If your have a dispute with your credit card company, what can you do?

You need to know the ropes, if you're going to try to fight.

I say try, because in 0.16 percent of the cases handled by the National Arbitration Forum between Jan. 2003 and March 2007, consumers prevailed over the credit card companies. That is, credit cards 18,075 wins vs. consumers, just 30 wins.

The figures come from a lawsuit that the city of San Francisco filed against the arbitration company, claiming it almost always sides with the card company. The National Arbitration Forum, according to an article in BusinessWeek, is the dominant arbtration firm in credit card disputes.

What can you do? When you take out a card, you could try to opt out of mandatory arbitration, says Gerri Detweiler, author of The Ultimate Credit Handbook. If you are given the choice. Or, you could stuff a notice in the envelope with your payment saying you don't agree to arbitration.

But it's not clear to me that this will work. Any lawyers out there care to tell me what they think?

Best idea: Look for a card that won't force you into arbitration. Cards from credit unions might be a good choice.

For more, go to www.givemebackmyrights.org