Looking to sue KeyBank? Small claims court is an option, and you may have others…
At FairShake we’ve helped thousands of people ripped off by big companies like KeyBank. And we’ve helped get millions of dollars in settlement offers…
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Tired of hitting dead ends when trying to get a refund from KeyBank? Feeling like there’s nowhere to turn?
You’re not alone. It seems like many people have tried all the KeyBank customer service options, but still feel unheard.
There are different ways to file a complaint against KeyBank, but none have the same power and leverage as taking legal action.
So, if you’re thinking of suing KeyBank, where do you even start? You might expect there to be tons of class action lawsuits against them, but it’s often more complicated than that.
What many people don’t know is that hidden clauses buried deep within their contracts frequently allow companies like KeyBank to push legal claims into the private realm of consumer arbitration, away from conventional courts.
But here’s the thing: your KeyBank contract doesn’t have the power to take away your right to pursue legal action by suing them.
Here’s what you can do…
Learn more about the consumer arbitration process here.
If you’re ready to sue KeyBank in Small Claims Court, read on below:
Small claims courts are only for certain types of claims, so your first step is to make sure your claim is eligible for filing in small claims court. There are two things you need to know about the process:
The amount of money: Every small claims court sets a maximum dollar amount for the claim you can bring. In most states it’s either $5000 or $10,000, but it can be as low as $2,500 (in Kentucky and Rhode Island). You can find a list of all 50 states’ monetary limits here.
If your claim doesn’t fall within the limits of your state’s small claims court, you’ll have to arbitrate your claim instead.
Most small claims courts require that you ask the person or company you’re suing to fix your problem voluntarily before you file a claim. This means that if you want to sue KeyBank in small claims court, you need to send the company a demand letter to initiate the legal process.
The demand letter should be short and simple. Explain to KeyBank who you are (your name, address, phone number and account number), what the problem is, and what you want from the company. The letter should be just a few sentences long. You are checking a box on your small claims court to do list before you file an actual claim.
When you’re done writing the demand letter, you need to mail a hard copy of the letter to the company’s legal address. According to our most recent research, KeyBank is legally based in Ohio and receives mail at this address. (Check your contract to confirm if this is the right address for legal notices):
KeyCorp
C/O CORPORATION SERVICE COMPANY
3366 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, SUITE 103
UPPER ARLINGTON OH 43221
If you would like examples of demand letters or more information about how to write them, you can find an excellent guide here.
In order to sue KeyBank in small claims court, you have to complete a substantial amount of paperwork.
Each state has a set of forms that need to be filled out to file a claim, and sometimes counties want additional forms. The correct forms for your location is available for free on the state court website.
Make sure you fill out enough forms. Most states that require you to file forms by mail or in-person ask for 3 or 4 copies. If you don’t have the right number of copies, the court dismisses your claim.
When you’re done filling out the court forms, the time has come to give the forms to the court. The process called “filing” can be a bit tricky.
Many courts require plaintiffs to come to the courthouse during specific hours deliver the forms to the court clerk. Other courts allow plaintiffs to file by fax, mail, or online.
All courts require plaintiffs to pay a filing fee before the court allows a lawsuit to proceed in small claims court. The fee, which is published on the court website, is occasionally waived for low income plaintiffs.
When you file your forms, the court clerk provides you with a stamped copy of the forms, as well as a note to remind you about the court date and time.
If you’ve made it this far, congratulations! Suing KeyBank in small claims is a long and difficult process.
Now that you’ve filed the papers required to start your case against KeyBank, you need to tell KeyBank about the lawsuit. This is a called “serving” KeyBank. To do this, you need to deliver a copy of your filed papers to the company.
Look at your court’s website for instructions on how to deliver your forms properly to KeyBank, or search for “[your state] small claims service of process”. Many courts adopt strict rules for serving defendants. Make sure you follow every rule to avoid having the court clerk throw out your lawsuit.
When the court clerk gives you a court date make sure to put it on your calendar. You need to write down the address of the courthouse, as well as the number for the courtroom where the small claims court hearing is to take place. Bring copies of your filed forms, and any other evidence that backs up your case against KeyBank. Sometimes, KeyBank does not show up to oppose plaintiffs. If that happens to you, take advantage of the situation to present on your side of the story.
Are you ready to sue KeyBank in small claims court?
If this sounds too hard and expensive, try consumer arbitration instead…
The Ultimate Guide to Consumer Complaints
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