Increasingly, individual arbitration clauses are being inserted into consumer contracts and terms of service by companies and brands. These arbitration clauses exist in contracts for credit cards, cellphones, cable service, Internet service and online shopping. Consumers should be aware of their existence, and understand their consequences. By signing a contract or agreeing to terms of service, consumers consent to resolve their disputes through binding arbitration.

Individual consumers and businesses can use the Consumer Due Process Protocol of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) where the business has a standardized, systematic application of arbitration clauses with customers and where the terms and conditions of the purchase of standardized, consumable goods or services are non-negotiable or primarily non-negotiable in most or all of its terms, conditions, features, or choices. The AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules apply to resolving disputes between consumers and businesses for products or services used for personal or household purposes.

In addition, disputes involving media, communications, licensing, program access, retransmission consent, and other issues can be resolved efficiently, and cost effectively through AAA standard procedures or AAA customized procedures developed in consultation with agencies, including the FCC.

Laurel G. Yancey, Esq. serves as a Neutral on the Commercial and Consumer Arbitrator Panels of the American Arbitration Association. Her demonstrated subject matter expertise and technical knowledge of communications issues are requested when the AAA draws on its panel of specialized arbitrators to resolve disputes. The Law Office of Laurel has resolved commercial disputes involving large complex commercial, wireless telephone, Fair Credit Reporting Act, wireless broadband network construction, television/advertising/Internet services, and computer autodialing “(Robocalling”) contracts.