Consumer law establishes consumer rights, including product warranties and protection from bad selling practices. The US has federal agencies like the FTC and CPSC, as well as state laws and non-profit organizations advocating for consumer rights.
Consumer law establishes the rights of consumers, or the rights of the purchaser, usually by providing a product warranty or other guarantees for consumers. Consumer rights vary by jurisdiction. In addition to a guarantee, consumer protection efforts may include establishing a government body to monitor the market and provide the consumer with some remedies to correct bad selling practices. A statutory product warranty, which is a law that obliges manufacturers to ensure that their products are fit for use by consumers, is a significant consumer right. Other laws allow consumers to cancel a contract and get a full refund, while some jurisdictions give consumers the right to sue for damages.
Without government interference, the law of the market has historically been caveat emptor or let the buyer beware. Unfortunately, this principle allows unscrupulous companies to wreak havoc on the individual consumer. In 1962, US President John F. Kennedy signed the Consumer Bill of Rights, the first of its kind. Since then, growing consumer rights have been added by law and by proclamation, both in the United States and internationally. These consumer rights guarantee choice, safety and notice, among other rights.
While several federal agencies help in part to protect the rights of U.S. consumers, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is one of the federal agencies primarily charged with protecting these rights. The FTC establishes a number of consumer rights by enforcing laws to curb monopolies and bad business practices in areas such as telemarketing and consumer credit card debt. The FTC can impose fines or sue an unscrupulous company for any of its business practices that violate the various consumer protection laws that the FTC is charged with enforcing. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is another US government agency dedicated to protecting consumer rights. The CPSC is tasked with protecting customer safety and has the ability to investigate and recall a wide variety of products.
Each US state also has its own consumer protection laws. These laws cover areas such as establishing a warranty for a product, establishing a maximum interest rate, providing penalties for deceptive sales practices, and establishing remedies for lemon cars. Some states have an agency, similar to the FTC, that protects consumer rights. Other states protect consumer rights through another agency or office, such as the attorney general.
In addition to government agencies, there are a growing number of non-profit organizations advocating for consumer rights. Some publish product reports or reviews, while others focus on product safety. Still other organizations provide consumer advocates and help enforce consumer rights in private.
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