On the recordOctober 24, 2017
I couldn't disagree more with my colleague from Idaho. He gave a very studious presentation that missed all the key facts. He made a big point out of the fact that we would lose a dispute resolution tool, but, in fact, access to small claims and access to arbitration remain in place, so it is simply wrong. He noted that small claims is a great option, but, of course, what we are talking about are provisions in which credit card companies and cell phone companies and broadband companies put charges on your bill that are unjustified, but they are small amounts. They are little amounts. It is $5 here, slammed there; it is $10 there, jammed on your bill there. You discover it, and you call them up, and they say: Well, you can come to arbitration. Of course, arbitration means they choose the decision maker; they pay the decision maker, and that decision maker comes to them for future business. So it is completely rigged. If anyone wanted to see an example of the swamp at work here in DC, we have it on the floor tonight. This is Big Business taking justice and ripping it out of the hands of consumers across our Nation. It costs fees to go to small claims; you can't go to small claims for $10 or $5 or $20. This is well understood. My colleague made a big point about the fact that a lot of companies settle. These companies have the best lawyers that money can buy.…





