01Why this policy exists

During a declared catastrophe event, contractors are sourcing for people who just lost their buildings. Surge conditions raise real costs — mobilization, fuel, overtime — and prices may legitimately reflect that. Exploiting the emergency itself is different, and many states make it illegal.

02What we act on

Pricing during a declared PLN catastrophe event that is grossly out of line with the provider’s own pricing before the event or with the market around them, without a cost basis; and any quote conditioned on circumventing PLN’s record of it.

03How reporting works

A contractor who received a quote during a catastrophe event can report it from the event page, with the quote attached. Reports go to PLN staff — a person reviews every one, with the quoted numbers in front of them. The provider being reported is not told who reported them.

04What happens when a report is upheld

The provider is excluded from matching for the remainder of that catastrophe event, including for contractors who have them on a Bench. The decision and its reasons are logged permanently. Repeated upheld reports can lead to removal from PLN under the Terms of Service.

A report that is not upheld changes nothing for the provider, and the reporter is told the outcome.