How to Sue HughesNet in Small Claims Court

So you’re looking to sue HughesNet?

At FairShake we’ve helped thousands of people with claims against HughesNet and other big companies that ripped them off get millions of dollars in settlement offers… [continued below]

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Have you tried getting a refund from HughesNet and gotten nowhere? Do you feel like you have nowhere to turn?

You’re not alone. From what we hear, a lot of people out there have tried all the HughesNet customer service options and still feel like they haven’t been heard.

There are lots of ways to bring an HughesNet complaint, but none with the same power and leverage as bringing a claim through the legal system.

So where should you start if you’re looking to sue HughesNet? You might think there would be tons of class action lawsuits against HughesNet. But the truth is more complicated.

Little-read clauses in their contracts allow companies like HughesNet to force legal claims out of most US courts and into the private system of consumer arbitration.

But this doesn’t mean your HughesNet contract can take away your right to sue entirely.

Here’s what you can do…

Two options to Sue HughesNet

The first option for suing HughesNet is through consumer arbitration. Arbitration is an opportunity to take legal action through an officially-designated, independent dispute process that’s not a court and won’t require showing up in person. This can be a better option for a lot of regular people.

The second way to sue HughesNet, if you want to avoid the arbitration system, is to use Small Claims Court. Because Small Claims Court processes differ from place to place, FairShake can’t help out here. It may require showing up in person and filling out some forms.

If you’re ready to take your HughesNet claim to Small Claims Court , read on below:

Taking HughesNet to Small Claims Court Step-by-Step

MAKE SURE YOUR CLAIM QUALIFIES FOR SMALL CLAIMS COURT

Are you ready to sue HughesNet in small claims court? Small claims courts are only for certain types of claims, which means the first step is to make sure you are eligible to file a claim. You should know important things about a small claims court hearing:

The amount of money: Every small claims court sets a maximum dollar amount for the claim you can bring. In most states, it’s either $5000 or $10,000, but it can be as low as $2,500 (in Kentucky and Rhode Island). You can find a list of all 50 states’ monetary limits here.
The type of relief: There are two types of awards that you can seek in a lawsuit: monetary (a dollar value payment) and equitable (a non-monetary request). Most small claims courts grant just monetary awards.

If your claim doesn’t fall within the limits of your state’s small claims court, you’ll have to arbitrate your claim instead.

SEND A DEMAND LETTER

Most small claims courts require that you ask the person or company you’re suing to fix your problem voluntarily before you file your claim. If you want to sue HughesNet in small claims court, you need to send the company a demand letter.

The demand letter should be straightforward. Tell HughesNet who you are (your name, address, phone number and account number), what the problem is, and what you want from the company. The letter does not have to be more than a few sentences.

When you’re done writing the demand letter, mail a hard copy of the letter as certified mail. According to our most recent research, HughesNet is legally based in Delaware and receives mail at this address:

HUGHES NETWORK SYSTEMS, LLC
C/O CORPORATION SERVICE COMPANY
251 LITTLE FALLS DRIVE
WILMINGTON, DE 19808

If you would like examples of demand letters or more information about how to write them, refer to this outstanding guide.

FILL OUT COURT FORMS

In order to sue HughesNet in small claims court, you need to fill out paperwork.

Each state has a set of forms that need to be filled out to file a claim, and sometimes counties will require additional forms. The correct forms for your location is available free on your state court website.

Make sure you fill out enough forms, Most states that require you to file forms by mail or in-person ask for 3 or 4 copies. If you don’t submit the right number of copies, expect the state clerk to deny your claim.

FILE YOUR COMPLAINT FORM WITH THE COURT

When you complete the court forms, it’s time to submit the forms to the court. The filing process can be time-consuming.

Many courts require plaintiffs to come to the courthouse during certain times of the day to deliver the forms to the court clerk. Other courts allow you to file by fax, mail, or online.

All courts require plaintiffs to pay a filing fee before they allow a lawsuit against HughesNet to proceed in small claims court. The state court waives the fee for low income plaintiffs.

When you file the proper forms, the court clerk provides you with a stamped copy of the forms, as well as a reminder about the court date. Keep the forms secure, and bring the forms with you to the small claims court hearing.

“SERVE” YOUR FORMS ON HUGHESNET.

If you’ve made it this far, good work! Suing HughesNet in small claims court is a long and difficult process.

Now that you’ve filed the papers required to start your case against HughesNet, you need to tell HughesNet about the filed lawsuit. This is a called “serving” HughesNet. To do this, you need to deliver a copy of your filed papers to the company.

Look at your court’s website for instructions on how to properly deliver the lawsuit forms to HughesNet, or search for “[your state] small claims service of process”. Courts apply strict rules about how to serve a defendant. If you fail to follow the rules, expect the court to drop your claim.

SHOW UP FOR YOUR COURT DATE.

When the court clerk gives you a court date, make sure to put it on your calendar. Know where the hearing is scheduled to take place. Bring your copy of your filed forms, and any other evidence that backs up your case against HughesNet. Sometimes, HughesNet will not show up to oppose you. If that happens, take advantage of the situation to present your side of the story.

Are you ready to sue HughesNet in small claims court?
If this sounds too hard and expensive, try consumer arbitration instead…

How to Sue HughesNet