- Home
- » Key Benefits
- » Alternative Dispute Resolution Service
Alternative Dispute Resolution Service
TFO's ADR service is available exclusively to Full Members of TFO. It encompasses both conciliation and adjudication services and offers a highly cost-effective alternative to the Small Claims Court as a means of bringing intractable disputes to a conclusion. (Defending a small claim through the court is potentially costly, not only in terms of finance but also time, resources and does little to inspire consumer confidence.
Conciliation:
Most disputes are satisfactorily resolved at the conciliation stage. This may involve TFO making an early decision on the validity of a claim, dismissing a complaint or upholding an offer which has already been made or through general mediation. TFO charges a low, flat-rate for conciliation, regardless of the length of time the case takes to reach a resolution that is satisfactory for both parties.
Adjudication:
In cases where settlement cannot be reached without the assistance of a credible third party such as the Court or an arbitrator, TFO moves the case to the adjudication stage. At this point an independent consultant gathers additional evidence in order that an informed balanced judgment on the merits of the case can be made.
Responding to a case before TFO is much more economical than defending a case before the Courts. There is no need for you or the consumer to file volumes of legal documents, arrange your own inspections or appoint expert witnesses. You are never required to appear before TFO in person, witness statements from your staff are not required and you do not need to engage a lawyer. All this takes away much of the stress and the strain of being involved in a court case.
