The WFN Code of Conduct exists in order to provide guidelines as to how WFN members should operate within the WFN network. It is imperative that all WFN members abide by the Code of Conduct in order to safeguard WFN membership.
PAYMENTS
- WFN cannot be held responsible and does not accept any financial liability for commercial and/or financial obligations which are not met by (a) WFN member(s).
- Payment terms must be mutually agreed between WFN members, prior to the commencement of services.
- WFN members will be made aware of any defaulting Members on the Credit Status System.
MEMBERSHIP
- WFN members must respond to all sales lead requests and communications within 24 hours.
- WFN members must make payments, to both one another and to WFN Head Office, within the agreed terms.
- Unresolved member disputes should be brought to WFN Head Office’s attention; any subsequent arbitration must be accepted by both parties.
- WFN Members are expected to attend alternate physical Annual Meetings as a minimum. When physical meetings are not possible, attendance of an Online Meeting once a year is also required.
- WFN members cannot promote offices in countries without official WFN membership in that region.
- WFN members are obliged to offer fresh business to fellow WFN partners.
- All members must respect the nature of confidentiality involved in all dealings.
- WFN members must communicate in a professional and polite manner in all network dealings with fellow members and with WFN Head Office.
- All written and verbal communication within the network - including emails, phone calls, voicemails, text messages, WhatsApp messages and similar - must be in accordance with the point above, and considered appropriate and acceptable within the spirit of the network.
- Any kind of discrimination, for example on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity or religion, is unacceptable.
- All materials, content, and intellectual property, including but not limited to text, images, graphics, logos, audio, video, and software, made available on World Freight Network’s website, publications, or other platforms, are protected by copyright laws and owned by the Owner unless otherwise stated.
TERMINATION
WFN membership will be terminated for the following reasons:
- A member is unable to provide a satisfactory standard of service.
- A member is shown to be unable to make payments on time, either to WFN Head Office or to other members.
- A member has been reported and listed on an industry blacklist/debtors’ list, e.g. Freight Dead Beats or FDRS, since joining the network, and is not able to provide sufficient evidence in order that they be removed.
- WFN Head Office receives a notice of resignation.
- The WFN Code of Conduct has not been adhered to (e.g. a member fails to attend at least one in two meetings).
- A member has sent any form of communication deemed by Head Office to be impolite, unprofessional, misleading, discriminatory, inflammatory or otherwise not in keeping with the spirit of the network.
- This includes emails, phone calls and WhatsApp messages, both direct, and in the dedicated WFN WhatsApp Group (WFN Head Office reserve the right to remove any members deemed in breach of this point, from the network mailing lists or WhatsApp Group).
- A member is actively associated with a company, group or association which the WFN Managing Director believes is in direct competition with WFN.
- If a member is deemed not to be working within the true spirit of WFN.
- If a member and/or any of its employees and/or representatives have any involvement with arms embargoes and the movement of banned goods, in accordance with UN, EU, US and UK ARMS EMBARGOES AND TRADE CONTROL RESTRICTIONS
- If a member opens an office / trading address in a sanctioned country (according to the sanction list under RBS policy).
The WFN Managing Director has the authority to terminate membership at her discretion. WFN Head Office will endeavour to resolve disputes wherever possible and appropriate, before terminating membership. Where appropriate, notice of temporary suspension of membership will be given to the member concerned before termination (for example when no response has been received regarding a dispute or late payment). If the dispute is subsequently resolved in what is deemed a reasonable timeframe, suspension will be lifted and membership reinstated. Decisions regarding suspension, as with termination, are at the discretion of the WFN Managing Director.
In the event of expulsion, due to non-compliance of the WFN Code of Conduct, fees will not be refunded.
Members may leave WFN at any time. Fees will not be refunded.
Members must refrain from using the WFN logo, and any mention of WFN membership, on their website, marketing materials, email signatures and elsewhere, once membership is discontinued/terminated.
The WFN Managing Director may add to the WFN Code of Conduct at any time.
PRIVACY POLICY
Please click here to view our current: privacy policy. Note that if we are full in World Freight Network, should our sister networks have space, we will share your details with www.internationalfreightnetwork.com and/or www.specialistfreightnetworks.com.
GOVERNING LAW
The Membership Rules, Code of Conduct, your use of the website www.worldfreightnetwork.com and any other associated information are governed by the Laws of England.
By using www.worldfreightnetwork.com you submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England.
You irrevocably agree that the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute which may arise out of, under, or in connection with the Membership Rules, Code of Conduct, your use of the website www.worldfreightnetwork.com and any other information.