What If Mediation Doesn't Work?
If our attempts at mediating your complaint have been unsuccessful and there is nothing more we can do, there are still several things you can do for yourself. For example, you could try negotiating through an industry trade association to solve your problem, or you could sue the business in Small Claims Court (where you don't need a lawyer and your claim is $4,500 or less) or you could hire a private attorney. Maine law often allows you to recover your lawyer's fees if you are successful in proving that a business violated consumer laws in dealing with you. We will advise you at the appropriate time of all these options if your attempts at mediation have not proven successful.
Other Maine Consumer Protection FAQs
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What Is Complaint Mediation?
A: Complaint mediation is a way to settle disputes where the two parties to the dispute work through a third person to solve their problem. It is a simple and informal …
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How Does Our Consumer Mediation Service Work?
A: Your complaint is reviewed to determine if it can be mediated. If it appears that it can be, a copy of your written complaint is then forwarded to the business for its …
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How Do I Start The Mediation Process?
A: To start the mediation process, fill out a Consumer Complaint Petition, available from the Consumer Protection Division. (For address, see Consumer Mediation.) Fill …
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How Long Does It Take?
A: An average complaint takes five to six weeks to work its way through the system. Some will take longer. Please be patient! The mediator assigned to your case is a …
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New Information, Settlement, Etc.
A: If you receive any additional information after sending in your complaint that we should know about, please send it to us in writing. Likewise, should you settle the …
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What Complaints Are Not Mediated?
A: We do not mediate disputes between private parties (i.e., where neither party is a business), business versus business disputes,, disputes outside of our jurisdiction …
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Q:
What If Maine Law Is Violated?
A: This office cannot possibly prosecute all violations of Maine law. As a matter of policy, we must confine our activities to those cases where large numbers of …
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Q:
Does Mediation Work?
A: We cannot guarantee mediation will work or that you will receive everything you want. But we do believe mediation often works, and works well. If our mediation efforts …
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Consumer Protection Sub-categories
