The AAA's consumer arbitration rules (new rules are effective May 1) offer multiple opportunities for consumers to avoid arbitration and bring an individual or class case in court. This article outlines four common mistakes a business can make that can lead the AAA to decline to arbitrate and can allow consumers to proceed to court. Small claims court also is always an option under the AAA's rules.

Odds are the answers to your consumer law questions can be found on The NCLC Digital Library. But pinpointing quickly what you need is not always easy, and you may not even be sure what the key issues are in a case. Here are ten insider tips for finding the answers you seek while also helping you ask the right questions.

The CFPB’s pared down Payday Loan Rule finally went into effect on March 30, 2025. This article explains three surprising facts about the rule’s importance to consumer practitioners: the rule’s provisions offer significant protections, apply to many forms of high-cost lending, and the rule offers substantial assistance in private litigation involving not only overdraft and NSF fees, but also any litigation involving high-cost lenders.

Frequently consumer claims are blocked from court, either because an arbitration provision is enforceable, or it is impractical to challenge the arbitration requirement. When a consumer’s claims are blocked from court, this article provides ten reasons why bringing the case in arbitration is always worth considering.