Code of Conduct

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued Directions on Managing Risks and Code of Conduct in Outsourcing of Financial Services by NBFCs under reference DNBR.PD. CC. No. 090/03.10.001/2017-18 dated Nov., 09, 2017 vide which NBFCs are required to put in place a Board Approved Code of Conduct for Direct Sales Agents (DSA)/ Direct Marketing Agents (DMA)/ Collection-Recovery Agents (RAs). Accordingly, Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited (the Company) has put in place this document. This Code of Conduct is based on the Indian Bank Association’s Model Code of Conduct for DSAs for Banks and the Code of Conduct for Collection-Recovery Agents is based on RBI guidelines on Fair Practice Code for NBFCs.

A prospect is to be contacted for sourcing a Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited product or the Company-related product only under the following circumstances:

Telephonic contact must normally be limited between 0930 Hrs. and 1900 Hrs. However, it may be ensured that a prospect is contacted only when the call is not expected to inconvenience him/her. Calls earlier or later than the prescribed time may be placed only when the prospect has expressly authorized TME/BDE to do so either in writing or orally.

DSA should respect a prospect's privacy. The prospect's interest may normally be discussed only with the prospect and any other individual/family member such as the prospect's accountant/secretary /spouse, authorized by the prospect.

Calls must first be placed to the prospect. In the event the prospect is not available, a message may be left for him/her. The aim of the message should be to get the prospect to return the call or to check for a convenient time to call again. Ordinarily, such messages may be restricted to:

Please leave a message that XXXXX (Name of officer) representing Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited called and requested to call back at ZZZZZZ (Phone Number). 

As a rule, the message must indicate that the purpose of the call is for selling or distributing a Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited product and/or its third-party product.

TME/BDE should not: 
• Mislead the prospect on any service / product offered; 
• Mislead the prospect about their business or organization's name, or falsely represent themselves; 
• Make any false / unauthorised commitment on behalf of Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited for any facility/ service.

• Identify yourself, your company and your principal; 
• Request permission to proceed.; 
• If denied permission, apologize and politely disconnect;
 • State reason for your call; 
• Always offer to call back on landline, if call is made to a cell number; 
• Never interrupt or argue; 
• To the extent possible, talk in the language which is most comfortable to the prospect; 
• Keep the conversation limited to business matters; 
• Check for understanding of "Most Important Terms and Conditions" by the customer if he plans to buy the product; 
• Reconfirm next call or next visit details; 
• Provide your telephone no, your supervisor's name or Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited officer’s contact details if asked for by the customer. 
• Thank the customer for his/her time.

• Customers who have expressed their lack of interest for the offering should not be called for the next 3 months with the same offer 
• Provide feedback to the Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited on the customers who have expressed their desire to be flagged "Do Not Disturb" 
• Never call or entertain calls from customers regarding products already sold. Advise them to contact the Customer Service Staff of Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited.

Any TME / BDE must not accept gifts from prospects or bribes of any kind. In case any customer offers a bribe or payment of any kind, such TME / BDE must promptly report it to his/her management.

BDE should: 
‍• Respect personal space - maintain adequate distance from the prospect; 
• Not enter the prospect's a residence/office against his/her wishes; 
• Not visit in large numbers - i.e. not more than one BDE and one supervisor, if required.
• Respect the prospect's privacy; 
• If the prospect is not present and only family members /office persons are present at the time of the visit, he/she should end the visit with a request for the prospect to call back; 
• Provide his/her Telephone No., Supervisor's name or Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited officer's contact details, if asked for by the customer; 
• Limit discussions with the prospect to the business and maintain a professional distance.

BDE's must be appropriately dressed. (Jeans and /or T-Shirt, open sandals are not considered appropriate).

For men this means- 
• Well ironed trousers; 
• Well ironed shirt, shirt sleeves preferably buttoned down. 

‍For women this means- 
• Well ironed formal attire (Saree, Suit etc.); 
• Well-groomed appearance. 

10. Handling of Letters & other Communication Any communication sent to the prospect should be only in the mode and format approved by Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited.

11. The Collection-Recovery Agents engaged by Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited must adhere to the below mentioned guidelines in the course of performing their duty as a Collection-Recovery Agent: ‍

‍Contact with Customer

i. Customer should be contacted at an appropriate time. 
ii. Customer should be contacted ordinarily at the place of his choice and in the absence of any specified place at the place of his residence and if unavailable at his residence, at the place of business/ occupation; 
iii. Customer privacy should be respected; 
iv. Interaction with the customer should be in a polite and civilised manner; 
v. Customer request to avoid calls at a particular time or at a particular place should be honored as far as possible; 
vi. Customer should be provided with the information regarding his dues 
vii. Reasonable notice would be given before repossession of security and its realization;
viii. All assistance should be given to resolve disputes or differences in a mutually acceptable and in a normal manner;
ix. During visit to the customer‘s place for collection of dues, decency and decorum should be maintained; 
x. Inappropriate occasions such as bereavement in the family or such other calamitous occasions should be avoided for making calls/ visits to collect dues. 
xi. Strictly avoid any appearance which may suggest any criminal intimidation or threat or violence. 
xii. A collection agent or its employee/s while collecting the amount due should not:
      • Resort to any false, deceptive or misleading representation, 
       • Falsely represent or imply that he or she is connected with or affiliated with any of the governmental or judicial authority, 
        • Falsely represent the character, amount, or legal status of the debt. 
        • Abstain from using any identification which can lead to wrong representation. In case of non adherence to above terms, agency will be solely responsible for consequences, if any, arising therefrom. 
xiii. Collection Agents or their employees should be appropriately dressed and well groomed.

In addition to the Code of Conduct guideline, the following guidelines should be adhered to by all the individuals / persons / associates / agents / entities (hereinafter referred to as “Representatives”) authorized to represent Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited for collection of dues from the customers. In case of failure to comply with these guidelines, an appropriate and strict disciplinary action shall be taken against such person. 

i. Treat the customer with dignity. During all the conversations – communication (over telephone / in writing / during visits) professionalism and transparency should be displayed and the Representatives should not treat it as personal. 

ii. Use the language which the customer understands and use the language of customer’s choice. Strictly avoid use of tough / aggressive / threatening / abusive language, either verbal or in writing. Care should be taken to strictly avoid threaten /harass /irritating the customer. 
iii. In case any customer resorts to abusive or threatening tactics, the Representatives should document it and promptly inform name of such customer to Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited. 
iv. Representatives are not authorized to send any written communication to customer by any mode (e-mail, letter, electronic messages, social media, etc.) to Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited Customers. If customers are required to be communicated on e-mails / letters / electronic messages, Representatives should send a request to Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited along with reasons and requirements for any written communication. 
v. Representatives should not promise or commit any type of written communication on behalf of Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited. 
vi. Representative should not mislead the customer on the action proposed and consequences thereof. 
vii. Representative should not mislead the customer about their true business or organization name, or falsely represent or imply that representative is an attorney, government official, officer of any Court, Police Station, etc. viii. Without prior permission from Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited, Representative should not make any promise or commitment to any customer on behalf of Shopsense Retail Technologies Limited.