If you have a legal dispute with Yelp, you generally must resolve it through private arbitration rather than going to court, and you cannot join a class action lawsuit against Yelp.
This analysis describes what Yelp'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
Arbitration is a private process that typically limits discovery and appeal rights compared to court, and the class action waiver means users cannot pool claims with others even if many people are affected by the same issue.
Previous version had no excerpt content; current version now includes explicit disclosure language referencing Section 13 and defining the scope of mandatory individual arbitration.
View full change record →This provision removes your right to sue Yelp in court for most disputes and prevents you from joining any group lawsuit, meaning individual claims that may be small in value have limited practical recourse outside of the arbitration process.
How other platforms handle this
the arbitration provider, National Arbitration and Mediation ("NAM"), shall not accept or administer any demand for arbitration and shall administratively close any arbitration unless the Party bringing such demand for arbitration can certify in writing that the terms...were fully satisfied.
Neither you nor we may elect arbitration of any claims seeking only individualized relief asserted by you or us in small claims court, so long as the action remains in that court and is not removed or appealed de novo...
either party retains the right to bring an individual action in small claims court, if the claims qualify, so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual (non-class, non-representative) basis.
"PLEASE NOTE: THESE TERMS INCLUDE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROVISIONS (SEE SECTION 13) THAT, WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS, REQUIRE THAT (1) CLAIMS YOU BRING AGAINST YELP BE RESOLVED BY BINDING, INDIVIDUAL ARBITRATION, AND (2) YOU WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO BRING OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY CLASS, GROUP, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING.Excerpt from Yelp's Terms of Service
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Mandatory arbitration clauses and class action waivers in consumer contracts are scrutinized under the FTC Act and have been subject to ongoing regulatory and legislative attention in the US.
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form
Coinbase's User Agreement includes a mandatory arbitration clause that most users may not have reviewed. Here is what the clause states and how the opt-out process works.
561 arbitration provisions across 197 platforms. ConductAtlas tracks how dispute resolution is being restructured across the internet.
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Arbitration is a private process that typically limits discovery and appeal rights compared to court, and the class action waiver means users cannot pool claims with others even if many people are affected by the same issue.
This provision removes your right to sue Yelp in court for most disputes and prevents you from joining any group lawsuit, meaning individual claims that may be small in value have limited practical recourse outside of the arbitration process.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 205 platforms. See the full comparison.
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