BBB and Arbitration
The Pennsylvania Lemon Law provides that consumers must participate in a manufacturer's informal dispute resolution program prior to the filing of a lemon related lawsuit if the manufacturer's program meets certain requirements established under Federal law. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) handles the informal dispute resolution program for many manufacturers in Pennsylvania.
Among the major manufacturers that participate with the BBB program in Pennsylvania are Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Volkswagen. The BBB program entails filling out a simple complaint form, sending it in along with your repair orders and other documentary evidence, receiving a response from the manufacturer, having a vehicle inspection and then a short hearing. Hearings may be attended in person or may proceed as a "documents only" case wherein the Arbitrator makes his decisions based upon your repair orders.
The entire process takes approximately 40 days from start to finish. The result of the hearing is binding upon the Manufacturer but is NOT binding upon the Consumer. If you do not like the Arbitrator's decision, you can then file a lawsuit in your home county.
If you have any questions regarding Arbitration, the BBB program or the Pennsylvania Lemon Law, please contact our office at 1-888-LEMON-44 or send an Email to Greg@PittsburghLemonLaw.com