Whenever an inspector receives a Follow-Up on a completed inspection, immediate action is required.
Follow-Ups that sit without being resolved cost NMFS money and may result in chargebacks from clients.
1. What Counts as an Unresolved Follow-Up?
A Follow-Up becomes “unresolved” when:
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It has been ignored for more than 24 hours, OR
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You have not cured the requested correction, OR
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You have not contacted the Account Manager to explain why the issue cannot be cured
Unresolved Follow-Ups can go past due, and once they do, clients often cancel the inspection or issue penalties.
2. Fees for Unresolved Follow-Ups
NMFS must pass these fees through to the inspector when the Follow-Up is ignored or allowed to go past due:
• $5 per day penalty (charged by the client)
This applies to all Follow-Ups not resolved within 24 hours.
• Reassignment Fee (if NMFS must reassign your Follow-Up)
If you ignore the Follow-Up and NMFS must send it to another inspector, a reassignment fee may apply.
3. Why These Penalties Occur
Clients expect immediate resolution of Follow-Ups.
When a Follow-Up is ignored:
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Work may go past due
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Clients may cancel the job
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NMFS is charged penalties
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NMFS must pass those penalties to the responsible inspector
These consequences are avoidable by acting quickly.
4. Avoiding Fees
To avoid penalties:
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Check Follow-Ups daily
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Cure them immediately whenever possible
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If you cannot cure it within 24 hours, contact the Account Manager immediately
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Communicate the reason (weather, access, missing keys, safety, delays, etc.)
Important:
If you communicate early, the Account Manager can pause the clock, request an extension, or prevent penalties.
Summary
Unresolved Follow-Ups cost NMFS money and impact client relationships.
By addressing Follow-Ups within 24 hours and communicating promptly, inspectors avoid:
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$5/day penalties
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Reassignment fees
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Potential cancellation fees
Good communication prevents nearly every issue.