California's Arbitration Certification Program within the Department of Consumer Affairs is responsible for certifying and overseeing the arbitration programs and the manufacturers they sponsor. The ACP monitors the arbitration process to ensure a fair, reliable, and informal method of resolving disputes.
Benefits of Certification with ACP:
- Arbitration is an alternative to costly court litigation.
- It is an expedited process with decisions typically rendered within 40 days of a claim being accepted by a certified program.
- Arbitration is an informal process in which parties can present their case in person, virtually, in writing, or over the phone.
- Once the consumer accepts the arbitrator's decision, the manufacturer then has 30 days to complete performance of that decision (with some exceptions).
- Disputes settled through arbitration help alleviate the strain on the court system.
Non-Certified Manufacturers that are interested in certification can obtain more information by contacting the ACP at ACP.CertApp@dca.ca.gov.
