Its better to bring things into the open. This way, everything is sure to be fair and square. (And prevents negative feedback.

) When you bring things into secret, whether it be PM, Email, or IM, even if you don't spacifically break any rules, you possibly may go into the "gray side" of CC, which in turn may bring you into suspicion with other players and even the mods themselves. Hope this helps.
"You can't rule the world in hiding. You've got to come out on the balcony sometime and wave a tentacle"