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one document which outlines appropriate behavior, although we have recently
The first and most important piece to one document which outlines appropriate behavior, although we have recently
The first and most important piece to
keeping everyone who represents our
keeping everyone who represents our been considering separating them out into two documents again.
been considering separating them out into two documents again.
business aboveboard is our internal
business aboveboard is our internal
In the event of any below-board issues, if our agents were complicit or should
corporate culture. We have a people- In the event of any below-board issues, if our agents were complicit or should
corporate culture. We have a people-
first environment where we prioritize
first environment where we prioritize have known, we make it clear to them in their agreements that they will be on
have known, we make it clear to them in their agreements that they will be on
the hook for such behavior.
acting in an ethical and professional
acting in an ethical and professional the hook for such behavior.
manner. We make it very clear to all of
manner. We make it very clear to all of
The third driver which keeps our sales agents aboveboard is closely monitoring
our internal and external sales agents
our internal and external sales agents The third driver which keeps our sales agents aboveboard is closely monitoring
their business practices. Our executive management team works closely with
and employees that our reputation
and employees that our reputation their business practices. Our executive management team works closely with
the relationship managers to look for patterns of 'bad behavior' and immediately
comes before our bottom line. the relationship managers to look for patterns of 'bad behavior' and immediately
comes before our bottom line.
addresses any such issues with our sales partners.
addresses any such issues with our sales partners.
As the saying goes, it takes 20 years to
As the saying goes, it takes 20 years to
build a reputation and five minutes
build a reputation and five minutes
to ruin it. We are almost at 20 years,
to ruin it. We are almost at 20 years,
and our consistently ethical behavior
and our consistently ethical behavior
has built our strong reputation. We
has built our strong reputation. We
certainly don't want to do anything
certainly don't want to do anything
which would jeopardize it.
which would jeopardize it.
We emphasize this tone from the top
We emphasize this tone from the top
of our company, and internally we
of our company, and internally we
use the phrase "all roads lead back to
use the phrase "all roads lead back to
Signature." The idea is if everyone in
Signature." The idea is if everyone in
our company acts ethically and treats
our company acts ethically and treats
others with respect – whether those
others with respect – whether those
others are agents, merchants, potential
others are agents, merchants, potential
merchants, previous merchants or
merchants, previous merchants or
even vendors – they will think highly
even vendors – they will think highly
of our company and either stay with
of our company and either stay with
us or come back after they have had
us or come back after they have had
to deal with the less ethical payment
to deal with the less ethical payment
processing companies out there.
processing companies out there.
With regard to making sure our sales
With regard to making sure our sales
agents stay aboveboard, we have
agents stay aboveboard, we have
three key drivers which promote this
three key drivers which promote this
behavior. The first is our previously
behavior. The first is our previously
discussed reputation as trustworthy,
discussed reputation as trustworthy,
fair and ethical. We get a lot of
fair and ethical. We get a lot of
sales agents that have been burned
sales agents that have been burned
by unethical companies in this
by unethical companies in this
industry, and these agents come to us
industry, and these agents come to us
specifically because they know that
specifically because they know that
we treat people fairly.
we treat people fairly.
If If we commit the resources,
resources,
commit
we
the
turnaround time and support our
turnaround time and support our
sales agents need, those agents are
sales agents need, those agents are
significantly less likely to engage in
significantly less likely to engage in
questionable behavior.
questionable behavior.
The second, and unfortunately
The second, and unfortunately
necessary, driver to keep our sales
necessary, driver to keep our sales
agents aboveboard is each of our
agents aboveboard is each of our
agent's contractual obligations. Many
agent's contractual obligations. Many
of our older sales agents signed a code
of our older sales agents signed a code
of ethics that we sent out in addition
of ethics that we sent out in addition
to their standard agent agreements.
to their standard agent agreements.
We have since incorporated the code
We have since incorporated the code
of ethics and agent agreement into
of ethics and agent agreement into
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