Public.com · Public.com Terms of Service · View original document ↗

Mandatory Arbitration Clause

High severity Uncommon · 32 of 325 platforms
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Document Record

What it is

If you have a dispute with Public.com, you must resolve it through private arbitration rather than going to court. You have 30 days from when you open your account to opt out of this requirement.

This analysis describes what Public.com's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology

ConductAtlas Analysis

Why it matters (compliance & governance perspective)

The arbitration requirement establishes the procedural mechanism for dispute resolution, specifying individual arbitration as the mandatory forum instead of judicial proceedings. This provision defines the contractual dispute resolution framework that governs how disagreements will be addressed.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Users lose the right to litigate disputes in court, significantly reducing their legal leverage against a well-resourced company. The 30-day opt-out window is narrow and easy to miss for new users.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.
  • Opt Out of Arbitration
    Within 30 days
    Send a written opt-out notice to support@public.com within 30 days of opening your account. Include your full name, account number, and a clear statement that you are opting out of the arbitration agreement.

How other platforms handle this

Twilio High

You and Twilio agree to resolve any disputes through binding arbitration administered by JAMS rather than in courts of general jurisdiction. The arbitration will be conducted by a single arbitrator under the JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules. The arbitrator's decision will be final and binding. Thi...

OpenAI High

You and OpenAI agree to resolve any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or our Services through final and binding individual arbitration, except that either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court. You agree to waive your right to a jury trial and to participate in a...

Uber High

You and Uber agree that any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the breach, termination, enforcement, interpretation or validity thereof or the use of the Services or Application (collectively, "Disputes") will be settled by binding arbitration between you and ...

See all platforms with this clause type →

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▸ View Original Clause Language DOCUMENT RECORD
"
In the interest of resolving disputes between you and Public.com in the most expedient and cost effective manner, and except as described in Section 18.2 and 18.3, you and Public.com agree that every dispute arising in connection with these Terms will be resolved by binding arbitration. YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT, BY ENTERING INTO THESE TERMS, YOU AND PUBLIC.COM ARE EACH WAIVING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY OR TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION.

— Excerpt from Public.com's Public.com Terms of Service

ConductAtlas Analysis

Institutional analysis (Compliance & governance intelligence)

The mandatory arbitration clause implicates FINRA arbitration rules for broker-dealer disputes and must be assessed against FTC guidance on unfair or deceptive practices. State-level enforceability varies, particularly in California where arbitration clauses in consumer contracts face additional scrutiny.

Full compliance analysis

Regulatory citations, enforcement risk, and due diligence action items.

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Applicable agencies

  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (cfpb)
    Regulates consumer financial products and services. Can investigate companies for unfair, deceptive, or abusive financial practices including improper fees, billing errors, and data misuse.
    Who can file: Anyone who has used a consumer financial product or service in the US
    What you need: Account number or details, dates of transactions or events, description of the issue, and any supporting documents
    What to expect: The company must respond within 15 days. The CFPB forwards your complaint and may use it in enforcement actions. Individual compensation is possible in some cases.
    File a complaint →
  • Federal Trade Commission (ftc)
    Oversees unfair or deceptive business practices and can investigate companies that mislead consumers about data collection, sharing, or use.
    Who can file: Anyone affected by the company's practices (US or international)
    What you need: Your account details, a timeline of relevant events, and a description of the specific issue
    What to expect: Complaints inform FTC enforcement priorities and investigations but do not result in individual resolution or compensation
    File a complaint →

Applicable regulations

FAA
United States Federal

Provision details

Document information
Document
Public.com Terms of Service
Entity
Public.com
Document last updated
May 5, 2026
Tracking information
First tracked
March 8, 2026
Last verified
March 9, 2026
Record ID
CA-P-000501
Document ID
CA-D-00058
Evidence Provenance
Source URL
Wayback Machine
Content hash (SHA-256)
1e9ea08b0bc036684624a23874dc677c9b8a8ebbc541222707189661506371d8
Analysis generated
March 8, 2026 13:54 UTC
Methodology
Evidence
✓ Snapshot stored   ✓ Hash verified
Citation Record
Entity: Public.com
Document: Public.com Terms of Service
Record ID: CA-P-000501
Captured: 2026-03-08 13:54:24 UTC
SHA-256: 1e9ea08b0bc03668…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/publiccom/publiccom-terms-of-service/mandatory-arbitration-clause/
Accessed: May 20, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
Classification
Severity
High
Categories

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Public.com's Mandatory Arbitration Clause clause do?

The arbitration requirement establishes the procedural mechanism for dispute resolution, specifying individual arbitration as the mandatory forum instead of judicial proceedings. This provision defines the contractual dispute resolution framework that governs how disagreements will be addressed.

How does this clause affect you?

Users lose the right to litigate disputes in court, significantly reducing their legal leverage against a well-resourced company. The 30-day opt-out window is narrow and easy to miss for new users.

How many platforms have this type of clause?

ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 32 platforms. See the full comparison.

Is ConductAtlas affiliated with Public.com?

No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Public.com.