How does oregon mandatory arbitration work and what to expect?

The rules of civil procedure for your state spell out the answer to your question. you can find them online.

Arbitration is considerably less formal than a trial. The process is handled at the discretion of the arbitrator, who is typically an experienced lawyer or retired judge. They usually offer the parties the option of formally calling witnesses and offering exhibits, but prefer to just hear the evidence and ask questions. If you really owe the money on the credit card as alleged, you're not going to get off the hook for it on a technicality. You should consult with an attorney to see if there are any effective defenses you can assert, and if not, to negotiate a repayment plan or decide whether bankruptcy is appropriate. Debt collectors will often negotiate more fairly with attorneys than they will with a self-represented debtor, whom they think they can bully and intimidate. www.northwestlawoffice.com