So there is a "wait time" for arbitration cases? (I was unaware of this)

[stylo_guy]

I filed (or think I filed) my very first arbitration case on March 24. So far, to date, not a single peep on the web portal, my email box, or any calls to my phone. Total silence. Both the "view my cases" and "view pending tasks" sections show "0". There is just no signs of activity anywhere on the ADR online/web portal.

And before you ask, yes, I did pay the filing fee as the $200 transaction shows up on my credit card.

I also sent the filing documents to the other side via CMRRR, and so far not a single peep from them either...

Is there some unknown "wait time" for arbitration cases? I was totally unaware of this.

So far from my experience in the court system, the day you file/pay the filing fee is the same day your case goes "active" (2 + 2 = 4). I much prefer it like that to be honest - I don't like being in limbo or "waiting" like this.

If this is standard for arbitration I think next time I'll just go use the small claims court or something, I'm much more used to "the day you file is the day it shows up in the system"

Are the arbitrators really "backed up" with cases or something? What's going on here?

/scratching my head confused

[shadow99]

I had the same experience with AAA - they put you in a queue to determine if your case meets their standard before anything else happens.

In my case, I came to an agreement with the other side in the meantime and cancelled my arbitration case.  There was no online way to do it and I think it took about a month to make that happen.  However, because they had not evaluated my case, they refunded my $200 fee.

JAMS is very different. In about a week of filing, maybe less, I had a case manager email me directly to remind me to upload proof of service. I replied that I was waiting on the green card to come back to me.  She let me know she'd received the email within the hour.  About 3 days after I uploaded the proof of service, they sent the other side their bill and other documents.  About 2 weeks later, they sent them a reminder, copying me.

I always thank them for anything they do, remind them of the next court date and that I will keep them in the loop on any developments.  They always thank me for that almost immediately.  Of course, I'll probably settle this one too and I'll be out their $250 fee.

Maybe you can cancel and file with JAMS if your contract allows and you don't want to wait it out.

Don't expect any response from the other side until they at least get a bill from AAA at this point.

[stylo_guy]

20 hours ago, shadow99 said:

I had the same experience with AAA - they put you in a queue to determine if your case meets their standard before anything else happens.

Well that's super lame. If I had known about this I would've filed much sooner.

I was under the impression that the same day you file is the same day your case shows up in the system (from my experience in the traditional court system), and then if your case has any problems or doesn't satisfy requirements then you get told so afterwards. Lesson learned for next time I guess.

As a quick update, today is 4/2 and still not a single phone call (from either AAA or the other side), not a single email (ditto), not a single sign of life on the ADR web portal... everything still showing as "0" on there

[shadow99]

Why don't you email AAA and ask?

When I was trying to dismiss/cancel my case with AAA, it did take a few weeks to get to the right person, but they're first level support did get back to me within a couple business days to tell me they had to pass it to another group. 

Maybe yours has fell through the cracks somehow?  A year sounds way too long to wait.

[stylo_guy]

So it's April 15 and still total /crickets from AAA, I think I just want to cancel and get my $200 refunded back. Where on the website do I go to do this? Everything still shows as "0" on the web portal. Do I have to call them then?

I just can't have this "taking their sweet sweet time" long wait-time BS when the 1 year statute of limitations on my claim expires next month ?

Lesson learned I guess, next time I'm going small claims court to avoid all this "wait time" inconvenience altogether.

The website states this at the bottom:

Quote

For Technical Help and Support, Call 1-800-778-7879.
For Case-Related Questions and Assistance, Contact Your Case Manager.

But if my case isn't "active" or showing up anywhere, how would I contact the case manager for a refund?? I don't even know who they are and there is no button anywhere on the web portal for "cancel case"?

[shadow99]

5 hours ago, stylo_guy said:

So it's April 15 and still total /crickets from AAA, I think I just want to cancel and get my $200 refunded back. Where on the website do I go to do this? Everything still shows as "0" on the web portal. Do I have to call them then?

I just can't have this "taking their sweet sweet time" long wait-time BS when the 1 year statute of limitations on my claim expires next month ?

Lesson learned I guess, next time I'm going small claims court to avoid all this "wait time" inconvenience altogether.

The website states this at the bottom:

But if my case isn't "active" or showing up anywhere, how would I contact the case manager for a refund?? I don't even know who they are and there is no button anywhere on the web portal for "cancel case"?

I emailed support using whatever was on the site.  I can't remember if it was a contact form or if they supplied an email address.

Someone got back to me in a few days to tell me they couldn't cancel, but could forward my request to the correct department.

I think it took 3-4 weeks to get it done, but they did do it and sent me my $200 without me even asking.  I think it took another month to get the check.

Filing with JAMS has been a very different experience for me.

However - you've filed with AAA.  I think that might toll the SOL?  If you cancel, that tolling might be cancelled too.

Maybe you should use the contact form to ask why there's been such a long delay before you cancel.

[stylo_guy]

22 hours ago, shadow99 said:

However - you've filed with AAA.  I think that might toll the SOL?  If you cancel, that tolling might be cancelled too.

Maybe you should use the contact form to ask why there's been such a long delay before you cancel.

Not necessarily, the way I read it the AAA description says the case isn't considered "filed" until they evaluate it and decide it meets their requirements, whenever that might be... 1 month? 2 months? 3 months? 4 months? ?

Anyways, I obviously don't have a bunch of time to spare with the 1-year statute of limitations literally expiring next month (May). I read my contract closely, and it explicitly states that "any claims" must be filed within 1 year of the occurrence or I forfeit the claim.

I'm not going to stand around and let my claims expire because these mysterious folks at AAA are (apparently) away from the office having a casual picnic "taking their sweet sweet time" to approve cases. Waste of time and money lol. While there's still a little time left on the 1-year SOL I'm going small claims court instead (where there's no "waiting" BS)