Frequently Asked Questions

Hotline Overview
Hotline Overview

What is the purpose of the Hotline?

The Hotline is an information resource to help complainants determine the appropriate legal authority to receive their complaint. The Hotline is designed to direct complainants where to file their complaint of:

  • Alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, commonly referred to as USPAP, or
  • Alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence standards, including improper influencing or attempted improper influencing of appraisers or the appraisal process.

More about USPAP and appraisal independence

How does the Hotline work?

The Hotline, through the website, email, or toll-free number, gathers from the user certain information such as:

  • The nature of the complaint (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or appraisal independence)
  • Who the complaint is against
  • Other pertinent information

Based on the information provided, users are provided with the contact information for the State and/or Federal agency that should receive their complaint.
Get an online referral for instant results
Email us for a reply within 5 business days
Call 877-739-0096 to speak to a representative Monday through Friday

What kinds of complaints does the Hotline address?

The Hotline refers complaints involving alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) or alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence standards, including improper influencing or attempted improper influencing of appraisers or the appraisal process. However, you may find the Hotline’s resource pages useful regarding other appraisal-related matters.

Appraisal complaint resources

Can the Hotline help me file an anonymous complaint?

The Hotline will help you find the appropriate legal authority to receive your complaint. That authority will advise you regarding the possibility of filing an anonymous complaint.

Why won’t the ASC investigate my complaint?

The Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 required the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) to establish and operate the Hotline to refer individuals and entities to the appropriate legal authority. The ASC has no legal authority to investigate complaints.

About Your Referral
About Your Referral

If the Hotline provides a referral, does that mean I have a valid complaint?

No. The agency that receives your complaint will make that determination. The Hotline is designed to help you:

  • Determine the nature of your complaint: Alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), or alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence standards, including improper influencing or attempted improper influencing of appraisers or the appraisal process.
  • Find the appropriate agency to receive and investigate your complaint for further action.

The agency to which I was referred told me that I did not have a valid complaint. Can the Hotline look into their decision?

No. The agency that receives your complaint has the legal authority to investigate and take action as it deems appropriate. The Hotline does not intervene with the complaint process, investigation, or final outcome.

I received a referral and lost the information. Can the Hotline re-send it?

The Hotline does not retain information on referrals previously made. Please use the website or toll-free number to obtain a new referral.

Can I email my request for a complaint referral?

Yes, you may email us a request using our online form.

Types of Complaints
Types of Complaints

Can the Hotline review my complaint and let me know if there may be a USPAP or appraisal independence violation?

No. The ASC has no authority to investigate matters concerning your complaint. The Hotline does not collect any complaint information; nor does the Hotline involve itself in the complaint or complaint process. If you need help determining the nature of your complaint, visit our Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and Appraisal Independence page for more information.

Where do I file a complaint regarding customary and reasonable fees?

The appropriate agency to receive complaints concerning customary and reasonable fees is the agency that enforces the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) with respect to the creditor.

  • For insured depository institutions of more than $10 billion and their affiliates, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is the appropriate agency.
  • For non-depository institutions, the appropriate agency to receive the complaint is the CFPB or the Federal Trade Commission.
  • For an insured depository institution of $10 billion or less, search the FFIEC National Information Center website to find the Federal regulator.

Questions regarding interpretation of TILA, including those on customary and reasonable fees, should be directed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Research, Markets and Regulation.

In the case of specific appraisal assignments, you can also contact the State appraisal board or agency on ASC.gov where the subject property is located to find out if the State has enacted laws and/or regulations that address your concern.

I want to file a complaint against a review appraiser. Can the Hotline assist me?

Yes, if the complaint involves alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) or alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence, the Hotline can assist you in determining the appropriate legal authority to receive your complaint.

I am an appraiser and was recently disciplined by my State appraisal board. I would like to appeal their decision to the ASC. Can I accomplish that through the Hotline?

No. The Hotline is authorized to provide referral information regarding complaints of alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), or alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence standards. If you have questions regarding an appellate process, you may seek legal counsel or contact the appropriate State authority.

May I file a complaint against my State Appraisal Board through the Hotline?

No. The Hotline is authorized to provide referral information regarding complaints of alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), or alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence standards. If you have a complaint against your State appraiser regulatory agency, you should contact the appropriate State agency. You may use the Hotline’s resource pages for contact information on State agencies. Should there be a finding against the appraiser regulatory agency, you should contact ASC.

Can an appraisal management company (AMC) or financial institution refuse to include me on a list of approved appraisers?

Yes. There is no appraisal independence requirement or standard that requires an AMC or financial institution to include any interested appraiser on an approved list for appraisal services.

What is the purpose of the Hotline?

The Hotline is an information resource to help complainants determine the appropriate legal authority to receive their complaint. The Hotline is designed to direct complainants where to file their complaint of:

  • Alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice, commonly referred to as USPAP, or
  • Alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence standards, including improper influencing or attempted improper influencing of appraisers or the appraisal process.

More about USPAP and appraisal independence

How does the Hotline work?

The Hotline, through the website, email, or toll-free number, gathers from the user certain information such as:

  • The nature of the complaint (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or appraisal independence)
  • Who the complaint is against
  • Other pertinent information

Based on the information provided, users are provided with the contact information for the State and/or Federal agency that should receive their complaint.
Get an online referral for instant results
Email us for a reply within 5 business days
Call 877-739-0096 to speak to a representative Monday through Friday

What kinds of complaints does the Hotline address?

The Hotline refers complaints involving alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) or alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence standards, including improper influencing or attempted improper influencing of appraisers or the appraisal process. However, you may find the Hotline’s resource pages useful regarding other appraisal-related matters.

Appraisal complaint resources

Can the Hotline help me file an anonymous complaint?

The Hotline will help you find the appropriate legal authority to receive your complaint. That authority will advise you regarding the possibility of filing an anonymous complaint.

Why won’t the ASC investigate my complaint?

The Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 required the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) to establish and operate the Hotline to refer individuals and entities to the appropriate legal authority. The ASC has no legal authority to investigate complaints.

If the Hotline provides a referral, does that mean I have a valid complaint?

No. The agency that receives your complaint will make that determination. The Hotline is designed to help you:

  • Determine the nature of your complaint: Alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), or alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence standards, including improper influencing or attempted improper influencing of appraisers or the appraisal process.
  • Find the appropriate agency to receive and investigate your complaint for further action.

The agency to which I was referred told me that I did not have a valid complaint. Can the Hotline look into their decision?

No. The agency that receives your complaint has the legal authority to investigate and take action as it deems appropriate. The Hotline does not intervene with the complaint process, investigation, or final outcome.

I received a referral and lost the information. Can the Hotline re-send it?

The Hotline does not retain information on referrals previously made. Please use the website or toll-free number to obtain a new referral.

Can I email my request for a complaint referral?

Yes, you may email us a request using our online form.

Can the Hotline review my complaint and let me know if there may be a USPAP or appraisal independence violation?

No. The ASC has no authority to investigate matters concerning your complaint. The Hotline does not collect any complaint information; nor does the Hotline involve itself in the complaint or complaint process. If you need help determining the nature of your complaint, visit our Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and Appraisal Independence page for more information.

Where do I file a complaint regarding customary and reasonable fees?

The appropriate agency to receive complaints concerning customary and reasonable fees is the agency that enforces the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) with respect to the creditor.

  • For insured depository institutions of more than $10 billion and their affiliates, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is the appropriate agency.
  • For non-depository institutions, the appropriate agency to receive the complaint is the CFPB or the Federal Trade Commission.
  • For an insured depository institution of $10 billion or less, search the FFIEC National Information Center website to find the Federal regulator.

Questions regarding interpretation of TILA, including those on customary and reasonable fees, should be directed to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Research, Markets and Regulation.

In the case of specific appraisal assignments, you can also contact the State appraisal board or agency on ASC.gov where the subject property is located to find out if the State has enacted laws and/or regulations that address your concern.

I want to file a complaint against a review appraiser. Can the Hotline assist me?

Yes, if the complaint involves alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) or alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence, the Hotline can assist you in determining the appropriate legal authority to receive your complaint.

I am an appraiser and was recently disciplined by my State appraisal board. I would like to appeal their decision to the ASC. Can I accomplish that through the Hotline?

No. The Hotline is authorized to provide referral information regarding complaints of alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), or alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence standards. If you have questions regarding an appellate process, you may seek legal counsel or contact the appropriate State authority.

May I file a complaint against my State Appraisal Board through the Hotline?

No. The Hotline is authorized to provide referral information regarding complaints of alleged non-compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), or alleged non-compliance with appraisal independence standards. If you have a complaint against your State appraiser regulatory agency, you should contact the appropriate State agency. You may use the Hotline’s resource pages for contact information on State agencies. Should there be a finding against the appraiser regulatory agency, you should contact ASC.

Can an appraisal management company (AMC) or financial institution refuse to include me on a list of approved appraisers?

Yes. There is no appraisal independence requirement or standard that requires an AMC or financial institution to include any interested appraiser on an approved list for appraisal services.