company Retail/70 Percent Policy. The Company sales and marketing program is
based upon internet sales to the ultimate consumer. Every aspect of the program
is designed to assist our ID in the marketing of fine products and services to
the general consuming public. As a dual consumer safeguard, of the utmost
importance to the Company is the policy that under no circumstances may ID cause
others to purchase products or services in amounts that are not reasonably
expected to be sold to the consuming public or in unreasonable amounts for
personal or family use. In furtherance of these policies, the Company has
adopted specific rules on retail sales and retailing referenced as the Company
retail/70 percent rules. In the interest of protecting the consumer and the
opportunity of its ID, the Company enforces this rule through a verification
program.
Company Retail/70 Percent Rule.
a. Retail Rule.
Although the primary function of the Company is to sell products and services to
the general consuming public, the Company realizes that its ID may wish to
purchase product for personal or family use in reasonable amounts. For this
reason, the Company defines an internet sale to include sales to
non-participants, as well as purchases for personal or family use in reasonable
amounts. This is a standard followed by leading direct selling companies.
Notwithstanding this policy, the Company, in order to specifically further
internet selling, has adopted a requirement that an ID will not be eligible for
commissions unless he or she maintains a monthly minimum equivalent to at least
$20.00 per month.
This minimum
requirement satisfies the $20.00 obligation by ID to cover Company expense for
Data Processing Individual Web-Link for ID.
After this requirement is met monthly and a minimal of $20.00 in
commissions is due to ID by Company then a transfer to IDs Paypal Account will
occur.
The cost of transfer charge
by Paypal to Company will be deducted from IDs commissions at time of funds
transfer.
b.70 Percent Rule.
As with other leading direct selling companies, the Company has adopted a 70
percent rule.
Under this rule,
Company ID may not order additional product unless they have sold or used for
personal or family use at least 70 percent of previously purchased
inventory-type product. This verification form is also intended to support the
70 percent rule policy.
Retail Sales/70 Percent Rule Audit Verification Program.
In its effort to support and enforce the retail sales/70 percent rule, the
Company on a quarterly basis will conduct random audit verification follow-ups.
Representatives of the Company will contact ID to further verify compliance with
the retail sale/70 percent rule. ID should maintain records and be prepared to
assist Company representatives in their task.
10. Sales Volume Qualification by Order Taking. As with other leading
direct selling companies, the Company has adopted minimum personal sales volume
requirements. With respect to tangible products, which may be offered for
purchase for resale, minimum sales volume requirements may also be fulfilled by
taking orders from retail customers which will be fulfilled or drop-shipped by
the Company directly to the retail customer.
11. All IDs are responsible for paying local, state and federal taxes due
on earnings from commissions or any other earnings generated as a seller of
Company products and services. The Company will collect sales tax on behalf of
the ID, then report and distribute applicable sales taxes to the taxing entity
for the state in which the sale is made. ID may apply for a waiver of this
practice by submitting a copy of their sales and use tax number (and a statement
that they are wholesale purchasers purchasing for resale) acquired through their
local taxing authorities.
12. Company IDs shall not advertise Company products and services and/or
marketing plans except as specifically approved by the Company. Company IDs
agree to make no false or fraudulent representations about the Company, the
products, the Company compensation plan, or income potentials.
13. At time of ID enrollment ID will be required to set-up a Paypal
account for ID commissions to be transferred through to IDs account by Company.
All IDs are required to pay a data processing fee for a monthly web-page
at the time of enrollment for their ID application to the Company. The data
processing fee is "at Company cost." This sum is a Data processing fee, and is
strictly to offset costs incurred by the Company for managing the data
processing individual web-link page for an ID of the Company. No product
purchase by the ID is required. A Data processing fee of $24.95 will be charged to
ID's credit card on
file for the amount of $22.95 plus a $2.00 processing fee monthly for the set-up
and management of the ID's personal Independent Distributor web-link for the
sales of Simply ICE products.
14. Trademark, Trade Names, Advertising.
a. The name of the Company and other names as may be adopted by the
Company are proprietary trade names and trademarks of the Company. As such,
these marks are of great value to the Company and are supplied to ID for ID's
use only in an expressly
authorized manner. ID agrees not to advertise the Company products or services
in any way other than the advertising or promotional materials made available to
ID by the Company. ID agrees not to use any written, printed, recorded or any
other material in advertising, promoting or describing the products or services
or the Company marketing program, or in any other manner, any material which has
not been copyrighted and supplied by the Company, unless such material has been
submitted to the Company and approved in writing by the Company before being
disseminated, published or displayed.
b. The ID, as an independent contractor, is fully responsible for all of his\her
verbal and written statements made regarding the product or service and
marketing program which are not expressly contained in writing in the current ID
agreement, and advertising or promotional materials supplied directly by the
Company. ID agrees to indemnify the Company and hold it harmless from any and
all liability including judgments, civil penalties, refund, attorney fees, court
costs or lost business incurred by the Company as a result of ID's unauthorized
representations.
c. The Company will not permit the use of its copyrights, designs, logos, trade
names, trademarks, etc. without its prior written permission.
d. All Company materials, whether printed, on film, produced by sound recording,
or on the internet, are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in whole or in
part by ID or any other person except as authorized by the Company. Permission
to reproduce any materials will be considered only in extreme circumstances.
Therefore, an ID should not anticipate that approval will be granted.
e. A Company ID may not produce, use or distribute any information relative to
the contents, characteristics or properties of Company product or service which
has not been provided directly by the Company. This prohibition includes but is
not limited to print, audio or video media.
f. A Company ID may not produce, sell or distribute literature, films or sound
recordings which are deceptively similar in nature to those produced, published
and provided by the Company for its ID. Nor may an ID purchase, sell or
distribute non-company materials which imply or suggest that said materials
originate from the Company.
g. Any display ads or institutional or trademark advertising copy, other than
covered in the foregoing rules, must be submitted to the Company and approved in
writing by the Company prior to publication.
h. All advertising copy, direct mailing, radio, TV, newspaper and display copy
must be approved in writing before being disseminated, published or displayed
with the exception of blind ads where no reference is made to the Company name
or product name.
i. No claims as to therapeutic or curative properties about the products may be
made except those officially approved in writing by the Company or as contained
in the official Company literature. In particular, no ID may make any claim that
the Company products are useful in the treatment or cure of any disease. Such
statements can be perceived as medical claims. Not only is this totally against
Company policy, but it is also against the laws governed by the United States
Food and Drug Administration.
15. Internet and Website Policy.
The Company maintains an official corporate website. IDs are allowed to
advertise on the internet through an approved Company program which allows ID to
personalize the home page with the ID's message and the ID's contact
information. These websites link directly to the Company website giving the ID a
professional and Company-approved presence on the internet.
Only these approved websites may be used by ID. No ID may independently
design a website that uses the names, logos, product or service descriptions of
the Company, nor may an ID use "blind" ads on the internet making product or
income claims which are ultimately associated with Company products, services or
the Company's compensation plan. Any person using Company names, logos,
trademarks, etc. on the internet or any other advertising medium, except as
permitted by Company Rules and Regulations, shall be subject to immediate
discipline, including termination of ID status. No ID shall register and use any
domain name or URL that includes the Company name or the names of Company
Products without the prior express written consent of Company.
IDs are allowed to use their personal
networking sites such as FaceBook, MySpace, NDEX, etc. to promote their approved
Company personalized web page but must follow the Company Policies and
Procedures with regard to the use of Company names, logos, trademarks, etc.
16. Prohibition of Sales on Unauthorized Internet Sites. Except with
written authorization from the Company, an ID may not sell nor promote Company
products on unauthorized internet sites, including, but not limited to auction
sites such as eBay, nor internet shopping sites, nor internet malls.
17. Unsolicited Email.
The Company does not permit IDs to send unsolicited commercial email to
others unless such emails strictly comply with applicable laws and regulations
including, without limitation, the federal CAN SPAM Act. Any email sent by an ID
that promotes the Company, the Company opportunity or Company products and
services must comply with the following:
a. There must be a functioning return email address to the sender.
b. There must be a notice in the email that advises the recipient that he or she
may reply to the email, via the functioning return email address, to request
that future email solicitations or correspondence not be sent to him or her (a
functioning "opt-out" notice).
c. The email must clearly and conspicuously disclose that the message is an
advertisement or solicitation.
d. The use of deceptive subject lines and/or false header information is
prohibited.
e. All opt-out requests, whether received by email or regular mail, must be
honored. If an ID receives an opt-out request from a recipient of an email, the
ID must forward the opt-out request to the Company.
18. Unsolicited Faxes and Spam.
Except as provided in this section, IDs may not use or transmit
unsolicited faxes, mass email distribution, unsolicited email, or "spamming" or
use an automatic telephone dialing system relative to the operation of their
Company businesses. Unsolicited broadcast distribution of email or other
distribution that may be defined as "bulk mail" or "SPAM" is strictly
prohibited. Any other bulk use of email
is prohibited.
The term "automatic telephone dialing system" means equipment, which has
the capacity to:
a. Store or produce telephone numbers to be called, using a random or
sequential number generator; and
b. To dial such numbers.
The terms "unsolicited faxes" and "unsolicited email" mean the
transmission via telephone facsimile or electronic mail, respectively, of any
material or information advertising or promoting the Company, its products, its
compensation plan or any other aspect of the Company which is transmitted to any
person, except that these terms do not include a fax or email:
a. To any person with that person’s prior express invitation or
permission; or
b. To any person with whom the ID has an established business or personal
relationship. The term "established business or personal relationship" means a
prior or existing relationship formed by a voluntary two-way communication
between an ID and a person, on the basis of:
(1) An inquiry, application, purchase or transaction by the person regarding
products offered by such ID; or
(2) A personal or familial relationship, which relationship has not been
previously terminated by either party.
19. Retail Establishments.
Company products or services may only be displayed and sold in retail
establishments where the nature of the business is to make appointments with
customers (such as salons, doctors' offices, and health clubs where appointments
are made for personal training or classes are scheduled) the sale of such
products or services within such retail facilities must be conducted by an ID or
a Preferred Customer and must be preceded by a discussion where the ID
introduces the prospect to the products or services and opportunity just as they
would if they had met outside of the retail facility.
Company
produced literature, banners, or signage only may be displayed on a shelf,
counter, or wall and must be displayed by itself. Products or services may not
be sold from a shelf or taken from a display for purchase by a customer. Company
products or services may not be sold in any retail establishment, even by
appointment, if competitive products or services are sold in the establishment.
From time to time, the Company may announce policies and rules that expand or
contract restrictions on sales in retail establishments.
20. Trade Shows.
Unless written authorization is secured from the Company,
Company products or services and opportunity are the only products or services
and/or opportunity that may be offered in the trade show booth. Only Company
produced marketing materials may be displayed or distributed. No ID may sell or
promote the Company's products or services or business opportunity at flea
markets, swap meets, or garage sales. With written authorization from the
Company, Company products or services and opportunity may be displayed at trade
shows by ID. Request for participation in trade shows must be received in
writing by the Company at least two weeks prior to the show. Written
authorization from the Company must be received before participating in the
trade show.
21. International Sales.
No ID may export or sell directly or indirectly to others who export the
Company's products, literature, sales aids or promotional material relating to
the Company, its products or services or the Company's program from the United
States or its possessions or territories to any other country. IDs that choose
to enroll or sponsor internationally may do so only in countries in which the
Company has registered to operate its business and must comply fully with the
Rules of Operation of a Company ID position in that country. Any violation of
this rule constitutes a material breach of this contract and is grounds for
immediate termination of the ID position.
22. The Company reserves the right to approve or disapprove ID's change
of business names, formation of partnerships, corporations, and trusts for tax,
estate planning, and limited liability purposes. If the Company approves such a
change by ID, the organization's name and the names of the principals of the
organization must appear on the ID application/agreement along with a social
security number or federal identification number. It is prohibited to make
changes to attempt to circumvent or violate Company rules on raiding,
solicitation, targeting, cross-sponsoring or interference.
23. The ID agreement may be canceled at any time and for any reason by an
ID notifying the Company in writing of the election to cancel.
24. If an ID elects not to renew his\her ID agreement, all rights to
commissions and wholesale purchases cease.
The
current renewal fee for IDs is $39.00. This fee is due prior to each of the ID’s
anniversary dates of their enrollment with Company.
25. The Company shall be entitled to repayment of any commission
previously paid on a sale of product/service if the product/service purchase is
cancelled or reversed or a refund paid for a terminated purchase. The Company
shall recover the commission by adjustment on the next month's ID commission. In
the event that no commission is available for adjustment in the following month,
the ID who has received the commission shall repay the commission paid on the
"reversed sale" within 30 days of the Company’s notice to repay. Prior to the
payment of any commissions to an ID, the ID’s commissions must accumulate to a
minimum of $20.00.
26.
The Company shall be entitled to change product or service prices at any time
and without notice, and to make changes in the statement of policy and
procedures.
27. Each ID shall comply with all state and local taxes and regulations
governing the sale of Company products or services.
28. Notwithstanding the Company's longer retail customer guarantee
policy, all retail sales must comply with the FTC Three-Day Cooling Off Rule
which requires statutory language and notice of cancellation on the retail sales
receipt. The three-day right of cancellation must be orally explained to the
customer and the customer must receive two copies of the notice of cancellation
form.
29.
Company IDs, as independent contractors, are free to sell or market consumer
products or services other than the Company‘s products with certain
restrictions;
however, a Company ID shall not engage in any recruiting or promotion activity
that targets Company IDs for opportunities or products of other direct selling
companies or business opportunities, either directly or indirectly, by
themselves or in conjunction with others, nor shall an ID participate, directly
or indirectly, in interference, raiding
or
solicitation activity of Company IDs for
other direct selling companies or business opportunities. Additionally, no
recruiting for other business ventures is authorized at any Company function.
Failure to comply with this recruiting and cross-sponsoring policy shall cause a
Company ID position to be subject to cancellation. This prohibition on
targeting, interference, soliciting and raiding shall be in effect during the
term of the ID agreement and for a period of three (3) years after the
termination of the ID agreement. For the term of this agreement and for three
(3) years after termination hereof, an ID shall not, directly or indirectly,
recruit any of Company's ID to join other direct sales or network marketing
companies nor solicit, directly or indirectly, Company's IDs to purchase
services or products, or in any other way interfere with the contractual
relationships between Company and its IDs.
30. On a periodic basis, the Company will supply data processing
information and reports to the ID, which will provide information concerning the
ID’s sales, product purchases and product mix. The ID agrees that such
information is proprietary and confidential to the Company and is transmitted to
the ID in confidence. The ID agrees that he or she will not disclose such
information to any third party directly or indirectly, nor use the information
to compete with the Company directly or indirectly during or after the term of
the agreement. The ID and the Company agree that, but for this agreement of
confidentiality and nondisclosure, the Company would not provide the above
confidential information to the ID. An ID seeking to sell his/her ID position
must acknowledge and agree to this provision prior to the finalization of the
sale of their ID position.
31. Vendor Confidentiality.
The Company's business relationship with its vendors, manufacturers and
suppliers is confidential. An ID shall not contact, directly or indirectly, or
speak to or communicate with any representative of any supplier or manufacturer
of the Company except at a Company sponsored event at which the representative
is present at the request of the Company. Violation of this regulation may
result in termination and possible claims for damages if the
vendor/manufacturer's association is compromised by the ID contact.
32. Change in Status.
Marriage: Two Company ID who marry after having established their own
individual ID positions may continue to operate their existing ID positions
Divorce: Should a married couple become divorced, they agree to notify the
Company as to who will assume responsibility for the ID position in one of the
following manners:
a)
Written notarized agreement signed by both parties indicating who will retain
the ID position.
b) A court order delineating who receives custody over the ID position.
c) Both parties may choose to retain their joint ID position and operate it as a
partnership.
The divorced ID may apply for a new ID position without having to wait 12
months.
Death: Upon the death of an ID, the rights and responsibilities of the ID
position may be passed on to the rightfully legally documented heir as long as
that person has filled out a new ID application/agreement and completed the
required training.
Disability: Should an ID become disabled to the extent that he/she can no
longer fulfill the required duties of a Company ID, such disabled ID’s legal
representative or conservator shall:
a) Contact the Company within thirty (30) days of the disability and
advise the Company of the ID’s status and the plans for future management or
cancellation of the ID position.
b) Provide notarized or court confirmed copy of appointment as legal
representative or conservator.
c) Provide notarized or court confirmed copy of document establishing right to
administer the Company business.
d) Should the legal representative or conservator plan to continue the business
of the ID position, then he/she shall fill out a new ID application/agreement
and receive the required training consistent with the disabled ID’s level at the
time of disability.
e) These requirements shall be satisfied within a deadline of six months.
33. Sale or Transfer.
An ID may not sell, assign or otherwise transfer his or her ID rights
without written application and approval by the Company. This paragraph is also
applicable to transfer of any interest in an entity that owns an ID position,
including but not limited to corporation, partnership, trust or other
non-individual entity.
34.
This statement of policies and procedures is incorporated into the ID position
agreement and constitutes the entire agreement of the parties regarding their
business relationship.
35. The Company expressly reserves the right to alter or amend prices,
Rules
and Regulations, Policies and Procedures, product availability and compensation
plan. Upon notification, in writing, such amendments are automatically
incorporated as part of the agreement between the Company and the ID. Company
communication of changes may include, but shall not be limited to mail, email,
fax, posting on the Company website, publication in company newsletters or
magazines, etc.
36. Non-Individual Ownership.
A partnership or corporation may be an ID.
However, no individual may participate in more than one (1) ID position in any
form without express written permission from the Company. Only in the most
extreme and extraordinary circumstances will this be considered.
a. An ID position may change status under the same sponsor from
individual to partnership or corporation or from partnership to corporation with
proper and complete documentation.
b.
To form a new ID position as a partnership or corporation or to change status to
one of these forms of business, you must request a partnership/corporation form
from the corporate home office. This form must be submitted detailing all
partners, stockholders, officers or directors in the partnership or corporation.
The partner or officer who submits the form must be authorized to enter into
binding contracts on behalf of the partnership or corporation. In addition, by
submitting the partnership/corporation form, you certify that no person with an
interest in the business has had an interest in an ID position within three (3)
months of the submission of the form (unless it is the continuation of an
existing ID position that is changing its form of doing business).
37. Individual and Entity Ownership Information.
a. An individual can have only one ID position in the Company. He/she may
not own any other ID position, either individually or jointly, nor may he/she
participate as a partner, owner, stockholder, trustee, director, or association
member in more than one ID position in any form.
b.
An individual shall provide the Company with a Social Security Number or a
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) on an IRS W-9 form. No individual operating
under a fictitious name and no partnership, corporation or other business entity
may become a Company ID without submitting an “Entity Information” form
following enrollment of proprietorship, corporation, Limited Liability
Corporation (LLC), trust or partnership.
(1) Proprietorship: A copy of fictitious name filing must be submitted, plus a
W-9 form.
(2) Corporation: Copies of articles of incorporation are required, including the
page with state seals and notarization. These articles will show who the
principals are and prove validation of Federal ID Number/Business Number/E.I.N,
plus a W-9 form.
(3) LLC: IRS acceptance only. The name on the IRS acceptance is required to
state the LLC in order to use it as an LLC, plus a W-9 form.
(4) Trust: An affidavit of trust with the notarized copy of the power of
attorney is necessary. If Federal ID Number is to be used and is not noted in
the affidavit, an
IRS acceptance will be required, plus a W-9 form.
(5) Partnership: To register as a partner, complete the partnership portion of
the Entity Information form, along with all signatures that apply, plus a W-9
form.
38. Entity Guarantee for Owners:
Although Company has offered ID the opportunity to conduct their ID
position as corporate, LLC, trust or partnership entities, it is agreed that
since the ID position entity is under the control of its owners or principals,
the actions of individual owners or beneficiaries as they may affect Company and
the ID position are also critical to Company’s business. Therefore it is agreed
that actions of the ownership entity shareholders, officers, directors,
trustees, beneficiaries, agents, employees or other related or interested
parties and the actions of such parties, which are in contravention to Company’s
policies shall be attributable to the corporate, LLC, trust or partnership
entity.
In
the event that any of the ownership entity shareholders, officers, directors,
trustees, beneficiaries, agents, employees or other related parties shall
terminate ownership interests in the ID position, any breaching actions by such
parties that continue to have a beneficial financial interest, directly or
indirectly, in the ID position shall be attributable to the ID position.
39. Members of Same Household; Responsibility. Members of ID’s household
may operate together as one Company ID position, but may not become separate
Company IDs. Household is defined as husband, wife, and dependents. Note:
Children of legal age to contract and at least 18 years of age are not
considered a part of their parents’ household.
Company recognizes that members of the same household may belong to competing
direct selling opportunities. Although the actions of the parties are normally
in good faith, in some circumstances, there is an abuse of relationships in
which the non-company household member is engaged in recruitment, solicitation
or raiding of the Company sales organization. Since the household member that
has an ownership interest in the Company ID position is in the best position to
be responsible to prevent raiding or cross-sponsoring activity by their
co-household member, the cross-recruiting activity of the non-company household
member shall be attributed to the Company ID position, subjecting the ID
position to discipline or termination.
40. Disciplinary Actions.
An ID's violation of any policies and procedures, the agreement, terms
and conditions or any illegal, fraudulent, deceptive, or unethical business
conduct may result, at the Company's discretion, in one or more of the following
disciplinary actions:
a. Issuance of a written warning or admonition.
b.
Imposition of a fine, which may be imposed immediately or withheld from future
commission checks.
c.
Suspension, which may result in termination or reinstatement with conditions or
restrictions.
e.
Termination of the ID.
41. The Company reserves the right to terminate any ID position at any
time for cause when it is determined that the ID has violated the provisions of
the ID agreement, including the provisions of these policies and procedures as
they may be amended or the provisions of applicable laws and standards of fair
dealing. Such involuntary termination shall be made by the Company at its
discretion. Upon an involuntary termination, the Company shall notify the ID by
mail at the latest address listed with the Company for the ID. In the event of a
termination, the terminated ID agrees to immediately cease representing
him/herself as an ID.
42. Termination.
a. When a decision is made to terminate an ID position, the Company will
inform the ID in writing that the ID position is terminated immediately,
effective as of the date of the written notification. The termination notice
will be sent by certified mail to the ID's address on file with the Company.
b.
The ID will have 10 days from the date of mailing of the certified letter in
which to appeal the termination in writing, and provide written response to the
finding of violations of Company agreement, policies and/or rules. The ID's
appeal and/or response correspondence must be received by the Company within 20
days of the Company's termination letter. If the appeal is not received within
the 20-day period, the termination will be automatically deemed final.
c.
If an ID files a timely appeal of termination, the Company will review and
reconsider the termination, consider any other appropriate action, and notify
the ID of its decision. The decision of the Company will be final and subject to
no further review. In the event the termination is not rescinded, the
termination will be effective as of the date of the Company's original
termination notice.
43. See specific addenda to ID agreement for specific states as to
statutory purchasing limitations, buyback rules and other restrictions,
disclosures and additional ID rights and responsibilities. In any state with a
business opportunity statute, required expenditures during the first six months
shall not exceed the statutory amount that initiates applicability of the state
business opportunity statute.
44.
Income Claims.
No income claims, income projections nor income representations may be
made to prospective ID. Obviously, any false, deceptive or misleading claims
regarding the opportunity or product\service are prohibited. In their
enthusiasm, ID are occasionally tempted to represent hypothetical income figures
based upon the inherent power of network marketing as actual income projections.
This is counter-productive, since new ID may be quickly disappointed if their
results are not as extensive or as rapid as a hypothetical model would suggest.
The Company believes firmly that the income potential is great enough to be
highly attractive in reality without resorting to artificial and unrealistic
projections.
45. Representation of Status.
In all cases, any reference the ID makes to him/herself must clearly set
forth the ID's independent status. For example, if the ID has a business
telephone, the telephone may not be listed under the Company's name or in any
other manner which does not disclose the independent contractor status of the
ID.
46. Judgment and Tax Liens.
The
Company will comply fully with any court order or instruction/demand by any
government taxing authorities within the United States and Canada that orders,
instructs or demands the withholding of an ID’s earnings from his/her ID
position with the Company.
47. Subpoenas Duces Tecum (Demands for Records).
Assuming proper jurisdiction, the Company will comply with all subpoenas
duces tecum demanding financial compensation records of an ID in his/her
capacity as an independent contractor with the Company.
48. Requests for Records.
The Company will comply fully with all requests for records accompanied
by a properly prepared and signed authorization by the person whose records are
being sought. The Company will comply fully with all requests for records by
government agencies with the authority to request such records and accompanied
by the requisite legal documentation.
49. Newspaper Advertisements.
• No specific income can be promised.
•
Advertisements must contain no misleading facts or distortions of the Company
opportunity or product line.
50. Business Cards and Stationery.
Any printed materials, including business cards and stationery, must be
approved by the Company in advance. Criteria for approving these materials will
include a judgment regarding the quality of the materials as well as properly
setting forth the independent status of the ID.
51. Telemarketing Techniques.
The Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission
each have laws that restrict telemarketing practices.
Both federal agencies (as well as a number of states) have "do not call"
regulations as part of their telemarketing laws. Although the Company does not
consider IDs to be "telemarketers" in the traditional sense of the word, these
government regulations broadly define the term "telemarketer" and
"telemarketing" so that your inadvertent action of calling someone whose
telephone number is listed on the federal "do not call" registry could cause you
to violate the law. Moreover, these regulations must not be taken lightly, as
they carry significant penalties.
Therefore, IDs must not engage in telemarketing in the operation of their
Company businesses. The term "telemarketing" means the placing of one or more
telephone calls to an individual or entity to induce the purchase of a Company
product or service, or to recruit them for the Company opportunity. "Cold calls"
made to prospective customers or IDs that promote either Company products or
services or the Company opportunity constitute telemarketing and are prohibited.
However, a telephone call placed to a prospective customer or ID (a "prospect")
is permissible under the following situations:
a. You may call family members, personal friends, and acquaintances. An
"acquaintance" is someone with whom you have at least a recent firsthand
relationship within the preceding three (3) months. Bear in mind, however, that
if you make a habit of "card collecting" with everyone you meet and subsequently
calling them, the FTC may consider this a form of telemarketing that is not
subject to this exemption. Thus, if you engage in calling "acquaintances," you
must make such calls on an occasional basis only and not make this a routine
practice.
b.
The prospect’s personal inquiry or application regarding a product or service
offered by the ID, within the three (3) months immediately preceding the date of
such a meeting.
c.
If the ID has an established business relationship with the prospect.
An "established business relationship"
is a relationship between an ID and a prospect based on the prospect’s purchase,
rental or lease of goods or services from the ID, or a financial transaction
between the prospect and the ID within the eighteen (18) months immediately
preceding the date of a telephone call to induce the prospect’s purchase of a
product or service.
d.
If the ID receives written and signed permission from the prospect authorizing
the ID to call. The authorization must specify the telephone number(s) which the
ID is authorized to call.
e.
In addition, ID shall not use automatic telephone dialing systems relative to
the operation of their Company businesses. The term "automatic telephone dialing
system" means equipment which has the capacity to (a) store or produce telephone
numbers to be called, using a random or sequential number generator, and (b) to
dial such numbers.
52. Press Inquiries.
Any inquiries by the media are to be referred immediately to the Company.
This policy is to assure accuracy and consistent public image.
53. Federal and state regulatory agencies rarely approve or endorse
direct selling programs. Therefore, ID may not represent that the Company's
program has been approved or endorsed by any governmental agency.
54. Indemnification and Hold Harmless.
The ID hereby indemnifies and releases Company, its officers, directors,
agents and assigns and holds harmless from and against the full amount of any
and all claims, causes of action, judicial and administrative proceedings suits,
charges, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses, including without
limitation court costs and reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys and
consultants, which are or may be made, filed or assessed against Company at any
time arising out of ID's business operations and representations made by ID in
the operation of his/her business, arising from the following:
a. Violation and/or lack of compliance with terms of the ID agreement,
policies and procedures, rules and regulations, marketing program manual or
guidelines or any other directive from the Company as to method and manner of
operation of the ID’s business;
b.
Engaging in any conduct not authorized by the Company in the Company market
program;
c.
Any fraud, negligence or willful misconduct in the operation of the ID’s
business;
d.
Misrepresentation or unauthorized representation regarding the Company's product
or service, marketing opportunity or potential or the Company's marketing
program;
e.
Failure to adhere to any federal, state or local law, regulation, ordinance
and/or any order or rule issue by any court of appropriate jurisdiction;
f.
Engaging in any action which exceeds the scope of authority to the ID as granted
by the Company;
g.
Engaging in any activity over which Company has no effective control as to the
actions of the ID.
h.
Engaging in the general business operations of ID’s business.