ISA/TCIA violatations

How about a more direct but advisory approach. As a member yourself you know the rules. You see something on his invoice that he didn't have there before and you weren't aware that he had obtained these credentials.

So, the next time you speak with him ask him about it. Let him know you are a member of both and wasn't aware that he was planning on joining either. See what his answer is. If he doesn't have his cert #s on his invoice then you can let him know that he has to have those as well as the fact that the ISA and TCIA are both vigilant in enforcing their trademarks and will pursue action to have anyone abusing the use of them.

You can be diplomatic about this without being deceiving or disingenuous.
 
Ok so I made the call tonight and started talking about other stuff first and eased my way into the topic, I asked him when he got his ISA cert, he said never, asked him when he became a member of TCIA, never. I then asked him why he now has them on his invoices and proposal forms, he said to look more professional and get more business ! I was like holy crap! You know this isn't right, he basically said yeah so what I can do what I want to do its my business what's it to me! I left it at that and we talked about some other things...."............. That's that for now I guess
 
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Ok so I made the call tonight and started talking about other stuff first and eased my way into the topic, I asked him when he got his ISA cert, he said never, asked him when he became a member of TCIA, never. I then asked him why he now has them on his invoices and proposal forms, he said to look more professional and get more business ! I was like holy crap! You know this isn't right, he basically said yeah so what I can do what I want to do its my business what's it to me! I left it at that and we talked about some other things...."............. That's that for now I guess

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Wow! He's got big brass ones. Time for 2 more calls/emails.
mad.gif
 
Deevo, you are in an awkward position, I know, but it is people like him who water down the certifications and organizations to a point of near uselessness.

If he is so concerned with looking professional, then he should be a professional.

This guy is stealing...from the I.S.A., T.C.I.A. and from Y.O.U!

A professional would not steal and lie to his clients.

I would have no problem damaging that "friendship".
 
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Deevo, you are in an awkward position, I know, but it is people like him who water down the certifications and organizations to a point of near uselessness.

If he is so concerned with looking professional, then he should be a professional.

This guy is stealing...from the I.S.A., T.C.I.A. and from Y.O.U!

A professional would not steal and lie to his clients.

I would have no problem damaging that "friendship".

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Yep my thoughts exactly, I will be calling ISA and TCIA tomorrow if time allows and I have already scanned the form ready to email. Your right those of us who support, have taken the exams and continue to do training, earn ceu's through ISA and TCIA have to support them as well by reporting people like this who are in turn being fraudulent. Thanks for all the guidance on the issue!
Devon
 
Perhaps another way to approach this would be to grab some coffee with him and explain the impact to your industry. He may not be aware that what he is doing poses a potentially huge liability. You might want to point out that this has more far-reaching implications and diminishes the value and integrity of these organizations.

I also imagine this not only puts him at risk both legally and financially, but anyone that does business with him. Should anything ever happen on the job, this could potentially be a career-ender or have more serious consequences.

Just my 2 cents.
Michael
 
Awkward situation, Devon, but one thing I like about you is that you ARE a professional. It was a pleasure working with you and your crew awhile back. You will be doing that guy a favour by contacting ISA and TCIA; it might be the wake up call he needs to get his business affairs in order.
 
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Awkward situation, Devon, but one thing I like about you is that you ARE a professional. It was a pleasure working with you and your crew awhile back. You will be doing that guy a favour by contacting ISA and TCIA; it might be the wake up call he needs to get his business affairs in order.

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Thanks Dave, yeah I hate to be a prick about it but rules are rules!
 
With all due respect to the organizations- I've turned in the same guys numerous times and the enforcement has been so weak, it really is worthless to bother. One guy has gone to using the old NAA logo (in lieu of TCIA) and instead of "Certified Arborist" it just says "Experienced Arborist".

My new approach: I promote the ISA's consumer site and let the client do the checking. Word of mouth has taken over from there. On my signs, proposals, website and in print ads encourage all potential customers to look for themselves at treesaregood.org! We all pay for that site in dues, PROMOTE IT!

My other favorite is “Licensed and Insured”- that is so damn vague we all should stop using it. In my area there is no licensing for tree work. What do they mean, drivers license and auto insurance?
 
Where it's an organization and they have trademarks, give it to them to deal with. Where it's fraudulent advertising and such, give the appropriate government agency a call to report it. This particular case he is willfully misleading the public and this is not a guy you really want to be working with.

Good luck to you!
 
If he is a friend i would confront him on it and let him know that if he doesnt remove it from his forms you are going to report it. My approach would be to come along side him and encourage him to become certified and to become a member of TCIA. But make no mistake if he doesnt come around I would report him. We work to hard for certs and to do things right. There are too many bullshitters in this business and it takes away from those of us that actually put the effort in. I would tell him because he is a friend and you want to be known as an upfront upright guy. He may be pissed but he will respect you and in turn hopefully respect what the certs and members ships mean. Its an oppurtunity to bring to code of ethics into the discussion. If he tells you to pound sand you didn't lose much anyway. If he is a competitor I would just report him. Good luck!
 
Why not just ask him about it, face to face, or the phone? Do you want to continue to be involved with someone who is in the wrong.

Sometimes you just have to call people out.

If nothing else....post it on a website and hope he reads it...lol
 
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