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The FTC`s Financial Practices Division supervises and prevents financial services companies from making fraudulent and unfair claims against consumers seeking relief from difficult financial situations, such as being unable to service their mortgage or credit card debt. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is committed to ensuring that the country`s markets are efficient and free from practices that could harm consumers. To ensure the proper functioning of our free market system, the FTC enforces federal consumer protection laws that prevent fraud, deception, and unfair trade practices. The Federal Trade Commission Act allows the FTC to act in the best interests of all consumers to prevent deceptive and unfair acts or practices. In interpreting the Act, Council concluded that any advertising statement, omission or practice is misleading if it is likely to mislead consumers and influence consumers` behaviour or choices with respect to the product or service. In addition, an act or practice is unfair if the harm it causes or is likely to cause is significant, is not outweighed by other benefits, and is not reasonably avoidable. Organizations and agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau sometimes promote and enforce consumer protection laws. But if you become a victim and a consumer law has been broken, the legal system is a place you can go to recover. This helps protect consumers at these delicate stages of their lives. Are there specific laws that protect the seller from faults committed by real estate agents? A person`s credit score has become extremely important information, affecting not only their ability to buy a house or car, but also in many cases their job prospects.

Credit reference agencies (CRAs) are private businesses with little transparency or oversight, so several laws protect consumers from false or inaccurate credit reports. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires credit rating agencies to provide consumers with the information contained in their records about that consumer and to verify any information disputed by a consumer. A 2003 amendment to the law, the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, allows consumers to receive a credit report free of charge each year. Consumer protection is an umbrella term that encompasses a set of laws and organizations that protect consumer rights and promote the free flow of accurate market information. Consumer protection laws are designed to prevent companies from engaging in fraud or unfair practices, protect individuals from fraudsters, identity thieves and scammers. Anger and disappointment are usually the primary motivation of those seeking redress for consumer fraud and the reason for a complaint. Unfortunately, the time required in litigation, not to mention court and attorney fees, often undermines even the most furious plaintiff`s decision, and we typically advise our clients who have been victims of relatively inexpensive consumer fraud to file the required complaint with state or federal agencies and then wait a month before deciding to file a civil suit. If they are still angry enough to sue at this point, they need to be provided with a thorough explanation of the costs and unavoidable fees in our legal system so that an informed decision can be made. In addition, advertising is considered misleading if it does not contain the information necessary to provide the consumer with good information. The United Kingdom is not bound by European Union directives in the European Union, but during the transition period (until the end of 2020).

Details of the division of labour between the EU and the UK can be found here. [11] National law (UK) originates in the area of contract and tort, but is becoming an area of law in its own right under the influence of EU law. In many cases involving domestic law, the matter is dealt with in the courts as a tort, contract, restitution or even criminal law. [ref. needed] The Highway Safety Act of 1970 created the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is partly responsible for enforcing consumer safety laws regarding cars. At the state level, lemons laws protect consumers from false or deceptive practices by used car dealers. The Fair Credit Reporting Act was passed in 1970 to regulate the collection of credit information, which is commonly used to determine mortgage rates and loan rates. The law restricts who can access a consumer`s credit history and prohibits lenders from providing outdated or inaccurate information. The law also allows consumers to read their own credit reports and dispute inaccurate information. No problem! Just search the chapter titles for the law or area of consumer law you are looking for. For example, there is a section called „The CAN-SPAM Act“ that describes how companies should act when they send you an email. In light of the state of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act, MGL 93A, clearly outlines the rights and violations of consumer protection laws in the state.

The chapter explains which acts are considered illegal under the law, for which one party can claim damages from the other party. [21] Examples of practices that violate Chapter 93A include: This is considered misleading and would directly violate consumer protection laws, as consumers are likely to assume that the supplement will help anyone suffering from migraines. Do you feel that your consumer rights have been violated? Contact us to learn more about what to do next. Product names, prices and indications must not mislead consumers. According to the guidelines, a product or packaging should not be marketed as recyclable unless it can be collected, separated or otherwise recovered from the solid waste stream for re-use or during the manufacture or assembly of other packaging or product under an established recycling programme. Products or packaging composed of both recyclable and non-recyclable components must be subject to a recycling material claim that is reasonably qualified to avoid misleading consumers as to which parts or components of the product or packaging are recyclable. Recyclability claims should be qualified to the extent necessary to avoid misleading consumers about the limited availability of recycling programmes and collection points.