If you think you've been ripped off in the marketplace, calm down and make a phone call or send a letter or email to the offending party or business before you contact a lawyer. Remember, when lawyers get involved, you literally lose control of the situation. Stay open to compromise and think rationally about resolving the problem to your satisfaction.

Some disputes can be resolved by using increasingly popular litigation alternatives such as mediation or arbitration. Businesses and individuals might agree to use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) rather than court action to resolve legal conflicts. There are numerous private organizations that sponsor mediation and arbitration. The American Arbitration Association and JAMS/Endispute are two national resources for resolving disputes without litigation.

For consumer complaints, many companies, public utilities and state attorney general offices offer customer service and consumer protection departments that effectively address these kinds of problems. If you have a problem with a regulated industry such as banking or insurance, contact the agency in your state responsible for overseeing that industry. Also, many community groups such as elder associations, civil rights groups and other organizations offer free legal help and information.