Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

Safety

• Right to safety– Products must not endanger consumers’ lives

or health

• Responsibility to use products safely– Consumers are responsible for following

directions for proper use and maintenance of products

Information

• Right to be informed– Business must provide accurate information in

advertising, labeling, and sales practices.

• Responsibility to use information– Consumers are responsible for using the

information to evaluate product choices.

Choice

• Right to Choose– Consumers should have a variety of goods

and services from which to choose.

• Responsibility to choose carefully– Consumers should take advantage of product

variety by considering many opinions and making rational choices.

Heard

• Right to be heard– The government must consider consumer

interests when creating laws.

• Responsibility to express satisfaction or dissatisfaction– Consumers should tell their elected officials

their opinions on consumer issues, and inform them of improper business practices.

Redress

• Right to redress– Consumers should be able to obtain fair

remedies to consumer problems.

• Responsibility to seek redress– Consumers should inform businesses of

product defects and unfair practices and pursue remedies.

Consumer Education

• Right to consumer education– Sufficient information should be available for

consumers to make rational decisions.

• Responsibility to be an educated consumer– Consumers should take advantage of

opportunities to gather information and learn how to make rational buying decisions.

Healthy Environment

• Right to a healthy environment– Businesses should avoid polluting the

environment and should contribute to the welfare of the community in which they operate.

• Responsibility to contribute to a healthy environment– Consumers should support businesses that

operate responsibly and report environmental abuses to authorities.

Why?

• Consumer movement– Seeks to protect and inform consumers of

requiring such practices as honest advertising, product warranties, and improved safety standards.

Who can help?

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)– Most important federal consumer protection

agency– Responsible for protecting consumers from

unfair or deceptive business practices such as misleading information in advertising or on product labels

– Cease-and-desist order – stops deceptive advertising

Who else?

• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)– Protects consumers from dangerous

products.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• State and local governments

Warranties

• Company’s promise that the product will meet specific standards over a given time period or the company will repair or replace it, or give a refund

Misc.

• Consumer’s Union tests products and reports on the results in Consumer Reports.

• Underwriter’s Laboratories checks products for safety from fire, electric shock, and other hazards.

• State’s attorney’s office handles frauds and misleading ad claims