Most of the transactions that take place every day on The Free Auction are trouble-free. Occasionally, it happens that users have problems when trading with people they don't know. Luckily, most of those problems are easily resolved.

The Free Auction is not involved and does not participate in the transaction between buyer and seller. The Free Auction doesn't control the actions or behavior of participants in the auctions community. However, we can offer some useful suggestions for resolving a dispute.

Talk it over - Buyers and sellers can often resolve a dispute by talking it out with each other. Most problems are the result of a misunderstanding. Often email communications are misinterpreted or read the wrong way. Ask the other party for a phone number and see if you can clarify, discuss, and resolve your differences in a telephone conversation.

Rate the buyer or seller - The Free Auction Auctions rating system is designed to remove fraudulent buyers and sellers who have acquired negative ratings. The rating system only works if members actively participate in the rating process. This is your tool to control the quality of the membership in your auction community. Find out more about The Free Auction Ratings.

Seek arbitration services - If you still have not been able to resolve your problem, you may feel the need to use a third party to resolve your dispute. Please be aware that The Free Auction is not a professional arbitrator and does not offer this service.
There are many excellent options for arbitration; you might want to look at the Arbitration Services category in Yahoo!'s directory for links to arbitrators and mediators on the Web.

• clickNsettle.com
  
• SquareTrade - provides online problem solving service.
  
• Global Arbitration Mediation Association - provides directories of arbitrators and mediators.
  
• Mediation Training Institute International - seminars, certification, resolution workshops, human resources development, etc.
  
• Healthlinks - offering medical placement services, dispute resolution, software, and other products and services for healthcare professionals.
  
• iCourthouse - offering a platform on which users can present disputes before a jury of their peers.
  
• Coast to Coast Mediation Center - We provide professional mediators, family and divorce mediation, dispute resolution, and mediation training workshops worldwide.
  
• JAMS/Endispute - ADR services provided by retired/former judges and attorneys experienced in consensus building, mediations, settlement conferences, arbitrations, and private judging.
  
• Cybersettle.com - provides online settlements of disputes and lawsuits using a patent-pending system.
  
• iLeveL - offering alternative dispute resolution using the internet.

Report fraud - If you suspect that you are a victim of mail fraud (if you have sent payment and have not received your merchandise), file a complaint with your local U.S. Post Office or Attorney General. Don't hesitate to contact the National Fraud Information Center.
If you believe you have been defrauded by a business, you can contact the Better Business Bureau or the Internet Fraud Complaint Center. Also, you can file a complaint with the FTC by contacting the Consumer Response Center by phone: 202-FTC-HELP (382-4357); TDD: 202-326-2502; by mail: Consumer Response Center, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580; or on the Internet, using their online complaint form. Although the Commission cannot resolve individual problems for consumers, it can act against a company if there seems to be a pattern of possible law violations.

By taking action against fraud, you help to remove it from your auction community.