A reader writes:

Hello. I have a situation that resulted when I sold my home in Houston in October 2005 (I currently live in Austin). I am trying to find a way other than small claims court to resolve my problem. Do you mediate situations like this? And would I need to contact someone in Houston because that is where the dispute took place?

To give you the short version; at closing of our home we paid taxes based on 2004 year because 2005 was not available. Which meant when the taxes did come out we saw that we had paid about $650 over actual taxes. The buyers are refusing to reimburse us the money. Any information would be appreciated.

Kris responds:

This is a good example of a “mediatable” dispute. It doesn’t really matter which county (Harris or Travis) but it might make sense to mediate the case at the Dispute Resolution Center there in Houston, since the other parties would be more likely to come to your requested mediation table if it was convenient for them. You can reach that center located at:

The Dispute Resolution
Center 49 San Jacinto, Ste 220
Houston, Texas 77002-1223
(713)755-8274 FAX: (713)755-8885 Phone: (888)292-1502 
www.drchouston.org