Could arbitration give you leverage in your debt case?
Answer four quick questions. This tool explains, in plain English, how much pressure the arbitration route can put on the company suing you, and why.
Here is the idea in one sentence: under the consumer rules of arbitration organizations, it is usually the company that pays most of the arbitration fees, which can run into the thousands per case. When those fees are larger than what they hope to collect from you, the math stops working in their favor. This tool estimates how strongly that dynamic may apply to a case like yours. It is general education, not a prediction about your case.
1. Who is suing you?
A debt buyer or collector (LVNV, Midland, Portfolio Recovery, Cavalry, Jefferson Capital, etc.)
The original bank or card company (Barclays, Capital One, Synchrony, etc.)
I am not sure yet
2. About how much is the debt?
Under $1,500
$1,500 to $5,000
$5,000 to $15,000
Over $15,000
3. Does your card agreement have an arbitration clause?
Yes, there is an arbitration section
I have not checked yet
No, there is no arbitration clause
4. Where is the case being heard?
Regular civil court
Small claims court
I am not sure
Estimated arbitration leverage
LowModerateStrongVery strong
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Your plain-English guide to fighting a credit card debt lawsuit: what arbitration is, why it changes the math, and the steps people take. Free, and we will email you when things change.
Not a lawyer. Not a law firm. Not legal advice. Not a prediction of your case. This is a general educational estimate based on common dynamics in debt cases, using only the little you entered. It cannot know the facts of your situation and is not a forecast of any outcome. Arbitration is not available in every case, does not fit every situation, and never guarantees a result. Whether an arbitration clause applies, and how, depends on your actual agreement and your state's law. Read your own court papers and your cardmember agreement, and if you can, consult a licensed attorney in your state.