We now have way more power than they realize.
Obviously, most of the stuff we buy these days comes from large corporations. Whether it’s something we need or something that helps us escape from our daily lives, nowadays it’s usually coming from a big business. Maybe they’re tickets ordered online for a game or a concert, a hotel reservation, a rental car, or a seat on an airline. Or maybe it’s a purchase we’ve been putting off like a new piece of furniture or work on our car from one of those national tire places. Sometimes we go to mom and pop, but many times the corporate behemoth just seems more convenient, more reliable or just cheaper.
Whatever the reason, we inevitably find ourselves in front of our computer or our phone or standing in front of one of those black and green screens in the store, clicking “I Agree”. Each time we do so, we’ve entered a binding contract with that mega-corp. Some of these relationships are formed without us really “buying” anything — like when we sign up for an account with our banks or when a credit agency reports facts about us.
The basis of our relationships with these companies isn’t much different than it’s always been – businesses want as many customers as they can and we want a product or service as fast as we can get it. The difference is just that in this day and age where we essentially live online or in big box stores, so it’s becoming rarer and rarer that we’ll deal with the local boutique. This means that we’re no longer really entering into arrangements where we have much bargaining power if something goes wrong. What percentage of our transactions with these companies results in us having a legitimate grievance that they owe us money? Not a huge number, probably less than 5%, but it definitely happens; it happens enough that it matters.
Ever pay way more than you thought for auto work at Discount Tire? Ever have your Airbnb room or Budget rental car misrepresented? We have. What about a room reserved through Hotels.com where your deposit wasn’t refunded? StubHub refusing to refund your money on tickets as promised? American Airlines screw up the flight reservation? Experian or Premier BankCard improperly reporting facts on our credit report that caused us monetary harm? To be fair, many of our interactions with these businesses go smoothly, but not always. While many of these companies signal to the world that they’re committed to customer service, it often feels as if there’s this vast bureaucratic mountain between us and recouping what we’re rightfully owed. And so many times we say “Screw it; how can I ever grapple with this corporate giant? It’s not worth my time.”
Other times we press on. Maybe we get a burst of energy or we’re just ticked off enough to find the persistence to get our money back. But where do we start? Usually it’s us vs. a 1-800 number. Good luck. Sometimes, we do find a path to a helpful human being — let’s be fair, we do sometimes find polite and understanding company reps. But it seems as if, despite the progress we make, the answer is often: “I’m sorry, there’s not much we can do for you.” And we’re thus left in the same situation again: Us vs. Corporation. So, what now? After all, they’re on the New York Stock Exchange, and we’re…well, we’re just us.
What probably contributes to this feeling is that in the back of our minds we remember having quickly scrolled through the company’s generic Terms of Use. We think, well their corporate lawyers wrote it, I’m just me, and of course, like everyone else, I didn’t read it so they probably gave themselves some “out” and that means I probably don’t have any recourse anyway. It’s true, we all see the checkout process as just another “I Agree” moment and really just want to mindlessly get to the end of the process. And it’s also true that these contracts are not exactly written to favor the average person.
We’ve found ourselves saying something like, “Woe is me. This is just how the world works and I’ll just swallow it.” Sure we can go shout from the digital rooftops and maybe write a bad Yelp review, inform the Better Business Bureau or post on Reddit. But something about those as solutions feels incomplete.
Guess what more and more people are realizing? Well, two things. One: those contracts still allow for individuals to sue damages for their losses plus other costs incurred (including filing costs). And Two: Beginning in 2021, that process is ridiculously easy. Enter Squabble.
Squabble is an app and website that allows the average person who knows ZERO (or just a little) about the law, to enter basic information about his or her dispute (it takes less than ten minutes), click submit and within days have a live lawsuit against one of these corporations. The result? For them, a very surprised Corporate Legal Department. And for you? The ability to sit back and relax while the Squabble Team of legal professionals ensures that your case is properly submitted in the correct jurisdiction, at the correct courthouse and that the defendant is lawfully informed of the lawsuit (“service of process”).
There’s no need to research how to write a demand letter [ME1] or how to serve someone. You don’t need to figure out for yourself how to file in small claims court or even how much you can sue for in small claims court. Squabble takes care of everything. Squabble users receive updates in the app and via email at every stage of the process. Squabble is a company created by a team of lawyers inspired to provide one true service: to give a decent person a helping hand and an easy route to justice – i.e. their money back.
Two other things make this awesome:
- One: With Squabble, you’re able to check a box that allows you to request that your filing costs be added to the amount you’re owed so you can get those back.
- Two: Many courts are now conducting remote hearings so you often don’t even have to go to court to explain your case. In our two years in business, 95% of Squabble users win their case in court.
The sense of vindication is incredible and it’s nice to get our money back. We are all way more empowered than we used to be. Parties who filed through Squabble have won or settled with:
- Apple
- FedEx
- Expedia
- Wells Fargo
- Airbnb
- Stripe
- Sunnova
- Bank of America
- Pep Boys
Feel free to browse the website a bit more to find out what we’re all about or just download the app and the App Store of Google Play Store. You can play around – the app and web filing engine determine your jurisdiction and proper courthouse, the maximum amount you can sue for and your county’s filing fees. This is all free. You pay nothing until you actually file. Squabble is for you – it’s a public service. We kept the price as low as possible and ensured that the whole thing is done for you. We did this because it was long overdue that the world allowed for a regular human being to have a quick and easy route to justice.
The moment you submit, that corporation has no choice but come to the table. Only this time, it’s on your terms.
