The principal attraction of the PPA Agency Recognition Scheme is that it carries with it the recommendation that member publishers consider extending commission and credit facilities to the agencies it recognises. In order to be able to make that recommendation, PPA collects information on both large and small media planning and buying agencies and carries out a detailed analysis d assessment of the financial health of each agency. For an agency, recognised status under the PPA Agency Recognition Scheme is therefore something of a status symbol - an independent endorsement of the agency’s trading record, although members must ultimately rely on their own credit research and must make their own decisions as to whether, and on what terms, to extend commission and credit facilities to individual agencies.
An agency can request recognition which will be granted by the PPA based on objective criteria. The confirmation of recognition constitutes a recommendation from PPA to its members that credit and commission be awarded to the agency on such terms as individual publishers consider appropriate. Please note that recognition does not automatically entitle the agency to credit or commission. The scheme serves to make available to members a basic level of information in order to assist them in making their own assessment as to an agency’s creditworthiness, thereby aiming to promote financial security in the industry.
PPA requires PPA-recognised agencies to submit their financial accounts each year, along with any further information that may be required. Every PPA-recognised agency signs a PPA Agency Agreement, which states that the agency should pay PPA members promptly in accordance with the agency's own payment terms, whether they be 7, 14 or 30 days. PPA does not state standard payment terms for members.