Protecting Consumers’ Rights

Section 1.2

Terms to Know

• Consumer advocates

• Redress

• Consumer affairs departments

• Consumer action panels

• media

• Consumer Advocates – people or organizations who work on behalf of consumers

• Who is Ralph Nader?

Government Protection

• Redress-a right of the consumer is a remedy for a wrong or a loss

• Look at the Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

Federal Consumer Protection Laws• Look at handout and discuss where you

have seen examples of these

Know these Agencies

• ___________________________(FTC) – Enforces dishonest advertising

• _________________________ (CPSC) – protects the public on safety standards for household products

• __________________________ (USDA) -inspects and sets standards for meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables

Know these Agencies

• FTC-Federal Trade Commission – Enforces dishonest advertising

• Consumer Product Safety Commission – protects the public on safety standards for household products

• USDA-United States Department of Agriculture-inspects and sets standards for meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables

• ____________________(FDA) Enforces labeling on food, drugs and cosmetics

• _________________________ (FCC) Regulates interstate and international communications by radio, tv, wire, satellite and cable. Provides info if consumers have complaints.

• _______________________________ (NTIA) Provides consumers choices and quality with the internet, cellular, cable service at lower prices.

• __________________(FCIC) Provides information to consumers on a wide range of topics through low cost publications, a web site and toll free phone assistance.

More Federal Agencies• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Enforces labeling on

food, drugs and cosmetics• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Regulates

interstate and international communications by radio, tv, wire, satellite and cable. Provides info if consumers have complaints.

• National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Provides consumers choices and quality with the internet, cellular, cable service at lower prices.

• Federal Consumer Information Center (FCIC) Provides information to consumers on a wide range of topics through low cost publications, a web site and toll free phone assistance.

Exercise

• Go online to FCIC and select an area that interests you– Read the description of the advice and

report to the class what you found.

Consumer Groups

• Organizations that focus on consumer education, protection and advocacy. – National Consumers League– Public Citizen– Consumer Action

Consumer Testing Agencies

• Consumers Union is an independent consumer testing agency that fights for consumer rights. The members buy products, test them and report to Consumer Reports

BBBA business and industry group that works to assist consumers.

Go online and research the BBB. Where is our closest office? What other BBB Sites are there?

Browse BBB OnLine Reliability Participants

Media

• Channels of mass communication like newspapers, magazines, radio, television and related web sites.

Questions to answer

1. What is the underlying principle shared by advocates of the consumer movement.

2. Explain two consumer rights and their corresponding responsibilities

3. Name and describe two federal laws that regulate product labeling.