Arbitration and dispute resolution

When a customer has a dispute about Microsoft software, devices, or services, Microsoft wants to resolve it quickly and fairly. We’ve added informal dispute resolution and binding arbitration clauses to many of our agreements and warranties for customers who live in the United States. Those agreements encourage Microsoft to resolve disputes informally within 60 days. If we can’t, either of us may commence arbitration with the American Arbitration Association. An impartial arbitrator near where you live—or in King County (Seattle area), Washington, if you prefer—will consider both sides and resolve the dispute promptly. Or you can bring an action in small claims court, either in the county where you live or in King County, Washington if you meet the court’s normal requirements.

Our arbitration agreements offer speedy and fair individual dispute resolution, but do not permit class action lawsuits or class-wide arbitration for customers who live in the United States. Class action lawsuits usually last for years. Our agreements strongly encourage Microsoft to resolve disputes informally before they get to arbitration, and our arbitration provisions are among the most generous in the country. For instance, we promptly reimburse filing fees, and, where we offer less to resolve a dispute informally than an arbitrator ultimately awards, we will pay the greater of the award or $1,000 for most software, devices, or services plus the customer’s reasonable attorney’s fees.

Send us a Notice of Dispute only if you’ve tried to get help from a customer service representative first and are unsatisfied with the resolution.

If you live in the United States and have a dispute, choose or search for the software, device, or service from the drop-down below. This will help you find your agreement or limited warranty, confirm it contains an arbitration clause, and links to forms that may be used to start the dispute resolution process or commence arbitration.

Notice of dispute

Instructions for notifying Microsoft of a dispute if you live in the United States.

 

Microsoft is committed to resolving disputes fairly and efficiently. If you are unsatisfied with the resolution a customer service representative offers for your problem, you live in the United States, and your Limited Warranty contains an arbitration clause, you may notify us of your dispute by downloading and mailing the form to Microsoft.

 

Download the Kinect for Windows Notice of Dispute form (PDF).

Skype, its corporate affiliates, and your mobile phone carrier are committed to resolving disputes fairly and efficiently. If you are unsatisfied with the resolution a customer service representative offers for your problem, you live in the USA, and your Microsoft Services Agreement contains an arbitration clause, you may notify us of your dispute by downloading and mailing the form to Skype or your mobile phone carrier.

 

Download the Skype Notice of Dispute form (PDF).

Microsoft is committed to resolving disputes fairly and efficiently. If you are unsatisfied with the resolution a customer service representative offers for your problem, you live in the United States, and your agreement contains an arbitration clause, you may notify us of your dispute by downloading and mailing the form to Microsoft.

 

Download the Notice of Dispute form (PDF).

Get instructions for how to file the Notice of Dispute form.

Demand for arbitration

Instructions for filing an arbitration claim if you live in the United States.

 

Instructions for filing an arbitration claim if you live in the United States:

  1. Before filing an arbitration claim, please download, fill out, and mail a Kinect for Windows Notice of Dispute form (PDF) to Microsoft. Allow 60 days to resolve your dispute informally. Use the Kinect for Windows Demand for Arbitration form only if you and Microsoft could not resolve your dispute informally within 60 days.
  2. If, after 60 days, you wish to file an arbitration claim, please download and fill out the Kinect for Windows Demand for Arbitration form and keep a copy for your records.
  3. Mail a copy of the completed Kinect for Windows Demand for Arbitration form and your check or money order for $200 to American Arbitration Association, Case Filing Services, 1101 Laurel Oak Road, Suite 100, Voorhees, NJ 08043. Make your check or money order payable to American Arbitration Association. Please consult the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules for more information. You can find them at www.adr.org or by calling the AAA at (800) 778-7879.
  4. Please copy (or download and print) and mail to AAA (with the completed Kinect for Windows Demand for Arbitration form and your check), and your Limited Warranty. If you don’t have your Limited Warranty, you can find the most recent version here (DOC).
  5. Mail a copy of the completed Kinect for Windows Demand for Arbitration form, a copy of your Limited Warranty, and a copy of your check or money order to Microsoft Corporation, CELA Arbitration, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399. Upon receipt, Microsoft will reimburse you for your $200 filing fee if your claim is for $75,000 or less.

Download the Demand for Arbitration form (PDF).

Instructions for filing an arbitration claim if you live in the United States:

  1. Before filing an arbitration claim, please download, fill out, and mail a Skype Notice of Dispute form (PDF) to Skype or your mobile phone carrier. Allow 60 days to resolve your dispute informally. Use the Skype Demand for Arbitration form only if you and Skype, its corporate affiliates, or your mobile phone carrier could not resolve your dispute informally within 60 days.
  2. If, after 60 days, you wish to file an arbitration claim, please download and fill out the Skype Demand for Arbitration form (PDF) and keep a copy for your records.
  3. Mail a copy of the completed Skype Demand for Arbitration form and your check or money order for $200 to American Arbitration Association, Case Filing Services, 1101 Laurel Oak Road, Suite 100, Voorhees, NJ 08043. Make your check or money order payable to American Arbitration Association. Please consult the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules for more information. You can find them at www.adr.org or by calling the AAA at (800) 778-7879.
  4. Please copy (or download and print) and mail to AAA (with the completed Skype Demand for Arbitration form and your check), and your Skype’s USA Consumer Terms of Use. If you don’t have it, find the most recent Skype’s USA Consumer Terms of Use here.
  5. Mail a copy of the completed Skype Demand for Arbitration form, a copy of the Microsoft Services Agreement, and a copy of your check or money order to Skype, c/o Microsoft Corporation, CELA Arbitration, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399 or to your mobile phone carrier at its principal place of business in the USA marked ATTN: Legal Department. Upon receipt, Microsoft or your mobile phone carrier will reimburse you for your $200 filing fee if your claim is for $75,000 or less.

Download the Skype Demand for Arbitration form (PDF).

Instructions for filing an arbitration claim if you live in the United States:

  1. Before filing an arbitration claim, please download, fill out, and mail a Notice of Dispute form (PDF) to Microsoft. Allow 60 days to resolve your dispute informally. Use the Demand for Arbitration form only if you and Microsoft could not resolve your dispute informally within 60 days.
  2. If, after 60 days, you wish to file an arbitration claim, please download and fill out the Demand for Arbitration form (PDF) and keep a copy for your records.
  3. Mail a copy of the completed Demand for Arbitration form (PDF) and your check or money order for $200 to American Arbitration Association, Case Filing Services, 1101 Laurel Oak Road, Suite 100, Voorhees, NJ 08043. Make your check or money order payable to American Arbitration Association. Please consult the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules for more information. You can find them at www.adr.org or by calling the AAA at (800) 778-7879.
  4. Please copy (or download and print) and mail to AAA (with the completed Demand for Arbitration form (PDF) and your check) your agreement with an arbitration clause (for example, Microsoft Services Agreement (for Xbox Live and most Microsoft services), Manufacturer’s Limited Hardware Warranty & Agreement (for Xbox, Surface, mice, keyboards, cameras, and most Microsoft hardware), Microsoft Software License Terms Windows Operating System, etc.). If you don’t have your agreement, you can find most at the Arbitration and Dispute Resolution page.
  5. Mail a copy of the completed Demand for Arbitration form (PDF), a copy of your Microsoft agreement, and a copy of your check or money order to Microsoft Corporation, CELA Arbitration, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399. Upon receipt, Microsoft will reimburse you for your $200 filing fee if your claim is for $75,000 or less.

Download the Demand for Arbitration form (PDF).

Refunds

Or you may take advantage of our refund policy or certain Microsoft hardware or software acquired from a retailer within the last 45 days.