Consumer advocates slam credit-card arbitration
Beltran's case is far from unique. In fact, if you own a credit card, chances are you have a mandatory arbitration clause. What that essentially means is that if you think the credit-card company has charged you wrongly, you might not be fighting in court. Instead, you may find your case brought before an arbitrator who works for a private arbitration group, in many cases, it's a group chosen by the banks.

Congress eyes mandatory arbitration clauses in contracts
For years, consumer advocates have claimed these clauses are unfair. Now Congress is considering a blanket negation of predispute mandatory arbitration agreements. The Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007, recently introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives, proposes making the clauses unenforceable. Consumer lawyers also said that private arbitration companies are pressured to rule in favor of corporations, which often are repeat arbitration customers. ''If arbitrators rule against companies too often, they get blackballed,'' Public Justice's Bland said.

Hidden Clauses Can Be Found In Credit Cards, Big-Item Contracts
If you have any credit cards or have made any large purchases, you've probably signed dozens of hidden clauses often buried in a contract's fine print that could cost you a bundle. WBAL TV 11 News I-Team reporter Lisa Robinson took a look at hidden clauses and how you can protect yourself.

US Senator Russ Feingold, Congressman Hank Johnson and consumer groups announced the filing of The Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007
The comprehensive legislation would ensure Americans are not forced into mandatory arbitration agreements to resolve employment, consumer, franchise or civil rights disputes. “Arbitration can be a fair and efficient way to handle disputes, but only when it is entered into knowingly and voluntarily by both parties,” Feingold announced. The bill establishes that agreements will not be enforceable if they are entered before the actual dispute arises. See photos and remarks

Feingold, Johnson Introduce The Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007!
The comprehensive legislation amends the Federal Arbitration Act to ensure Americans are not forced into mandatory arbitration agreements in employment, consumer, franchise or civil disputes.  Arbitration victims gathered in the background as Senator Feingold expressed his passion for the cause that began almost ten years ago.

They charge the deck is tilted in favor of banks in disputes with credit-card holders
Javier Beltran was shocked when an arbitrator ruled that he owed $10,000 on a $2,500 loan. The money had helped him finance his brother's funeral expenses. But after failing to repay the debt promptly, Mr. Beltran had high interest charges, late fees, and attorneys' fees tacked onto the bill... if you own a credit card, chances are you have a mandatory arbitration clause. What that essentially means is that if you think the credit-card company has charged you wrongly, you might not be fighting in court. Instead, you may find your case brought before an arbitrator who works for a private arbitration group, in many cases, it's a group chosen by the banks.

Consumer rights bill introduced in Congress
A bill backed by consumer groups to protect homeowners, employees and investors from mandatory arbitration agreements was introduced Thursday in the House and Senate. People from all walks of life — employees, investors, homeowners, those enrolled in HMOs, credit card holders and other consumers — often find themselves strong-armed into mandatory arbitration agreements," Feingold said. "We need to make sure that all Americans can still have their day in court."  Janet Ahmad, president of the advocacy group HomeOwners for Better Building in San Antonio, praised the legislation as an avenue to restore the rights of consumers when they are harmed by shoddy home building practices. Ahmad, who attended a Capitol Hill news conference, said home builders have used arbitration to subvert consumer laws.

Watch video, sign away your rights..
Medical malpractice insurers have come up with a devious new way of preventing injured patients from suing their doctors, by forcing people to sign binding arbitration agreements as a condition of receiving treatment from doctors they cover. The latest in this wave comes from a clinic in Florida that has helpfully made this video that patients can watch at home before they sign an agreement promising not to sue for future or past malpractice. Interestingly, ob/gyns covered under this plan get only $250,000 worth of insurance coverage per claim. The policy limit strikes me as a huge incentive for pissed-off lawyers to go after doctors' personal assets in serious malpractice cases if they manage to get around the contract. This may not be such a good deal for the physicians after all. See video

Buyers Beware
You've bought a dream home - or so you thought. Now the foundation is cracking, the basement has flooded and the roof sags. Not so dreamy anymore. County residents who have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the biggest investment of their lives are sometimes left with a defective version of the American dream... County homeowners are experiencing a "national problem," said Janet Ahmad, president of the San Antonio-based Homeowners for Better Building. Binding arbitration issues and legislation passed to protect builders from legal retribution have made it hard for buyers to fight back, she said."It has affected the lack of quality homes and virtually made warranties absolutely worthless," she said.

Wash. Appellate Court Says Condo Owners Not Limited to Arbitration & La. Court Denies Manufacturer’s Motion To Compel Arbitration
Washington State’s Court of Appeals has concluded that the Federal Arbitration Act does not preempt state law allowing judicial enforcement of condominium warranties... A Louisiana appellate court has refused to compel the buyer of a manufactured home to arbitrate construction defect issues with the seller, ruling that the dispute is over the arbitration agreement rather than a sales contract and must be resolved by a court