THE CHARTERED
INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS
EAST MIDLANDS BRANCH
(Chairman: Roy Pickavance)
February 2001
Ford Motor Company
Limited partners with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators to launch Europe’s
first independent on-line arbitration scheme.
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) has announced the launch of the first independent consumer on-line arbitration scheme in Europe which is now live. The ground-breaking initiative, developed at the request of Ford Motor Company Limited by the CIArb, will provide independent dispute resolution to Ford customers who buy their cars online.
Ford Journey customers will benefit from this unique dispute resolution service because it gives them the opportunity to have any dispute resolved without having to go through the stress, inconvenience and cost of litigation. Arbitration is the only legally binding alternative to litigation, it is more cost effective and can be dealt with more quickly than through the courts. Both parties will be legally bound by the decision of the independent arbitrator.
The CIArb will operate the innovative dispute resolution scheme via its website at www.arbitrators.org with a link from the Ford on-line shopping site at www.fordjourney.com. Ford Journey customers will be able to submit any dispute, keep track of their case and pay the £100 CIArb case registration fee through the secure and user-friendly site.
Ian McAllister, Chairman and Managing Director, Ford Motor Company Limited said: “We chose the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators because it was able to offer us a tailor-made scheme very quickly. It also has an excellent international reputation in alternative dispute resolution, so our customers will be able to trust the service and any decisions made by the arbitrators.
We believe that this is the first time in Europe that an independent on-line arbitration service has been made available to Internet shoppers. It ensures that customers can buy a new Ford car through Ford Journey with the sense of trust and confidence they have come to expect from Ford’s best selling automotive brand.”
The CIArb has long been developing offline consumer schemes, such as those provided for BT, ABTA and the Council of Mortgage Lenders to ensure their customers have access to an effective and impartial dispute resolution service.
Jeffrey Rosenthal, Public Relations Officer for the East Midlands branch of the CIArb, said, “Online shopping sites are on the increase, but until now a structured scheme did not exist that could address grievances quickly over the Internet. I think that other business sectors will benefit from offering similar schemes to customers.
This
scheme will show that the CIArb offers consumers independent dispute
resolution, which is quick, efficient, easy to use, flexible and cost effective
to both the consumer and company” he concluded.
About The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Founded in 1915, The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) is a not-for-profit organisation with headquarters in London and branches world-wide.
With over 10,000 members in 85 countries, the CIArb promotes and facilitates the determination of disputes by arbitration, but also by alternative means of dispute resolution (ADR) for business sectors including; the law, construction, shipping, engineering, finance, insurance, commodities, medicine sport and the automobile industry.
A dynamic organisation, the CIArb conducts “Dispute Resolution Services” -administering bespoke schemes for both business-to-business and business-to-consumer transactions to provide cost-effective and timely settlement of disputes.
The CIArb also provides international training courses. It is dedicated to facilitating justice for all, both in the developed and the developing world.
For further information, please contact
Kaizo
Tel: 020 7580 8852
Email: denzie.davis@kaizo.net
Public Relations Agency for CIArb
Or
External Relations Manager
Chartered Institute
of Arbitrators
Tel: 020 7520 8331
Email: gpatch@arbitrators.org
Or
Manager, Dispute Resolution Services
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Tel: 020 7520 8312
Email: ghunt@arbitrators.org