
Credit One Bank requires customers to agree to an arbitration agreement as a condition of opening an account, which can be found in the "Arbitration Agreement" section of the credit card agreement.
The arbitration agreement is a binding contract that requires disputes to be resolved through arbitration rather than a court of law. This means that if you have a problem with Credit One Bank, such as a disputed charge or a problem with your account, you'll have to go through arbitration rather than filing a lawsuit.
Credit One Bank's arbitration agreement states that all disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration, which means the arbitrator's decision is final and can't be appealed. This can be found in the "Dispute Resolution" section of the credit card agreement.
By agreeing to the arbitration agreement, customers waive their right to a trial by jury and give up their ability to sue Credit One Bank in a court of law. This is a significant concession, and customers should carefully review the terms of the agreement before agreeing to it.
Arbitration Decision
The arbitration decision was a crucial part of the case, as it determined whether plaintiff's claims against Credit One would be resolved through arbitration or in court.
Credit One filed a motion to compel arbitration on July 8, 2019, which was deemed suitable for decision without a hearing. The court reviewed the parties' briefing and granted defendant's motion to compel arbitration.
The court evaluated whether the arbitration agreement "encompasses the dispute at issue" and found that it did. Credit One argued that the arbitration agreement's broad scope covered the claims plaintiff was asserting against it.
Plaintiff's allegations related to an alleged credit card debt and unauthorized calls clearly fell under the arbitration agreement's scope. The agreement covered controversies or disputes arising from or relating to the plaintiff's account, including any collection of debt related to the account.
The court found that the arbitration agreement encompassed plaintiff's claims against Credit One, effectively resolving the matter through arbitration.
Background
Credit One Bank arbitration agreement is a binding contract that requires customers to resolve disputes through arbitration rather than going to court.
The agreement is included in the terms and conditions of Credit One Bank's credit card agreements, which are provided to customers when they apply for a credit card or open a new account.
Credit One Bank is a consumer finance company that offers a range of financial services, including credit cards, personal loans, and checking accounts.
The arbitration agreement is a standard clause in many credit card agreements, including those offered by Credit One Bank.
Credit One Bank requires customers to sign and agree to the arbitration clause as a condition of opening a credit card account or obtaining a loan.
Arbitration can be a more efficient and cost-effective way to resolve disputes than going to court, but it also limits customers' ability to seek damages or class-action relief.
Credit One Bank's arbitration agreement specifies that customers must resolve disputes through binding arbitration, which means that the arbitrator's decision is final and cannot be appealed.
Legal Process
The legal process for Credit One Bank arbitration agreements is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). This act confers on parties the right to obtain an order directing arbitration to proceed in the manner provided for in a contract between them.
To determine whether arbitration can proceed, the court must first decide if a valid agreement to arbitrate exists within the contract. This involves examining the contract language itself.
Any doubts concerning the scope of arbitrable issues should be resolved in favor of arbitration. The court's role is to determine whether the agreement encompasses the dispute at issue.
In deciding a motion to compel arbitration, the court is limited to determining two things: whether a valid agreement to arbitrate exists and whether the agreement encompasses the dispute at issue.
Arbitration Agreement
Under Nevada law, a credit card agreement can be accepted by the consumer's use of the card after receipt of the agreement.
Adele Burton, Vice President of Collection at Credit One, submitted a declaration with evidence that plaintiff entered into a valid arbitration agreement. The evidence included the Premium Visa credit card solicitation letter, the original cardholder agreements, the subsequent notice of change, and the operative cardholder agreement.
Credit One argues that plaintiff assented to the terms of the operative cardholder agreement, which contains a valid arbitration agreement. Plaintiff does not dispute these points based on the evidence submitted.
Credit One Bank
Credit One Bank requires customers to sign a contract, but they often don't provide copies, which can make it hard to navigate the terms.
Arbitration is a key part of these contracts, designed to limit Credit One Bank's liability in class actions.
For small cases of $10,000 or less, arbitration can be a powerful tool, as it can be too expensive for Credit One Bank to fight, with filing costs alone reaching $2,750 or more.
Consumer Fraud Legal Services has experience handling hundreds of cases against Credit One Bank, including those related to unauthorized transactions, charge disputes, and hidden fees.
Their lawyers use proven legal arguments to give clients the best chance of winning or convincing Credit One Bank to settle.
Credit One Bank must follow numerous regulations, including the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) and Regulation E, which protect consumers from misleading and deceptive business practices.
Every state has its own consumer fraud laws that help safeguard customers from Credit One Bank's questionable practices.
Choice of Law
Federal courts apply federal common law choice-of-law rules when jurisdiction is based on federal question jurisdiction. This means that federal common law follows the approach of the Restatement (Second) of Conflict of Laws.
In cases where the parties have chosen a specific law to govern their agreement, the court will honor that choice. This is what happened in the case where the cardholder agreement specified that Nevada law would govern.
The court will apply the chosen law unless it would be contrary to a fundamental policy of another state that has a materially greater interest in the dispute. In this case, the court found that Nevada has a substantial relationship to the dispute since the defendant Credit One is based in that state.
If the chosen law is applied, the court will consider whether honoring that choice would be contrary to the policy of another state. In this case, the plaintiff did not argue that any other state has a greater interest in the dispute, and the court was aware of no aspect of Nevada law that affects the dispute that is contrary to the policy of another state.
As a result, the court will apply Nevada law in resolving the question of whether a valid arbitration agreement exists between the parties. This is in line with the court's decision in Daugherty v. Experian Info. Sols., Inc., where the court applied South Dakota law to resolve the question of whether the arbitration provision was valid.
Validity of Arbitration Agreement
In Nevada, an arbitration agreement can be accepted by a consumer's use of a credit card after receiving the agreement. This is according to Nevada law, which deems a cardholder to have accepted the terms and conditions of a credit card account upon subsequent actual use of the card.
Credit One Bank, N.A. has been known to require arbitration in their contracts with customers, which can make it difficult for customers to file suit in court and win. However, customers can still use arbitration to their advantage by leveraging it to increase their individual payout.
To establish a valid arbitration agreement, Credit One relies on the declaration of Adele Burton, Vice President of Collection at Credit One, who has attached evidence such as the Premium Visa credit card solicitation letter and the original cardholder agreements. The court has found that plaintiff assented to the terms of the operative cardholder agreement, which contains a valid arbitration agreement.
A bill of sale is not always necessary to prove the assignment of a debt, as seen in the case of Fuller v. Frontline Asset Strategies, Inc. The court found that an affidavit from Credit One stating it sold its rights to LVNV, along with a records affidavit from RCS showing a list of receivables that LVNV obtained, was sufficient evidence to demonstrate the existence of a valid arbitration agreement and its subsequent assignment to LVNV.
The arbitration agreement can be included in a contract even if the customer does not receive a copy of it. In the case of Fuller v. Frontline Asset Strategies, Inc., the court noted that requesting, receiving, and using the card constitutes the cardholder's agreement with the terms stated, including the arbitration provision.
Nevada law is applied in resolving the question of whether a valid arbitration agreement exists between the parties, as the operative cardholder agreement contains a "Governing Law" provision stating that the agreement is to be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I opt out of arbitration agreement with bank?
Opt out of arbitration agreements with banks to preserve your right to a jury trial and class action lawsuits. Review your cardholder agreement to see if you can opt out and learn more about the implications of mandatory arbitration
Sources
- https://casetext.com/case/gonzales-v-credit-one-bank-na
- https://www.duanemorris.com/articles/second_circuit_court_declines_to_enforce_arbitration_clause_0418.html
- http://www.consumerfraudlegalservices.com/creditone2
- https://www.balch.com/insights/publications/2018/04/no-bill-of-sale-no-problem-compelling-arbitration-of-fdcpa-claims
- https://www.casemine.com/judgement/us/5914e2c2add7b049348f4769
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