Your AT&T contract includes an “Arbitration Clause” that prevents you from suing them in most courts, and forces you to bring any large or complex claims through the binding arbitration process. Since a small claims court case is time consuming, arbitration can be a good option for you.
Arbitration usually takes a few months to conclude. It can go through the process using emails or speaking with an arbitrator over the phone. You can either go through the process yourself, or use a claim processor like FairShake to simplify the process for you.
Here’s how to start the arbitration process:
Before you start the process, make sure that you have a clear and concise description of the issue and what you’re asking for as relief. You’ll need to provide this information when you file your claim.
AT&T’s contract requires you to send them a description of your claim before you file for binding arbitration. According to the contract, the company has 30 days to resolve the claim before you are allowed to file a claim before an arbitrator. You can find a form to report your claim, including delivery instructions, here.
Your AT&T contract requires you to initiate the binding arbitration process through the American Arbitration Association, which an organization that administers the arbitration and appoints the arbitrator to resolve your dispute. You can download the filing form for an AAA-administered Consumer Arbitration here.
Enter the description of your dispute and the relief you’re requesting in the space provided at the top of the form. Then enter your contact information and the following contact information for AT&T:
Office for Dispute Resolution, AT&T,
1025 Lenox Park Blvd.,
Atlanta, GA 30319
You need to calculate the amount you have to pay to start the arbitration. NOTE: Your AT&T contract says that AT&T will reimburse you for this filing fee under certain circumstances, but you will likely need to pay it up front to start the arbitration process.
The AAA provides a document that lists all of its current filing fees here. Your fee will vary based on the size of your claim.
In order to file an arbitration, you’ll need to provide the AAA with a copy of AT&T’s arbitration clause. You can find this in your AT&T contract, which is available at:
www.att.com/legal/legal-policy-center.html
When you locate the contract for terms of services on this page, download a copy and title it “AT&T Customer Agreement With Arbitration Clause.”
Now that you have all of the necessary documents and information, you’re ready to file your claim with the AAA. To do so, go to the AAA’s “Fast File” option available at the following online address:
www.adr.org/FileOnline
Enter your contact information in the boxes provided, and specify that you are requesting arbitration. Then use the box at the bottom of the page to upload the Demand For Arbitration that you prepared in Step 2 and the AT&T contract that you downloaded in Step 4.
Finally, enter the filing fee that you calculated in Step 3 at the bottom of the page.
After you’ve finished submitting the proper documents, the AAA will send you a confirmation email email that includes all the information that you submitted (NOTE: this may take a few days). Print email and send a hard copy to:
Office for Dispute Resolution, AT&T
1025 Lenox Park Blvd.,
Atlanta, GA 30319
Usually within a few weeks after you submit your demand for arbitration, a case administrator from the AAA will contact you and AT&T by email to arrange for the arbitration hearing. The case administrator will make sure that you submitted all the documents in a timely manner, as well as help you and AT&T schedule any necessary phone calls or meetings.
Expect the arbitration process to take several months.
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