If the figures meet or are within a selected parameter, settlement is reached immediately at the midway point. Otherwise the parties are free to make further offers an unlimited number of times. If at the end of the allotted period a settlement has not been reached both parties are free to continue with the traditional methods of litigation. Because of the blind nature of the bidding, no information is revealed and subsequent negotiations are unaffected. Intersettle.co.uk describes itself as Scotland's Online Negotiation Service.
Users submit claim details and the other side makes a settlement offer.
The amount of a bid can be kept secret from the other party, unlike in traditional negotiations. When a bid and offer come within a set margin, the site automatically declares the claim settled at the mid-point. This will help lawyers avoid the litigation dance where parties take several months, or even years, to reach an agreement. The founders says that, since about 95 per cent of claims in Scotland are settled out of court, there is a big potential market. Law firms pay an annual registration and a 20 per-case fee.