Almost every credit card agreement requires consumers to settle disputes through binding arbitration because the companies say it's cheaper and faster than going to court.

But Public Citizen says the cards hire arbitration firms that almost always rule in their favor.

The consumer advocacy group says arbitrators hired by MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express took the companies' side in 18,000 of 19,000 cases it recently studied.

All of the cases were from California because it's the only state that requires public access to the results of such disputes.

"This is a system that is unfair to consumers," says Joan Claybrook, the group's president. "People shouldn't have to give up their legal rights just to get a credit card."

If you're looking for a new card, make sure you don't sign up for one with a bunch of sneaky rules and costly fees. Click here to learn about the 7 things to watch for in the fine print.