** The following sections apply specifically to complaints **
  ** dealt with by the Complaints Admin.                     **

  Your Rights As A Complainant

    When you submit a complaint, you will receive an email confirming that the
    complaint has been received. This email is not auto-generated, but is
    created when the Complaints Admin actually reads your email.

    The Complaints Admin will then respond to you as soon as possible once
    information has been gathered about the complaint, either with a proposed
    resolution, or with further questions. If the process is delayed, the
    Complaints Admin will attempt to keep you up to date with the progress of
    the complaint.

    Normally, the complainant's name will not be revealed to the subject of the
    complaint. In some cases however it is inevitable that the subject will
    know who complained based on the content of the complaint. Where the
    Complaints Admin wishes to reveal the complainant's name, they will first
    ask for the complainant's permission. Please understand that if the
    Complaints Admin wishes to reveal your name, it is undoubtedly to help the
    progression of the resolution process.

    Once resolved, you will be informed as to the complaint resolution and the
    proposed punishment if any. This email will not necessarily be the exact
    email sent to the subject of the complaint.

    The complainant's confidentiality will be maintained to the best of the
    Complaints Admin's ability.

    If you believe that despite discussions your complaint has been dealt with
    unfairly, or not taken seriously, you can escalate the complaint to
    somebody higher up the Complaints Hierarchy explaining why you feel this to
    be the case. Escalation does not guarantee reversal of decision.

  Your Rights As the Subject Of A Complaint

    When a complaint is received about a use, the Complaints Admin is not
    obliged to notify the user about the complaint.

    If a complaint about a user is rejected, the subject is not normally
    notified that a complaint was even received.

    When contacting the subject of a complaint, the Complaints Admin will use
    the email address shown on the user's account information. If that email
    bounces, the user will automatically be banned from everything except
    logging into the system. This is known as a "badmail" ban, and is used to
    ensure user accountability.

    If information is needed regarding a complaint, the subject may be emailed
    asking for that information. There is no obligation to explain the full
    nature of the complaint to the subject in these emails. However, the fact
    that a complaint is in progress will be stated.

    If a complaint is nominally upheld, the subject of the complaint will be
    contacted with details of the ruling, and an explanation for the basis of
    the judgement and the punishment. At this point, the subject can object to
    any points they believe are inaccurate or need further discussion. Once any
    remaining issues have been discussed, the final decision will be emailed to
    all concerned parties.

    If you believe that despite discussions your complaint has been dealt with
    unfairly or that the punishment is unreasonable, you can escalate the
    complaint to somebody higher up the Complaints Hierarchy, explaining why
    you feel this to be the case. Escalation does not guarantee reversal of
    decision.