If you can't settle those types of disputes with the other party, your next best option may be small claims court. On any day in any major city across the U.S., from 100 to 200 cases may be on the small claims court docket. These courts offer access to justice for anyone who follows the rules of procedure.
Lawyers handle only a few small claims cases.
In fact, some jurisdictions prohibit the use of a lawyer's services except for corporations. These are municipal courts where you can sue an individual or business and tell your side of the story, quickly and efficiently. They're designed to settle disputes where relatively small amounts of money are involved. Ceiling limits vary from state to state. In addition, you can sue for the maximum amount only a specified number of times during a calendar year.