Dispute Resolution Request Form

To progress your request for referral to the SBDC's dispute resolution service, please complete the details in this form.

If you don't have all of this ready, send what you can and the DRS team will follow up on the rest.

The dispute resolution team can contact the other party directly, acting as the main point of contact for all communication, working with both sides to find common ground and reach a practical resolution without the cost, delay, or stress of going to court. The service is confidential, neutral, and free in most cases.

Eligibility criteria

I understand that the SBDC's Dispute Resolution Service is voluntary and either party can refuse to engage, or can opt out at any time *

I understand that the SBDC's Dispute Resolution Service does not provide legal advice *

I understand that the service requires a willingness to participate, work cooperatively with the other party and a degree of compromise *

I understand that the SBDC's Dispute Resolution Case Managers are impartial and work on an equal basis for the interests of both parties *

Parties to the dispute *

I am representing a small business in Western Australia in a disputeI am NOT representing a small business in Western Australia in a dispute

The SBDC's dispute resolution service is only available to small businesses in Western Australia. If you are not an eligible small business, you can lodge your complaint with LGIRS through the following link:

https://www.consumerprotection.wa.gov.au/how-make-consumer-complaint

The dispute is: *

With another businessWith GovernmentWith a landlord, tenant, managing agent/property manager or other commercial tenancy party

The other party: *

Is aware of the disputeIs not aware of the dispute

You need to demonstrate that you have tried to resolve the dispute yourself and that the other party is aware of the issue as a potential dispute before proceeding. Please find a link below to our website with tips around this process:

https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/dispute-resolution/resolving-dispute

Have you presented the dispute to the other party in writing? *

YesNo

Although your dispute may be eligible to proceed to the SBDC's dispute resolution service, it is highly recommended that you make initial contact with the other party in writing to outline the dispute details before entering dispute resolution.

Your details

Business name *

First name *

Last name *

Where is your business located? *

Suburb/City/Town *

Postcode *

Email address *

Phone number *

Business duration *NOTE: New = operating less than two years, Established = operating more than two years

Industry *

Australian Business Number (ABN) *

Australian Company Number (ACN)

Other party's details

Business/organisation name *

First name

Last name

Email address

Phone number

Australian Business Number (ABN)

Australian Company Number (ACN)

Dispute details

Briefly describe the issue in dispute *

When did the initial product/service transaction with the other party take place (month/year)? *

When did the transaction become a dispute (month/year)? *

Have you kept written records of your attempts to resolve the dispute? *

YesNo

Do you have evidence to support your claim? *

YesNo

Examples include contracts, lease documents, agreements, correspondence via email/letter/messages, photos, recordings, bank statements, inspection reports, receipts, verified witness accounts or other supporting records.

What types of evidence do you have? *Examples include contracts, lease documents, agreements, correspondence via email/letter/messages, photos, recordings, bank statements, inspection reports, receipts, verified witness accounts or other supporting records.

If requested, can you supply copies of this evidence to your dispute resolution case manager? *

YesNo

Dispute timeline

This section is optional but will help your dispute resolution case manager work through the details of your dispute; and verify details with the other party. If you are not able to provide approximate dates and timeline details for your dispute you can move onto the next section of this form but please note you may be asked for these details as part of the dispute resolution process. If you are able to, please outline the order of events (approximate dates are accepted) for:

when and why the initial transaction took place
what prompted the transaction to become a dispute and when this occured
what steps have been taken to resolve the dispute
what the current dispute situation is

Agree to provide timeline of dispute events *

I can provide a timeline of events for my disputeI am not able to provide a timeline of events for my dispute at this time, but acknowledge I may need to do so in order to proceed to dispute resolution

Date *

Details of what occurred on or around this date: *

Is there anything else about the dispute that you think would be helpful for the Case Manager to know? *

YesNo

Please provide details of your additional information *

Thank you for completing your request form. Your submission will be reviewed by an officer where you will likely by required to provide further context and key documents relating to the dispute.

If there are any areas of your request form where it is identified that more information may be required, such as providing written notice of the dispute to the other party, documenting a timeline of events for the dispute, or gathering evidence to support your claim, please continue to complete these activities while your submission is being reviewed.

As well as this, in the meantime and where it's appropriate, we encourage you to continue engaging amicably with the other party.

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