ARBITRATION - ANOTHER REMEDY FOR THE CONSUMER (FROM CONSUMER COMPLAINTS - PUBLIC POLICY ALTERNATIVES, 1975, BY SAL DIVITO AND FRANK MCLAUGHLIN - SEE NCJ-57896)

• NCJ Number: 57905
• Author(s): D W DETERMAN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Acropolis Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EXAMPLES OF ARBITRATION SERVICES FOR AGGRIEVED CONSUMERS ARE DESCRIBED AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN CONSUMER ARBITRATION ARE PROJECTED BY A VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF BETTER BUSINESS BUREAUS, INC.

Abstract

THREE CONSUMER ARBITRATION PROJECTS ARE DESCRIBED: (1) THE PROVISION OF ARBITRATION SERVICES BY VOLUNTEER LAWYERS TO CONSUMERS WHO BRING THEIR COMPLAINTS TO THE NEW YORK CITY SMALL CLAIMS COURT AND WHO SELECT ARBITRATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO COURT HEARINGS; (2) THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU NATIONAL PROGRAM OF CONSUMER ARBITRATION, WHICH TRAINS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE AS ARBITRATORS AND OFFERS ARBITRATION SERVICES TO CONSUMERS AND SELLERS WHOSE DISPUTES CANNOT BE RESOLVED THROUGH INFORMAL MEDIATION; AND (3) THE AMERICAN ARBITRATION ASSOCIATION'S NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT, WHICH SPONSORS AND CONDUCTS EXPERIMENTS IN CONSUMER COMPLAINT RESOLUTION AND PROVIDES ARBITRATION SERVICES IN A VARIETY OF SETTINGS. THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF EACH PROJECT ARE SUMMARIZED. IT IS NOTED THAT NO SINGLE PROGRAM OF ARBITRATION IS AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE OR DOES AN EFFECTIVE JOB OF INFORMING THE PUBLIC ABOUT CONSUMER ARBITRATION. DEVELOPMENTS THAT COULD INFLUENCE THE FUTURE OF CONSUMER ARBITRATION INCLUDE LEGISLATION PENDING BEFORE CONGRESS IN 1974 (A WARRANTY DISCLOSURE BILL AND THE CONSUMER CONTROVERSIES RESOLUTION ACT) THAT COULD INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY AND USE OF CONSUMER ARBITRATION; THE ARBITRATION PROVISIONS OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS' TEN-YEAR WARRANTY PROGRAM; AND THE USE OF ARBITRATION IN CONSENT ORDERS IMPOSED BY THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND BY STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL.