Eligibility

The Arbitrator shall only consider, or continue to consider, a complaint if they are satisfied that:

• The complaint is made against a Member or an entity that agrees to be bound by Consumer Arbitration’s Terms of Reference and Rules in relation to the particular complaint;
• The complaint is made to them by or on behalf of the living persons who is or may be entitled to make a complaint;
• The Internal Complaints Procedure of the Member has been exhausted, but the Complainant remains dissatisfied with any observations made, or conditions of full and final settlement offered by such Member; or more than eight weeks has elapsed since the Complainant first made the complaint to the Member in writing. If the Member ignores the complaint made or persistently fails to address the complaint, the Complainant may ask the Arbitrator to intervene even if eight weeks has not elapsed;
• The subject matter of the complaint was not contained in a complaint form, or on behalf of the same Complainant previously considered by the Arbitrator. However the Arbitrator may reconsider complaints previously considered if relevant new evidence is available and no Award has been accepted and paid in full and final settlement;
• The Arbitrator may, in the instances set out in Paragraph 13 of the Membership Rules, not investigate a complaint or may discontinue an investigation. Notwithstanding these instances they may still consider any complaint put to them provided that:
  • There is no other relevant independent body for the conciliation, arbitration or adjudication of complaints in relation to the matter; and
  • They feel that it is in their competence to do so; and
  • Both the Complainant and the Member so agree;
  • Where the amount claimed by the Complainant exceeds the monetary limit defined above, the Arbitrator will advise the Complainant of that limit to their jurisdiction and provide the option of discontinuing his consideration or proceeding by agreement to restrict the claim to the award limit.

General Exclusions

The Arbitrator shall not investigate a complaint (or any part of a complaint), or shall discontinue their investigation of a complaint (or any part), if:

• At any time it appears to the Arbitrator that it is more appropriate for the complaint to be dealt with by a Court or under another independent complaints, conciliation or arbitration procedure;
• At any time that the Arbitrator finds out the complaint is already being or has been considered by a Court, or under another independent complaints, conciliation or arbitration procedure, they should discontinue his investigation. If that other body is not considering all aspects of the complaint or if that body is not designed to offer financial compensation to the Complainant, the Arbitrator may then resume their consideration of the complaint;
• In the Arbitrator’s opinion they consider the matter to be frivolous or vexatious.

Consumer Arbitration can deal with the following complaints: