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Many thanks for choosing to join the ProMediate dispute resolution scheme.

We are here to help you deal with any consumer dispute that arises after you have dealt with it through your internal complaints process.
It is rarely the case that a business gets everything right 100% of the time. What you do when something goes wrong is increasingly becoming crucial to a business’ success. Take Facebook or Cambridge Analytica for example. Two high profile cases adversely affected by data breach issues.

Well handled complaints see 75 percent make return purchases, but businesses need to encourage consumers to make issues known.*

Only 11 percent would return to a company if a complaint was handled poorly. 

One in three (36%) think more of a company that handles complaints effectively.

Three in 10 (30%) chose to switch providers or spend less because of disappointing experiences.

 A third (34%) of consumers are more likely to trust a company that offers ADR so this should be an essential part of any complaints process.

We know that retaining customers is half the battle and embracing alternative dispute resolution when something goes wrong can make all the difference when it comes to customer retention. It takes much more effort to recruit a new customer than to retain an existing one. Moreover, customer Complaints handling is increasingly becoming the shop window for businesses.

Complaints can be valuable in highlighting issues that need to be addressed and giving you the opportunity to engage with the customer in a positive way.

By joining this dispute resolution scheme and agreeing to use it, you are one step ahead of other businesses and comply with the information requirements of the ADR Regulations.

As set out below, it is a legal requirement to signpost customers who have exhausted your complaints process to an ADR Provider.

There are special rules applicable to lawyers and Gambling operators and we provide some further information concerning these areas below as well as general information regarding traders.

WORDING FOR WEBSITES OR DEADLOCK LETTERS

If you have cause for concern, Contact Us, we’re happy to help.

If you’ve been in touch and are unhappy with the resolution offered, please let us know.  If you remain unhappy with any final resolution, we’re required to let you know about ADR.

We are confident we will be able to deal with any complaint to your satisfaction but we subscribe to an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme, run by ProMediate (UK) Limited which is an ADR Provider certified by CTSI.


Promediate offer an Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (ADR) to consumers for matters related to goods and services. Details of their services can be viewed here:

1. Promediate main site
2. Promediate contact us page

You may contact the Promediate directly by email at enquiries@promediate.co.uk

or by telephone on: 0203 621 3908 or 0782 7961764.

 

Bad reviews are bad for business.  We have all read the horror stories about the effect of poor reviews on review sites such as Trip Advisor.  There are now online reviews for most goods and services and they are an important factor in decision making.  41% of customers will complain via social media and 12% by traditional media, more than the proportion going to Court (12% small Claims Court – 8% higher Court).  At present only 10% use Mediation to resolve their disputes, but we would argue that Mediation has advantages and is set to increase. Mediation is confidential and so it is possible to reach an agreement to remove bad reviews or modify them as part of the outcome.
The latest statistics from the Ministry of Justice show that the time taken for small claims to trial took 32.2 weeks and for multi/fast track claims 58.3 weeks, up 1.8 and 5.4 weeks on the same period in 2016 respectively. * Claims under £10,000 are dealt with in the small claims track. Even if you win, you seldom recover any legal costs, unless your opponent has acted unreasonably.  If you offer to use ADR to your customers or anyone else you are in dispute with, you stand a good chance of persuading the Court that you acted reasonably and that you should get any legal costs back, or not have to pay the other party’s costs. You also need to factor in the time you will have to spend bringing or defending a Claim including putting together your documents and witness statements in the correct format and attending the final hearing and any interim applications. Even if you are awarded anything, you then need to enforce that judgment which can be a palaver. There are Court fees to pay if you are a Claimant or put in a counterclaim. There are plans to introduce a more streamlined small claims process, with the new Online Court, which may speed matters up, but nonetheless, the Court system is always a lottery.
Many advisers recommend waiting until a claim is issued and then agreeing to use the free Small Claims Mediation Pilot, but we would caution against this.  There are only 16 unqualified Court based mediators in the UK and they are overstretched. Both parties have to agree to use the service and by this stage, many customers are unwilling to do so. The Court based mediator does not have the file in front of them and so has no prior knowledge about the matter.
By contrast, Mediation over the telephone, online, or in person, before litigation, can be arranged quickly and at a low cost as members of the ProMediate scheme. Any agreement reached can be enforced in the Court system. You stay in control of the process throughout as it is voluntary and achieves results by building consensus, rather than highlighting differences.
ProMediate is committed to helping you to resolve any disputes arising and to preserve your business reputation.
* Consumer Action Monitor 2018

Useful Downloads

Briefing Document
Gambling Operators
Workplace Mediation Guide
ADR Business Guidelines
Standard SLA
Solicitor's Referral Draft
Complaint Investigation Draft
Final Response Draft

“Everyone involved in business knows that there will always be a number of tricky issues or disputes that are difficult to resolve inside the business. Sometimes it just requires a fresh perspective and someone who is not part of the disagreement to resolve it.”

Peter Causton

Chief Executive of ProMediate

Businesses are increasingly turning to more cost-effective solutions to legal disputes and many, when given the option, would rather choose mediation than the more expensive and time-consuming legal route through the Court system.

We ensure businesses have a trusted mediation option available to them with the full backing and added assurance that it is a service certified by Chartered Trading Standards Institute and Registered with the Civil Mediation Council Limited.

The ProMediate Service not only offers good value for money but also full confidentiality which legal proceedings cannot.

In their 2015 analysis of small businesses’ experience of legal problems, capacity and attitudes the Kingston University Small Business Research Centre found that from a sample of over 10,500 small businesses:

  • Half of the firms reporting a legal issue said it had a negative impact; one-quarter of them reported loss of income and one-fifth reported health-related problems.
  • Most small businesses do not have any internal legal capacity
  • One-third of respondents contacted support providers that were unable to help them.
  • Businesses tend to use formal legal services to solve business problems as a last resort owner-managers

“The Legal Needs Of Small Businesses” Produced By The Small Business Research Centre- Kingston University. October 2015

ProMediate Dispute Management and Resolution
There are three distinct strands to this service which will be delivered by Promediate
  • Business / Business disputes
  • Business / Employee disputes
  • Business / Consumer disputes.
You have signed up to be a member of the Business / Consumer Disputes Service but please feel free to consult us about the other areas.
Depending on the complexity and size of the dispute mediation can take place in person, via on-line video facilities or over the phone.
If you trade with consumers you can use our service as your named ADR provider and comply with the ADR Regulations.  You can put us forward to resolve the dispute or we can contact them for you.

Business Charges

Businesses also pay to use the service as follows (based upon the value of the dispute):

 

  • Up to £1,000 – £75 plus VAT
  • Up to £2,500 – £100 plus VAT
  • Up to £5,000 – £125 plus VAT
  • Up to £7,500 – £150 plus VAT
  • Up to £10,000 – £175 plus VAT

 

Value of dispute

Contact us for a confidential discussion with our solicitor/mediator within 24 hours.

Get support in proposing mediation to the other party. Costs and details are agreed, with both parties, in advance of mediation.

Contact Us