Credit union card experts and analysts say the latest nationwide credit card flap has given credit unions have another good opportunity to market their credit cards as better for consumers.

The widespread controversy centers around the use of arbitration to adjudicate delinquent credit card debt. Most large card issuers build an agreement to use an arbitrator, as opposed to going to court, to settle card disputes into their card agreements. Most consumers have no idea that they have signed away their right to sue the card issuer when they agreed to take the card.

But now the arbitration system for credit card accounts nationwide has been thrown into confusion because the biggest firm that provided this service, the National Arbitration Forum, has gotten out of the business. Further, the American Arbitration Association has said it will stop administering any consumer debt programs that are rooted in arbitration until industry standards or governmental regulations are established.