CONSUMER COMPLAINTS

You can use mediation or arbitration to solve consumer complaints.
For example, a second-hand TV which you bought breaks down completely after a month. The company that you bought it from refuses to fix it. It is too expensive to go to court, so you could ask the company to agree to call in a third party to act as a mediator between you and the company. This is a cheaper and much quicker way of solving the problem.

DISPUTES IN THE COMMUNITY

Community or neighbourhood disputes such as those between different political groups, or landlords and tenants.

THE CRIMINAL COURTS

In some cases mediation could be used to bring the person who committed the crime together with the victim of the crime, to see whether they can reach any agreement as an alternative to laying a criminal charge.

EDUCATION

Disputes between students and teachers, students and administrators, parents and administrators, and so on.

ENVIRONMENT

Disputes between communities and authorities, for example about dams, waste disposal, land development and so on.

FAMILY OR DIVORCE MATTERS

Family and divorce disputes.