🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 152 (from laksa122)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa152.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection","crawl_time":1773972043,"first_indexed_time":1375979895,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,wikipedia!en,\/wiki\/Consumer_protection s443","src_root_hash":"17790707453426894952","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Consumer protection - Wikipedia","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\"Consumer Affairs\" redirects here. For the dot-com company, see\nConsumer affairs\n.\nConsumer protection\nis the practice of safeguarding buyers of goods and services, and the public, against unfair practices in the\nmarketplace\n.\nConsumer\nprotection measures are often established by law. Such laws are intended to prevent businesses from engaging in\nfraud\nor specified\nunfair practices\nto gain an advantage over competitors or to mislead consumers. They may also provide additional protection for the general public which may be impacted by a product (or its production) even when they are not the direct purchaser or consumer of that product. For example, government regulations may require businesses to disclose detailed information about their products—particularly in areas where public health or safety is an issue, such as with food or automobiles.\nConsumer protection is linked to the idea of\nconsumer rights\nand to the formation of\nconsumer organizations\n, which help consumers make better choices in the marketplace and pursue complaints against businesses. Entities that promote consumer protection include government organizations (such as the\nFederal Trade Commission\nin the\nUnited States\n), self-regulating business organizations (such as the\nBetter Business Bureaus\nin the US,\nCanada\n,\nEngland\n, etc.), and\nnon-governmental organizations\nthat advocate for consumer protection laws and help to ensure their enforcement (such as consumer protection agencies and watchdog groups).\n[\n1\n]\nA consumer is defined as someone who acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing. Consumer interests can also serve consumers, consistent with economic efficiency, but this topic is treated in competition law. Consumer protection can also be asserted via\nnon-government\norganizations and individuals as consumer activism.\nEfforts made for the protection of consumer's rights and interests include the right to:\nsatisfaction of\nbasic needs\nsafety and health protection\nbe informed\nchoose and give\nconsent\nbe heard\nredress\nconsumer education\na healthy environment\nConsumer protection law or consumer law is considered as an area of law that regulates\nprivate law\nrelationships between individual consumers and the businesses that sell those goods and services.\nConsumer protection covers a wide range of topics, including but not necessarily limited to\nproduct liability\n,\nprivacy rights\n,\nunfair business practices\n,\nfraud\n,\nmisrepresentation\n, and other consumer\/business interactions. It is a way of preventing frauds and scams from service and sales contracts, eligible fraud, bill collector regulation, pricing, utility turnoffs, consolidation,\npersonal loans\nthat may lead to\nbankruptcy\n. There have been some arguments that consumer law is also a better way to engage in large-scale redistribution than\ntax law\nbecause it does not necessitate legislation and can be more efficient, given the complexities of tax law.\n[\n2\n]\nIn\nAustralia\n, the corresponding agency is the\nAustralian Competition & Consumer Commission\nor the individual State Consumer Affairs agencies. The\nAustralian Securities & Investments Commission\nhas responsibility for consumer protection regulation of financial services and products. However, in practice, it does so through privately run EDR schemes such as the\nAustralian Financial Complaints Authority\n.\nIn Brazil, consumer protection is regulated by the Consumer's Defense Code (\nCódigo de Defesa do Consumidor\n),\n[\n3\n]\nas mandated by the\n1988 Constitution of Brazil\n. Brazilian law mandates \"The offer and presentation of products or services must ensure correct, clear, accurate and conspicuous information in the Portuguese language about their characteristics, qualities, quantity, composition, price, guarantee, validity and origin, among other data, as well as the risks they pose to the health and safety of consumers.\"\n[\n4\n]\nIn Brazil, the consumer does not have to bring forward evidence that the defender is guilty. Instead, the defense has to bring forward evidence that they are innocent.\n[\n3\n]\nIn the case of Brazil, they narrowly define what consumers, suppliers, products, and services are, so that they can protect consumers from international channels trade laws and protect them from negligence and misconduct from international suppliers.\nSeveral regulations in the\nEuropean Union\nare concerned with consumer protection, including the\nRegulation on general product safety\n(GPSR) and the\nDirective (EU) 2024\/2853\non liability for defective products.\nGermany\n, as a member state of the\nEuropean Union\n, is bound by the consumer protection\ndirectives\nof the European Union; residents may be directly bound by EU regulations.\nA minister of the federal cabinet is responsible for consumer rights and protection (\nVerbraucherschutzminister\n). In the\ncurrent cabinet\nof\nFriedrich Merz\n, this is\nCarsten Schneider\n.\nWhen issuing public warnings about products and services, the issuing authority has to take into account that this affects the supplier's constitutionally protected economic liberty, see\nBundesverwaltungsgericht\n(Federal Administrative Court) Case 3 C 34.84, 71 BVerwGE 183.\n[\n5\n]\nSign showing Code of Buyers. Fuel outlet,\nJaipur\nCode of Seller. Fuel outlet, Jaipur\nIn\nIndia\n, consumer protection is specified in The\nConsumer Protection Act, 2019\n. Under this law, Separate Consumer Dispute Redress Forums have been set up throughout India in every district in which a consumer can file their complaint on a simple paper with nominal court fees and their complaint will be decided by the Presiding Officer of the District Level.  The complaint can be filed by both the consumer of a goods as well as of the services. An appeal could be filed to the State Consumer Disputes Redress Commissions and after that to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissiaon (NCDRC).\n[\n6\n]\nThe procedures in these\ntribunals\nare relatively less formal and more people-friendly and they also take less time to decide upon a consumer dispute\n[\n7\n]\nwhen compared to the years-long time taken by the traditional\nIndian judiciary\n. In recent years, many effective judgments have been passed by some state and National Consumer Forums.\nIndian Contract Act, 1872\nlays down the conditions in which promises made by parties to a contract will be legally binding on each other. It also lays down the remedies available to the aggregate party if the other party fails to honor their promise.\nThe Sale of Goods Act of 1930 provides some safeguards to buyers of goods if goods purchased do not fulfill the express or implied conditions and warranties.\nThe Agriculture Produce Act of 1937 act provides grade standards for agricultural commodities and livestock products. It specifies the conditions which govern the use of standards and lays down the procedure for grading, marking, and packaging of agricultural produce. The quality mark provided under the act is known as\nAGMARK\n-Agriculture Marketing.\nThe Nigerian government must protect its people from any form of harm to human health through the use and purchase of items to meet daily needs. In light of this, the\nFederal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission\n(FCCPC), whose aim is to protect and enhance consumers' interest through information, education, and enforcement of the rights of consumers was established by an Act of Parliament  o promote and protect the interest of consumers over all products and services. In a nutshell, it is empowered to eliminate hazardous & substandard goods from the market. Provide speedy redress to consumer complaints and petition arisen from fraud, unfair practice, and exploitation of the consumer.\nOn 5 February 2019, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, assented to the new Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Bill, 2018. Thus, the bill became a law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and binding on entities and organizations so specified in the Act.\nThe long title of the Act reads: \"This Act establishes the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal for the promotion of competition in the Nigerian market at all levels by eliminating monopolies, prohibiting abuse of dominant market position and penalizing other restrictive trade and business practices.\"\nThe Act further repealed the hitherto Nigerian Consumer Protection Council Act and transferred its core mandate to the new Commission.\nModern Taiwanese law has been heavily influenced by the European civil law systems, particularly German and Swiss law. The Civil Code in Taiwan contains five books: General Principles, Obligations, Rights over Things, Family, and Succession. The second book of the Code, the Book of Obligations, provided the basis from which consumers could bring product liability actions prior to the enactment of the CPL.\n[\n8\n]\n[\n9\n]\nThe Consumer Protection Law (CPL) in\nTaiwan\n, as promulgated on 11 January 1994, and effective on 13 January 1993, specifically protects the interests and safety of customers using the products or services provided by business operators. The Consumer Protection Commission of Executive Yuan serves as an ombudsman supervising, coordinating, reporting any unsafe products\/services, and periodically reviewing the legislation.\nAccording to the Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association and the American Chamber of Commerce, in a 1997 critical study, the law has been criticized by stating that \"although many agree that the intent of the CPL is fair, the CPL's various problems, such as ambiguous terminology, favoritism towards consumer protection groups, and the compensation liability defense, must be addressed before the CPL becomes a truly effective piece of legislation that will protect consumers\"\n[\n10\n]\nThe main consumer protection laws in the UK are the\nConsumer Protection Act 1987\nand the\nConsumer Rights Act 2015\n.\nThe\nUnited Kingdom\nhas left the\nEuropean Union\n, but during the transition period (until end of 2020) the UK was still bound by\ndirectives\nof the European Union. Specifics of the division of roles between the EU and the UK are detailed here.\n[\n11\n]\nDomestic UK laws originated within the ambit of\ncontract\nand\ntort\nbut, with the influence of\nEU law\n, it is emerging as an independent area of law. In many circumstances, where domestic law is in question, the matter is judicially treated as\ntort\n,\ncontract\n,\nrestitution\nor even\ncriminal law\n.\n[\ncitation needed\n]\nConsumer protection issues were dealt with by the\nOffice of Fair Trading\nbefore 2014. Since then, the\nCompetition and Markets Authority\nhas taken on this role.\n[\n12\n]\nConsumer protection laws often mandate the posting of notices, such as this one which appears in all\nautomotive repair\nshops in California.\nIn the\nUnited States\na variety of laws at both the federal and state levels have regulated consumer affairs since the early 20th century. Among them are the\nFederal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act\n,\nFair Debt Collection Practices Act\n, the\nFair Credit Reporting Act\n,\nTruth in Lending Act\n,\nFair Credit Billing Act\n, and the\nGramm–Leach–Bliley Act\n. Federal consumer protection laws are mainly enforced by the\nFederal Trade Commission\n, the\nConsumer Financial Protection Bureau\n, the\nFood and Drug Administration\n, and the\nU.S. Department of Justice\n.\nAt the state level, many states have adopted the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act\n[\n13\n]\nincluding, but not limited to, Delaware,\n[\n14\n]\nIllinois,\n[\n15\n]\nMaine,\n[\n16\n]\nand Nebraska.\n[\n17\n]\nThe deceptive trade practices prohibited by the Uniform Act can be roughly subdivided into conduct involving either a) unfair or fraudulent business practices and b) untrue or misleading advertising. The Uniform Act contains a private remedy with attorneys fees for prevailing parties where the losing party \"willfully engaged in the trade practice knowing it to be deceptive\". Uniform Act §3(b).\nMissouri has a similar statute called the Merchandising Practices Act.\n[\n18\n]\nThis statute allows local prosecutors or the Attorney General to press charges against people who knowingly use deceptive business practices in a consumer transaction and authorizes consumers to hire a private attorney to bring an action seeking their actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.\nAlso, the majority of states have a Department of Consumer Affairs devoted to regulating certain industries and protecting consumers who use goods and services from those industries.  For example, in California, the\nCalifornia Department of Consumer Affairs\nregulates about 2.3 million professionals in over 230 different professions, through its forty regulatory entities. In addition, California encourages its consumers to act as\nprivate attorneys general\nthrough the liberal provisions of its\nConsumers Legal Remedies Act\n.\nState and federal laws provide for \"cooling off\" periods giving consumers the right to cancel contracts within a certain time period for several specified types of transactions, potentially including transactions entered into at home, and warranty and repair services contracts.\n[\n19\n]\n[\n20\n]\nOther states have been the leaders in specific aspects of consumer protection. For example, Florida, Delaware, and Minnesota have legislated requirements that contracts be written at reasonable readability levels as a large proportion of contracts cannot be understood by most consumers who sign them.\n[\n21\n]\nConsidering the state of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law, MGL 93A, clearly highlights the rights and violations of consumer protection law in the state. The chapter explains what actions are considered illegal under the law for which a party can seek monetary damages from the other party at fault.\n[\n22\n]\nSome examples of practices that constitute a Chapter 93A violation would be when:\nA Business charges a consumer higher rates than the marked price\nThe refund policy is not clearly posted where it can be readily noticed and understood\nA business fails to tell you relevant information regarding your product or service misleads you in any way.\n[\n23\n]\nThe laws under MGL 93A prohibit activities that relate to overpricing to a consumer and the use of \"\nBait and Switch\n\" techniques. A court will award the plaintiff the damages if they can prove the (1) defendant knowingly and intentionally violated the MGL 93A agreement or (2) the defendant would not \"grant relief in bad faith\" knowing that the actions violated the MGL 93A agreement.\n[\n23\n]\nAdditionally, failure to disclose refund\/ return policy, warranties, and critical information about the product\/service are all in violation of the legislation, and can result in triple damages and lawyer fees.\n[\n23\n]\nCompetition law\nConsumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000\nConsumer Rights Act 2015\nElectronic Commerce Regulations 2002\nEnterprise Act 2002\nGeneral Product Safety Regulations 2005\nSale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002\/3045\nSupply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973\nSupply of Goods and Services Act 1982\nUnfair Contract Terms Act 1977\nUnfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999\nConsumer Product Safety Act\n– gives the\nConsumer Product Safety Commission\nthe power to develop safety standards and pursue recalls for products\nFederal Trade Commission Act\n– created the\nFederal Trade Commission\n(FTC) to prevent unfair competition, deceptive acts, regulate trade, etc.\nPrivacy laws\nUnited States National Do Not Call Registry\n– allows US consumers to limit telemarketing calls they receive.\nFood and drug\nPure Food and Drug Act\n– led to the creation of the\nU.S. Food and Drug Administration\n(FDA) to regulate foods, drugs, and more.\nCommunications\nCommunications Act of 1934\n– created the\nFederal Communications Commission\n(FCC) to regulate all radio and interstate cable, phone, and satellite communications.\nBanking\nFair Credit Reporting Act\n(FRCA) – regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer credit information\nFair Debt Collection Practices Act\n(FDCPA) – eliminates abusive consumer practices, ensures fairness, etc.\nTruth in Lending Act\n(TILA) – requires clear disclosure of key terms of the lending arrangement and all costs.\nReal estate\nReal Estate Settlement Procedures Act\n(RESPA) – prohibits kickbacks and requires lenders to provide a good faith estimate of costs\nHealth insurance\nHealth Insurance Portability and Accountability Act\n(HIPAA) – provides consumer protection for health information\nDigital media\nDigital Millennium Copyright Act\n– prohibits production or sale of devices or services intended to circumvent copyright measures.\nDigital Media Consumers' Rights Act\n(proposed) – would repeal the\nDigital Millennium Copyright Act\nThe\nAustralian Consumer Law\nDivision 2 of Part 2 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001\n[\n24\n]\nabout financial services and products.\nAirline complaints\nAntitrust\nBetter Business Bureau\nCannabis rights\nClass action\nCompetition policy\nCompetition regulator\nConsumer complaint\nConsumer organization\nConsumers International\nCooling-off period\nCredit\nand\ndebt\nExtended warranty\nFairtrade labelling\nFederal Trade Commission\nFood safety\nList of food labeling regulations\nMandatory labelling\nOmbudsman\nPlanned obsolescence\nProduct recall\nTelephone Consumer Protection Act\nTransparency (market)\nUnfair competition\nFlorence Kelley\nRalph Nader\nPhil Radford\nMichael Vernon\n^\nRobbins, Richard (4 April 2024).\n\"How to Transport, Store, Move Portable Aluminum Soccer Goals\"\n.\nSports Equipment and Training for the Serious Athlete\n. Retrieved\n19 September\n2025\n.\n^\nVan Loo, Rory (1 November 2019).\n\"Broadening Consumer Law: Competition, Protection, and Distribution\"\n.\nNotre Dame Law Review\n.\n95\n(1): 211.\n^\na\nb\n\"L8078\"\n.\nwww.planalto.gov.br\n. Retrieved\n3 July\n2019\n.\n^\n\"L8078\"\n.\nwww.planalto.gov.br\n. Retrieved\n12 April\n2020\n.\n^\n\"DFR - BVerwGE 71, 183 - Transparenzliste\"\n. Archived from\nthe original\non 19 February 2007\n. Retrieved\n11 July\n2006\n.\n^\n\"National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission\"\n.\nncdrc.nic.in\n.\n^\nV. Balakrishna Eradi,\n\"Consumer Protection and National Consumer Disputes Redress Commission\"\nArchived\n21 July 2011 at the\nWayback Machine\n. New Delhi:\nNational Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission\n. Accessed 25 June 2013.\n^\n\"(TAIWAN) CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW\"\n. 1 June 2011.\n^\n\"Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China\"\n.\nlaw.moj.gov.tw\n.\n^\nCarol T. Juang,\n\"The Taiwan Consumer Protection Law: Attempt to Protect Consumers Proves Ineffective\"\nPacific Rim Law & Policy Association, 1997.\n^\n\"EU law and the balance of competences: A short guide and glossary, 2012\"\n. Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 21 March 2013\n. Retrieved\n20 April\n2016\n.\n^\n\"New competition authority comes into existence\"\n.\ngov.uk\n. 1 October 2013\n. Retrieved\n15 January\n2020\n.\n^\n\"Revised Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act\"\n(PDF)\n. Archived from\nthe original\n(PDF)\non 21 August 2010 – via Penn Law.\n^\n\"Title 6 - Chapter 25. Prohibited Trade Practices - Subchapter III. Deceptive Trade Practices\"\n.\nDelaware Code Online\n.\nArchived\nfrom the original on 26 January 2021.\n^\n\"815 ILCS 510\/ Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act\"\n.\nwww.ilga.gov\n.\n^\n\"Title 10, §1212: Deceptive trade practices\"\n.\nwww.mainelegislature.org\n.\n^\n\"Nebraska State Statutes - Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act\"\n.\nwww.nebraskaautobody.com\n. Archived from\nthe original\non 17 January 2012\n. Retrieved\n13 December\n2011\n.\n^\n\"Missouri Revisor of Statutes - Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo, Missouri Law, MO Law\"\n.\nwww.moga.mo.gov\n. Archived from\nthe original\non 13 February 2015\n. Retrieved\n13 February\n2015\n.\n^\n\"Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help\"\n.\nConsumer Advice\n. 16 May 2021\n. Retrieved\n26 August\n2022\n.\n^\n\"Consumer's Rights to Cancel Home Solicitation Contracts K-9 - California Department of Consumer Affairs\"\n.\nwww.dca.ca.gov\n. California Department of Consumer Affairs. September 2010.\n^\nLewis D. Eigen,\n\"A Solution to the Problem of Consumer Contracts That Cannot be Understood by Consumers Who Sign Them\"\n, Scriptamus, 2009.\n^\n\"Section 9\"\n.\nThe 191st general court of the commonwealth of Massachusetts\n. Retrieved\n11 April\n2020\n.\n^\na\nb\nc\n\"The Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law\"\n.\nMass.gov\n. Retrieved\n12 April\n2020\n.\n^\nAustralian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001\n, retrieved\n3 July\n2019\nMańko, Rafał.\n\"The notion of 'consumer' in EU law\"\n(PDF)\n.\nLibrary Briefing\n. Library of the European Parliament\n. Retrieved\n6 May\n2013\n.\nConsumer Rights Wiki.\nconsumerrights.wiki\nwith 1000+ articles on current\/past consumer rights violations and legal information.\nEnglish\nWikisource\nhas original text related to this article:\n-\nMedia related to\nConsumer protection\nat Wikimedia Commons\nConsumers International\nRole of Regulators in Consumer Protection: Discussion\nHealth-EU Portal\nConsumer Safety in the EU\nOECD Consumer Policy Toolkit Report\nAbout\nEconsumer.gov\n, a portal for consumers to report complaints concerning online and related transactions with foreign companies\nInternational Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN)\nstudy consumer","attrs_markdown":"[Jump to content](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#bodyContent)\n\nMain menu\n\nMain menu\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nNavigation\n\n- [Main page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page \"Visit the main page [z]\")\n- [Contents](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contents \"Guides to browsing Wikipedia\")\n- [Current events](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Portal:Current_events \"Articles related to current events\")\n- [Random article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Random \"Visit a randomly selected article [x]\")\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About \"Learn about Wikipedia and how it works\")\n- [Contact us](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us \"How to contact Wikipedia\")\n\nContribute\n\n- [Help](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Contents \"Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Learn to edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Introduction \"Learn how to edit Wikipedia\")\n- [Community portal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Community_portal \"The hub for editors\")\n- [Recent changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChanges \"A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard \"Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia\")\n- [Special pages](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:SpecialPages \"A list of all special pages [q]\")\n\n[![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/icons\/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/mobile\/copyright\/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Main_Page)\n\n[Search](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:Search \"Search Wikipedia [f]\")\n\nAppearance\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Consumer+protection \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Consumer+protection \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]\")\n\nPersonal tools\n\n- [Donate](https:\/\/donate.wikimedia.org\/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en)\n- [Create account](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Consumer+protection \"You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory\")\n- [Log in](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Consumer+protection \"You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [o]\")\n\n## Contents\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\n- [(Top)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection)\n- [1 Consumer law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#Consumer_law)\n  Toggle Consumer law subsection\n  - [1\\.1 Australia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#Australia)\n  - [1\\.2 Brazil](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#Brazil)\n  - [1\\.3 European Union](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#European_Union)\n  - [1\\.4 Germany](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#Germany)\n  - [1\\.5 India](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#India)\n  - [1\\.6 Nigeria](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#Nigeria)\n  - [1\\.7 Taiwan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#Taiwan)\n  - [1\\.8 United Kingdom](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#United_Kingdom)\n  - [1\\.9 United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#United_States)\n- [2 Laws](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#Laws)\n  Toggle Laws subsection\n  - [2\\.1 United Kingdom](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#United_Kingdom_2)\n  - [2\\.2 United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#United_States_2)\n  - [2\\.3 Australia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#Australia_2)\n- [3 See also](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#See_also)\n  Toggle See also subsection\n  - [3\\.1 Consumer issues](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#Consumer_issues)\n  - [3\\.2 People](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#People)\n- [4 References](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#References)\n- [5 Further reading](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#Further_reading)\n- [6 External links](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#External_links)\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\n# Consumer protection\n41 languages\n\n- [العربية](https:\/\/ar.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%84%D9%83 \"قانون حماية المستهلك – Arabic\")\n- [Azərbaycanca](https:\/\/az.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%C4%B0stehlak%C3%A7%C4%B1_h%C3%BCquqlar%C4%B1n%C4%B1n_m%C3%BCdafi%C9%99si \"İstehlakçı hüquqlarının müdafiəsi – Azerbaijani\")\n- [Български](https:\/\/bg.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5 \"Защита на потребителите – Bulgarian\")\n- [Català](https:\/\/ca.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dret_del_consumidor \"Dret del consumidor – Catalan\")\n- [کوردی](https:\/\/ckb.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8E%D8%B2%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C_%D9%84%DB%95_%D8%A8%DB%95%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A8%DB%95%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86 \"پارێزگاری لە بەکاربەران – Central Kurdish\")\n- [Čeština](https:\/\/cs.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ochrana_spot%C5%99ebitele \"Ochrana spotřebitele – Czech\")\n- [Deutsch](https:\/\/de.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Verbraucherschutz \"Verbraucherschutz – German\")\n- [Ελληνικά](https:\/\/el.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%CE%A0%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%AF%CE%B1_%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%BB%CF%89%CF%84%CE%AE \"Προστασία καταναλωτή – Greek\")\n- [Español](https:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Derecho_del_consumo \"Derecho del consumo – Spanish\")\n- [Eesti](https:\/\/et.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tarbijakaitse \"Tarbijakaitse – Estonian\")\n- [فارسی](https:\/\/fa.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA_%D8%A7%D8%B2_%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%81%E2%80%8C%DA%A9%D9%86%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87 \"حمایت از مصرف‌کننده – Persian\")\n- [Français](https:\/\/fr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Droit_de_la_consommation \"Droit de la consommation – French\")\n- [Hausa](https:\/\/ha.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kariyar_mabu%C6%99aci \"Kariyar mabuƙaci – Hausa\")\n- [עברית](https:\/\/he.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA_%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%9B%D7%9F \"הגנת הצרכן – Hebrew\")\n- [हिन्दी](https:\/\/hi.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3 \"उपभोक्ता संरक्षण – Hindi\")\n- [Hrvatski](https:\/\/hr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Za%C5%A1tita_potro%C5%A1a%C4%8Da \"Zaštita potrošača – Croatian\")\n- [Հայերեն](https:\/\/hy.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D5%8D%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%BC%D5%B8%D5%B2%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AB_%D5%AB%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%BE%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6%D6%84%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AB_%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%B7%D5%BF%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6 \"Սպառողների իրավունքների պաշտպանություն – Armenian\")\n- [Bahasa Indonesia](https:\/\/id.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Perlindungan_konsumen \"Perlindungan konsumen – Indonesian\")\n- [Italiano](https:\/\/it.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tutela_del_consumatore \"Tutela del consumatore – Italian\")\n- [日本語](https:\/\/ja.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E6%B6%88%E8%B2%BB%E8%80%85%E4%BF%9D%E8%AD%B7 \"消費者保護 – Japanese\")\n- [ಕನ್ನಡ](https:\/\/kn.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%B2%97%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B0%E0%B2%BE%E0%B2%B9%E0%B2%95%E0%B2%B0_%E0%B2%B8%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%B0%E0%B2%95%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B7%E0%B2%A3%E0%B3%86 \"ಗ್ರಾಹಕರ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆ – Kannada\")\n- [한국어](https:\/\/ko.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%EC%86%8C%EB%B9%84%EC%9E%90%EB%B3%B4%ED%98%B8 \"소비자보호 – Korean\")\n- [Lëtzebuergesch](https:\/\/lb.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Konsumenteschutz \"Konsumenteschutz – Luxembourgish\")\n- [Македонски](https:\/\/mk.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%88%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%88%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5 \"Заштита на потрошувачите – Macedonian\")\n- [മലയാളം](https:\/\/ml.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%B4%89%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%AD%E0%B5%8B%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%83_%E0%B4%B8%E0%B4%82%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B7%E0%B4%A3_%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%82_1986 \"ഉപഭോക്തൃ സംരക്ഷണ നിയമം 1986 – Malayalam\")\n- [Bahasa Melayu](https:\/\/ms.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hak_pengguna \"Hak pengguna – Malay\")\n- [Nederlands](https:\/\/nl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumentenbescherming \"Consumentenbescherming – Dutch\")\n- [Polski](https:\/\/pl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ochrona_praw_konsumenta \"Ochrona praw konsumenta – Polish\")\n- [Português](https:\/\/pt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Direito_do_consumidor \"Direito do consumidor – Portuguese\")\n- [Română](https:\/\/ro.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Drepturile_consumatorului \"Drepturile consumatorului – Romanian\")\n- [Русский](https:\/\/ru.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B9 \"Защита прав потребителей – Russian\")\n- [Simple English](https:\/\/simple.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection \"Consumer protection – Simple English\")\n- [Slovenščina](https:\/\/sl.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Za%C5%A1%C4%8Dita_potro%C5%A1nikov \"Zaščita potrošnikov – Slovenian\")\n- [Shqip](https:\/\/sq.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mbrojtja_e_konsumatorit \"Mbrojtja e konsumatorit – Albanian\")\n- [Svenska](https:\/\/sv.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Konsumentr%C3%A4tt \"Konsumenträtt – Swedish\")\n- [தமிழ்](https:\/\/ta.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D \"நுகர்வோர் உரிமைகள் – Tamil\")\n- [Türkçe](https:\/\/tr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/T%C3%BCketici_haklar%C4%B1 \"Tüketici hakları – Turkish\")\n- [Українська](https:\/\/uk.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2_%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%87%D1%96%D0%B2 \"Захист прав споживачів – Ukrainian\")\n- [Oʻzbekcha \/ ўзбекча](https:\/\/uz.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iste%CA%BCmolchilar_huquqlarini_himoya_qilish \"Isteʼmolchilar huquqlarini himoya qilish – Uzbek\")\n- [Tiếng Việt](https:\/\/vi.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/B%E1%BA%A3o_v%E1%BB%87_ng%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Di_ti%C3%AAu_d%C3%B9ng \"Bảo vệ người tiêu dùng – Vietnamese\")\n- [中文](https:\/\/zh.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%E6%B6%88%E8%B4%B9%E8%80%85%E4%BF%9D%E6%8A%A4 \"消费者保护 – Chinese\")\n\n[Edit links](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q664183#sitelinks-wikipedia \"Edit interlanguage links\")\n\n- [Article](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection \"View the content page [c]\")\n- [Talk](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Talk:Consumer_protection \"Discuss improvements to the content page [t]\")\n\nEnglish\n\n- [Read](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection)\n- [Edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit \"Edit this page [e]\")\n- [View history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=history \"Past revisions of this page [h]\")\n\nTools\n\nTools\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nActions\n\n- [Read](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection)\n- [Edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit \"Edit this page [e]\")\n- [View history](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=history)\n\nGeneral\n\n- [What links here](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:WhatLinksHere\/Consumer_protection \"List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]\")\n- [Related changes](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:RecentChangesLinked\/Consumer_protection \"Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]\")\n- [Upload file](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard \"Upload files [u]\")\n- [Permanent link](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&oldid=1343944282 \"Permanent link to this revision of this page\")\n- [Page information](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=info \"More information about this page\")\n- [Cite this page](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Consumer_protection&id=1343944282&wpFormIdentifier=titleform \"Information on how to cite this page\")\n- [Get shortened URL](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:UrlShortener&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FConsumer_protection)\n\nPrint\/export\n\n- [Download as PDF](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Special:DownloadAsPdf&page=Consumer_protection&action=show-download-screen \"Download this page as a PDF file\")\n- [Printable version](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&printable=yes \"Printable version of this page [p]\")\n\nIn other projects\n\n- [Wikimedia Commons](https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Consumer_protection)\n- [Wikidata item](https:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/wiki\/Special:EntityPage\/Q664183 \"Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]\")\n\nAppearance\n\nmove to sidebar\n\nhide\n\nFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\nProtection of consumers against unfair practices\n\n\"Consumer Affairs\" redirects here. For the dot-com company, see [Consumer affairs](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_affairs \"Consumer affairs\").\n\n|   |\n|---|\n| Part of [a series](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Rights \"Category:Rights\") on |\n| [Rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rights \"Rights\") |\n| [![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/d3\/HumanRightsLogo.svg\/120px-HumanRightsLogo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:HumanRightsLogo.svg) |\n| Theoretical distinctions |\n| [Claim and liberty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Claim_rights_and_liberty_rights \"Claim rights and liberty rights\") [Individual and group](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Individual_and_group_rights \"Individual and group rights\") [Natural and legal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Natural_rights_and_legal_rights \"Natural rights and legal rights\") [Negative and positive](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Negative_and_positive_rights \"Negative and positive rights\") |\n| [Human rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human_rights \"Human rights\") |\n| [Civil and political](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Civil_and_political_rights \"Civil and political rights\") [Economic, social and cultural](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Economic,_social_and_cultural_rights \"Economic, social and cultural rights\") [Three generations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Three_generations_of_human_rights \"Three generations of human rights\") |\n| Rights by beneficiary |\n| [Accused](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rights_of_the_accused \"Rights of the accused\") [Animals](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Animal_rights \"Animal rights\") [Autistic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Autism_rights_movement \"Autism rights movement\") [Children](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Children%27s_rights \"Children's rights\") [Consumers]() [Creditors](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Creditors%27_rights \"Creditors' rights\") [Deaf](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Deaf_rights_movement \"Deaf rights movement\") [Disabled](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Disability_rights_movement \"Disability rights movement\") [Elders](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Elder_rights \"Elder rights\") [Family](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Family_rights \"Family rights\") [Farmers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/International_Treaty_on_Plant_Genetic_Resources_for_Food_and_Agriculture#Farmers'_rights \"International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture\") [Fetus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fetal_rights \"Fetal rights\") [Homeless](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Homeless_Bill_of_Rights \"Homeless Bill of Rights\") [Humans](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human_rights \"Human rights\") [Indigenous](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indigenous_rights \"Indigenous rights\") [Intersex](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Intersex_human_rights \"Intersex human rights\") [Kings](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Divine_right_of_kings \"Divine right of kings\") [LGBTQ](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory \"LGBTQ rights by country or territory\") [Transgender](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transgender_rights \"Transgender rights\") [Life](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_life \"Right to life\") [Men](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Men%27s_rights_movement \"Men's rights movement\") [Minorities](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Minority_rights \"Minority rights\") [Parents](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parents%27_rights_movement \"Parents' rights movement\") [Fathers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fathers%27_rights_movement \"Fathers' rights movement\") [Mothers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mothers%27_rights \"Mothers' rights\") [Patients](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Patients%27_rights \"Patients' rights\") [Peasants](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Nations_Declaration_on_the_Rights_of_Peasants \"United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants\") [Plants](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Plant_rights \"Plant rights\") [Prisoners](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Prisoners%27_rights \"Prisoners' rights\") [Robots](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethics_of_artificial_intelligence#Robot_rights_or_AI_rights \"Ethics of artificial intelligence\") [States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/States%27_rights \"States' rights\") [Students](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Student_rights \"Student rights\") [Victims](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Victims%27_rights \"Victims' rights\") [Effective remedy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_an_effective_remedy \"Right to an effective remedy\") [Women](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Women%27s_rights \"Women's rights\") [Wind](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wind_rights \"Wind rights\") [Workers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Labor_rights \"Labor rights\") [Youth](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Youth_rights \"Youth rights\") |\n| Other groups of rights |\n| [Air](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Freedoms_of_the_air \"Freedoms of the air\") [Assembly](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Freedom_of_assembly \"Freedom of assembly\") [Association](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Freedom_of_association \"Freedom of association\") [Asylum](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_of_asylum \"Right of asylum\") [Civil liberties](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Civil_liberties \"Civil liberties\") [Clothing](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_clothing \"Right to clothing\") [Death](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_die \"Right to die\") [Development](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_development \"Right to development\") [Digital](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Digital_rights \"Digital rights\") [Education](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_education \"Right to education\") [Elective](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Elective_rights \"Elective rights\") [Environment](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_a_healthy_environment \"Right to a healthy environment\") [Fair trial](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_a_fair_trial \"Right to a fair trial\") [Food](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_food \"Right to food\") [Guns](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_keep_and_bear_arms \"Right to keep and bear arms\") [Health](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_health \"Right to health\") [Housing](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_housing \"Right to housing\") [Linguistic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Linguistic_rights \"Linguistic rights\") [Movement](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Freedom_of_movement \"Freedom of movement\") [Personal](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Personal_rights \"Personal rights\") [Personality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Personality_rights \"Personality rights\") [Privacy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_privacy \"Right to privacy\") [Property](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_property \"Right to property\") [Public participation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_public_participation \"Right to public participation\") [Repair](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_repair \"Right to repair\") [Resist](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_resist \"Right to resist\") [Rest and leisure](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_rest_and_leisure \"Right to rest and leisure\") [Revolution](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_of_revolution \"Right of revolution\") [Security](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Security_of_person \"Security of person\") [Sexual and reproductive](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sexual_and_reproductive_health_and_rights \"Sexual and reproductive health and rights\") [Abortion](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Abortion-rights \"Abortion-rights\") [Reproductive](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Reproductive_rights \"Reproductive rights\") [Sexuality](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_sexuality \"Right to sexuality\") [Self defense](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_of_self-defense \"Right of self-defense\") [Self-determination](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Self-determination \"Self-determination\") [Speech](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Freedom_of_speech \"Freedom of speech\") [Substantive](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Substantive_rights \"Substantive rights\") [Unenumerated](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unenumerated_rights \"Unenumerated rights\") [Voting](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Voting_rights \"Voting rights\") [Water and sanitation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Human_right_to_water_and_sanitation \"Human right to water and sanitation\") |\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:Rights \"Template:Rights\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:Rights \"Template talk:Rights\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:Rights \"Special:EditPage\/Template:Rights\") |\n\n**Consumer protection** is the practice of safeguarding buyers of goods and services, and the public, against unfair practices in the [marketplace](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marketplace \"Marketplace\"). [Consumer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer \"Consumer\") protection measures are often established by law. Such laws are intended to prevent businesses from engaging in [fraud](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fraud \"Fraud\") or specified [unfair practices](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anti-competitive_practices \"Anti-competitive practices\") to gain an advantage over competitors or to mislead consumers. They may also provide additional protection for the general public which may be impacted by a product (or its production) even when they are not the direct purchaser or consumer of that product. For example, government regulations may require businesses to disclose detailed information about their products—particularly in areas where public health or safety is an issue, such as with food or automobiles.\n\nConsumer protection is linked to the idea of **consumer rights** and to the formation of [consumer organizations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_organization \"Consumer organization\"), which help consumers make better choices in the marketplace and pursue complaints against businesses. Entities that promote consumer protection include government organizations (such as the [Federal Trade Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Trade_Commission \"Federal Trade Commission\") in the [United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States \"United States\")), self-regulating business organizations (such as the [Better Business Bureaus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Better_Business_Bureau \"Better Business Bureau\") in the US, [Canada](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Canada \"Canada\"), [England](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/England \"England\"), etc.), and [non-governmental organizations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-governmental_organization \"Non-governmental organization\") that advocate for consumer protection laws and help to ensure their enforcement (such as consumer protection agencies and watchdog groups).[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-1)\n\nA consumer is defined as someone who acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing. Consumer interests can also serve consumers, consistent with economic efficiency, but this topic is treated in competition law. Consumer protection can also be asserted via [non-government](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-governmental_organization \"Non-governmental organization\") organizations and individuals as consumer activism.\n\nEfforts made for the protection of consumer's rights and interests include the right to:\n\n- satisfaction of [basic needs](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basic_needs \"Basic needs\")\n- safety and health protection\n- be informed\n- choose and give [consent](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consent \"Consent\")\n- be heard\n- [redress](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Redress \"Redress\")\n- [consumer education](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_education \"Consumer education\")\n- [a healthy environment](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_a_healthy_environment \"Right to a healthy environment\")\n\n## Consumer law\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=1 \"Edit section: Consumer law\")\\]\n\nConsumer protection law or consumer law is considered as an area of law that regulates [private law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Private_law \"Private law\") relationships between individual consumers and the businesses that sell those goods and services. Consumer protection covers a wide range of topics, including but not necessarily limited to [product liability](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Product_liability \"Product liability\"), [privacy rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Privacy_rights \"Privacy rights\"), [unfair business practices](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unfair_business_practices \"Unfair business practices\"), [fraud](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fraud \"Fraud\"), [misrepresentation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Misrepresentation \"Misrepresentation\"), and other consumer\/business interactions. It is a way of preventing frauds and scams from service and sales contracts, eligible fraud, bill collector regulation, pricing, utility turnoffs, consolidation, [personal loans](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Personal_loans \"Personal loans\") that may lead to [bankruptcy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bankruptcy \"Bankruptcy\"). There have been some arguments that consumer law is also a better way to engage in large-scale redistribution than [tax law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tax_law \"Tax law\") because it does not necessitate legislation and can be more efficient, given the complexities of tax law.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-2)\n\n### Australia\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=2 \"Edit section: Australia\")\\]\n\nIn [Australia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australia \"Australia\"), the corresponding agency is the [Australian Competition & Consumer Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Competition_%26_Consumer_Commission \"Australian Competition & Consumer Commission\") or the individual State Consumer Affairs agencies. The [Australian Securities & Investments Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Securities_%26_Investments_Commission \"Australian Securities & Investments Commission\") has responsibility for consumer protection regulation of financial services and products. However, in practice, it does so through privately run EDR schemes such as the [Australian Financial Complaints Authority](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Financial_Complaints_Authority \"Australian Financial Complaints Authority\").\n\n### Brazil\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=3 \"Edit section: Brazil\")\\]\n\nIn Brazil, consumer protection is regulated by the Consumer's Defense Code ([Código de Defesa do Consumidor](https:\/\/pt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/C%C3%B3digo_de_Defesa_do_Consumidor \"pt:Código de Defesa do Consumidor\")),[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:0-3) as mandated by the [1988 Constitution of Brazil](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Constitution_of_Brazil \"Constitution of Brazil\"). Brazilian law mandates \"The offer and presentation of products or services must ensure correct, clear, accurate and conspicuous information in the Portuguese language about their characteristics, qualities, quantity, composition, price, guarantee, validity and origin, among other data, as well as the risks they pose to the health and safety of consumers.\"[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:1-4) In Brazil, the consumer does not have to bring forward evidence that the defender is guilty. Instead, the defense has to bring forward evidence that they are innocent.[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:0-3) In the case of Brazil, they narrowly define what consumers, suppliers, products, and services are, so that they can protect consumers from international channels trade laws and protect them from negligence and misconduct from international suppliers.\n\n### European Union\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=4 \"Edit section: European Union\")\\]\n\nMain article: [European consumer law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_consumer_law \"European consumer law\")\n\nSeveral regulations in the [European Union](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_Union \"European Union\") are concerned with consumer protection, including the [Regulation on general product safety](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Regulation_\\(EU\\)_2023\/988 \"Regulation (EU) 2023\/988\") (GPSR) and the [Directive (EU) 2024\/2853](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Directive_\\(EU\\)_2024\/2853 \"Directive (EU) 2024\/2853\") on liability for defective products.\n\n### Germany\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=5 \"Edit section: Germany\")\\]\n\n[Germany](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Germany \"Germany\"), as a member state of the [European Union](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_Union \"European Union\"), is bound by the consumer protection [directives](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_Directive \"European Directive\") of the European Union; residents may be directly bound by EU regulations. A minister of the federal cabinet is responsible for consumer rights and protection (*Verbraucherschutzminister*). In the [current cabinet](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Merz_cabinet \"Merz cabinet\") of [Friedrich Merz](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Friedrich_Merz \"Friedrich Merz\"), this is [Carsten Schneider](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Carsten_Schneider \"Carsten Schneider\").\n\nWhen issuing public warnings about products and services, the issuing authority has to take into account that this affects the supplier's constitutionally protected economic liberty, see [Bundesverwaltungsgericht](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bundesverwaltungsgericht \"Bundesverwaltungsgericht\") (Federal Administrative Court) Case 3 C 34.84, 71 BVerwGE 183.[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-5)\n\n### India\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=6 \"Edit section: India\")\\]\n\nSee also: [Consumer Protection Act, 1986](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Protection_Act,_1986 \"Consumer Protection Act, 1986\")\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg\/250px-Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet,_Jaipur.jpg)\n\nSign showing Code of Buyers. Fuel outlet, [Jaipur](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaipur \"Jaipur\")\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/2\/28\/Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg\/250px-Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet,_Jaipur.jpg)\n\nCode of Seller. Fuel outlet, Jaipur\n\nIn [India](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/India \"India\"), consumer protection is specified in The [Consumer Protection Act, 2019](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Protection_Act,_2019 \"Consumer Protection Act, 2019\"). Under this law, Separate Consumer Dispute Redress Forums have been set up throughout India in every district in which a consumer can file their complaint on a simple paper with nominal court fees and their complaint will be decided by the Presiding Officer of the District Level. The complaint can be filed by both the consumer of a goods as well as of the services. An appeal could be filed to the State Consumer Disputes Redress Commissions and after that to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissiaon (NCDRC).[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-6) The procedures in these [tribunals](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribunal \"Tribunal\") are relatively less formal and more people-friendly and they also take less time to decide upon a consumer dispute[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-CONSUMER_PROTECTION_AND_NATIONAL_CONSUMER_DISPUTES_REDRESS_COMMISSION-7) when compared to the years-long time taken by the traditional [Indian judiciary](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indian_judiciary \"Indian judiciary\"). In recent years, many effective judgments have been passed by some state and National Consumer Forums.\n\n[Indian Contract Act, 1872](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indian_Contract_Act,_1872 \"Indian Contract Act, 1872\") lays down the conditions in which promises made by parties to a contract will be legally binding on each other. It also lays down the remedies available to the aggregate party if the other party fails to honor their promise.\n\nThe Sale of Goods Act of 1930 provides some safeguards to buyers of goods if goods purchased do not fulfill the express or implied conditions and warranties.\n\nThe Agriculture Produce Act of 1937 act provides grade standards for agricultural commodities and livestock products. It specifies the conditions which govern the use of standards and lays down the procedure for grading, marking, and packaging of agricultural produce. The quality mark provided under the act is known as [AGMARK](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/AGMARK \"AGMARK\")\\-Agriculture Marketing.\n\n### Nigeria\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=7 \"Edit section: Nigeria\")\\]\n\nThe Nigerian government must protect its people from any form of harm to human health through the use and purchase of items to meet daily needs. In light of this, the [Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Competition_and_Consumer_Protection_Commission \"Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission\") (FCCPC), whose aim is to protect and enhance consumers' interest through information, education, and enforcement of the rights of consumers was established by an Act of Parliament o promote and protect the interest of consumers over all products and services. In a nutshell, it is empowered to eliminate hazardous & substandard goods from the market. Provide speedy redress to consumer complaints and petition arisen from fraud, unfair practice, and exploitation of the consumer.\n\nOn 5 February 2019, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, assented to the new Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Bill, 2018. Thus, the bill became a law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and binding on entities and organizations so specified in the Act.\n\nThe long title of the Act reads: \"This Act establishes the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal for the promotion of competition in the Nigerian market at all levels by eliminating monopolies, prohibiting abuse of dominant market position and penalizing other restrictive trade and business practices.\" The Act further repealed the hitherto Nigerian Consumer Protection Council Act and transferred its core mandate to the new Commission.\n\n### Taiwan\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=8 \"Edit section: Taiwan\")\\]\n\nModern Taiwanese law has been heavily influenced by the European civil law systems, particularly German and Swiss law. The Civil Code in Taiwan contains five books: General Principles, Obligations, Rights over Things, Family, and Succession. The second book of the Code, the Book of Obligations, provided the basis from which consumers could bring product liability actions prior to the enactment of the CPL.[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-8)[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-9)\n\nThe Consumer Protection Law (CPL) in [Taiwan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Taiwan \"Taiwan\"), as promulgated on 11 January 1994, and effective on 13 January 1993, specifically protects the interests and safety of customers using the products or services provided by business operators. The Consumer Protection Commission of Executive Yuan serves as an ombudsman supervising, coordinating, reporting any unsafe products\/services, and periodically reviewing the legislation.\n\nAccording to the Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association and the American Chamber of Commerce, in a 1997 critical study, the law has been criticized by stating that \"although many agree that the intent of the CPL is fair, the CPL's various problems, such as ambiguous terminology, favoritism towards consumer protection groups, and the compensation liability defense, must be addressed before the CPL becomes a truly effective piece of legislation that will protect consumers\"[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-10)\n\n### United Kingdom\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=9 \"Edit section: United Kingdom\")\\]\n\nMain article: [Consumer protection in the United Kingdom](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection_in_the_United_Kingdom \"Consumer protection in the United Kingdom\")\n\nThe main consumer protection laws in the UK are the [Consumer Protection Act 1987](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Protection_Act_1987 \"Consumer Protection Act 1987\") and the [Consumer Rights Act 2015](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Rights_Act_2015 \"Consumer Rights Act 2015\").\n\nThe [United Kingdom](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Kingdom \"United Kingdom\") has left the [European Union](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_Union \"European Union\"), but during the transition period (until end of 2020) the UK was still bound by [directives](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_Directive \"European Directive\") of the European Union. Specifics of the division of roles between the EU and the UK are detailed here.[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-11) Domestic UK laws originated within the ambit of [contract](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Contract \"Contract\") and [tort](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tort \"Tort\") but, with the influence of [EU law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/EU_law \"EU law\"), it is emerging as an independent area of law. In many circumstances, where domestic law is in question, the matter is judicially treated as [tort](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tort \"Tort\"), [contract](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Contract \"Contract\"), [restitution](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Restitution \"Restitution\") or even [criminal law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminal_law \"Criminal law\").\\[*[citation needed](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citation_needed \"Wikipedia:Citation needed\")*\\]\n\nConsumer protection issues were dealt with by the [Office of Fair Trading](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Office_of_Fair_Trading \"Office of Fair Trading\") before 2014. Since then, the [Competition and Markets Authority](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Competition_and_Markets_Authority \"Competition and Markets Authority\") has taken on this role.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-12)\n\n### United States\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=10 \"Edit section: United States\")\\]\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/7\/7b\/CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg\/250px-CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg)\n\nConsumer protection laws often mandate the posting of notices, such as this one which appears in all [automotive repair](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Auto_mechanic \"Auto mechanic\") shops in California.\n\nIn the [United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States \"United States\") a variety of laws at both the federal and state levels have regulated consumer affairs since the early 20th century. Among them are the [Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Food,_Drug,_and_Cosmetic_Act \"Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act\"), [Fair Debt Collection Practices Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_Debt_Collection_Practices_Act \"Fair Debt Collection Practices Act\"), the [Fair Credit Reporting Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_Credit_Reporting_Act \"Fair Credit Reporting Act\"), [Truth in Lending Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Truth_in_Lending_Act \"Truth in Lending Act\"), [Fair Credit Billing Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_Credit_Billing_Act \"Fair Credit Billing Act\"), and the [Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gramm%E2%80%93Leach%E2%80%93Bliley_Act \"Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act\"). Federal consumer protection laws are mainly enforced by the [Federal Trade Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Trade_Commission \"Federal Trade Commission\"), the [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Financial_Protection_Bureau \"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau\"), the [Food and Drug Administration](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Food_and_Drug_Administration \"Food and Drug Administration\"), and the [U.S. Department of Justice](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/U.S._Department_of_Justice \"U.S. Department of Justice\").\n\nAt the state level, many states have adopted the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-13) including, but not limited to, Delaware,[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-14) Illinois,[\\[15\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-15) Maine,[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-16) and Nebraska.[\\[17\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-17) The deceptive trade practices prohibited by the Uniform Act can be roughly subdivided into conduct involving either a) unfair or fraudulent business practices and b) untrue or misleading advertising. The Uniform Act contains a private remedy with attorneys fees for prevailing parties where the losing party \"willfully engaged in the trade practice knowing it to be deceptive\". Uniform Act §3(b). Missouri has a similar statute called the Merchandising Practices Act.[\\[18\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-18) This statute allows local prosecutors or the Attorney General to press charges against people who knowingly use deceptive business practices in a consumer transaction and authorizes consumers to hire a private attorney to bring an action seeking their actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.\n\nAlso, the majority of states have a Department of Consumer Affairs devoted to regulating certain industries and protecting consumers who use goods and services from those industries. For example, in California, the [California Department of Consumer Affairs](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/California_Department_of_Consumer_Affairs \"California Department of Consumer Affairs\") regulates about 2.3 million professionals in over 230 different professions, through its forty regulatory entities. In addition, California encourages its consumers to act as [private attorneys general](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Private_attorney_general \"Private attorney general\") through the liberal provisions of its [Consumers Legal Remedies Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumers_Legal_Remedies_Act \"Consumers Legal Remedies Act\").\n\nState and federal laws provide for \"cooling off\" periods giving consumers the right to cancel contracts within a certain time period for several specified types of transactions, potentially including transactions entered into at home, and warranty and repair services contracts.[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-19)[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-20)\n\nOther states have been the leaders in specific aspects of consumer protection. For example, Florida, Delaware, and Minnesota have legislated requirements that contracts be written at reasonable readability levels as a large proportion of contracts cannot be understood by most consumers who sign them.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-21)\n\nConsidering the state of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law, MGL 93A, clearly highlights the rights and violations of consumer protection law in the state. The chapter explains what actions are considered illegal under the law for which a party can seek monetary damages from the other party at fault.[\\[22\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-22) Some examples of practices that constitute a Chapter 93A violation would be when:\n\n1. *A Business charges a consumer higher rates than the marked price*\n2. *The refund policy is not clearly posted where it can be readily noticed and understood*\n3. *A business fails to tell you relevant information regarding your product or service misleads you in any way.*[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23)\n\nThe laws under MGL 93A prohibit activities that relate to overpricing to a consumer and the use of \"[Bait and Switch](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bait-and-switch \"Bait-and-switch\")\" techniques. A court will award the plaintiff the damages if they can prove the (1) defendant knowingly and intentionally violated the MGL 93A agreement or (2) the defendant would not \"grant relief in bad faith\" knowing that the actions violated the MGL 93A agreement.[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23) Additionally, failure to disclose refund\/ return policy, warranties, and critical information about the product\/service are all in violation of the legislation, and can result in triple damages and lawyer fees.[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23)\n\n## Laws\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=11 \"Edit section: Laws\")\\]\n\n- [Competition law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Competition_law \"Competition law\")\n\n### United Kingdom\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=12 \"Edit section: United Kingdom\")\\]\n\n- [Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Protection_\\(Distance_Selling\\)_Regulations_2000 \"Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000\")\n- [Consumer Rights Act 2015](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Rights_Act_2015 \"Consumer Rights Act 2015\")\n- [Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Electronic_Commerce_Regulations_2002 \"Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002\")\n- [Enterprise Act 2002](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Enterprise_Act_2002 \"Enterprise Act 2002\")\n- [General Product Safety Regulations 2005](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/General_Product_Safety_Regulations_2005 \"General Product Safety Regulations 2005\")\n- Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002\/3045\n- [Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supply_of_Goods_\\(Implied_Terms\\)_Act_1973 \"Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973\")\n- [Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supply_of_Goods_and_Services_Act_1982 \"Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982\")\n- [Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unfair_Contract_Terms_Act_1977 \"Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977\")\n- [Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unfair_Terms_in_Consumer_Contracts_Regulations_1999 \"Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999\")\n\n### United States\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=13 \"Edit section: United States\")\\]\n\n- [Consumer Product Safety Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Product_Safety_Act \"Consumer Product Safety Act\") – gives the [Consumer Product Safety Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Product_Safety_Commission \"Consumer Product Safety Commission\") the power to develop safety standards and pursue recalls for products\n- [Federal Trade Commission Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Trade_Commission_Act \"Federal Trade Commission Act\") – created the [Federal Trade Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Trade_Commission \"Federal Trade Commission\") (FTC) to prevent unfair competition, deceptive acts, regulate trade, etc.\n\n[Privacy laws](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Privacy_laws_of_the_United_States \"Privacy laws of the United States\")\n\n- [United States National Do Not Call Registry](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States_National_Do_Not_Call_Registry \"United States National Do Not Call Registry\") – allows US consumers to limit telemarketing calls they receive.\n\nFood and drug\n\n- [Pure Food and Drug Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pure_Food_and_Drug_Act \"Pure Food and Drug Act\") – led to the creation of the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/U.S._Food_and_Drug_Administration \"U.S. Food and Drug Administration\") (FDA) to regulate foods, drugs, and more.\n\nCommunications\n\n- [Communications Act of 1934](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Communications_Act_of_1934 \"Communications Act of 1934\") – created the [Federal Communications Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Communications_Commission \"Federal Communications Commission\") (FCC) to regulate all radio and interstate cable, phone, and satellite communications.\n\n[Banking](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bank_regulation \"Bank regulation\")\n\n- [Fair Credit Reporting Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_Credit_Reporting_Act \"Fair Credit Reporting Act\") (FRCA) – regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer credit information\n- [Fair Debt Collection Practices Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_Debt_Collection_Practices_Act \"Fair Debt Collection Practices Act\") (FDCPA) – eliminates abusive consumer practices, ensures fairness, etc.\n- [Truth in Lending Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Truth_in_Lending_Act \"Truth in Lending Act\") (TILA) – requires clear disclosure of key terms of the lending arrangement and all costs.\n\nReal estate\n\n- [Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Real_Estate_Settlement_Procedures_Act \"Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act\") (RESPA) – prohibits kickbacks and requires lenders to provide a good faith estimate of costs\n\n[Health insurance](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Health_insurance_in_the_United_States \"Health insurance in the United States\")\n\n- [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Health_Insurance_Portability_and_Accountability_Act \"Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act\") (HIPAA) – provides consumer protection for health information\n\nDigital media\n\n- [Digital Millennium Copyright Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act \"Digital Millennium Copyright Act\") – prohibits production or sale of devices or services intended to circumvent copyright measures.\n- [Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Digital_Media_Consumers%27_Rights_Act \"Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act\") (proposed) – would repeal the [Digital Millennium Copyright Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act \"Digital Millennium Copyright Act\")\n\n### Australia\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=14 \"Edit section: Australia\")\\]\n\n- The [Australian Consumer Law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Consumer_Law \"Australian Consumer Law\")\n- Division 2 of Part 2 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001[\\[24\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-24) about financial services and products.\n\n## See also\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=15 \"Edit section: See also\")\\]\n\n### Consumer issues\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=16 \"Edit section: Consumer issues\")\\]\n\n- [Airline complaints](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Airline_complaints \"Airline complaints\")\n- [Antitrust](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antitrust \"Antitrust\")\n- [Better Business Bureau](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Better_Business_Bureau \"Better Business Bureau\")\n- [Cannabis rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cannabis_rights \"Cannabis rights\")\n- [Class action](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Class_action \"Class action\")\n- [Competition policy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Competition_policy \"Competition policy\")\n- [Competition regulator](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Competition_regulator \"Competition regulator\")\n- [Consumer complaint](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_complaint \"Consumer complaint\")\n- [Consumer organization](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_organization \"Consumer organization\")\n- [Consumers International](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumers_International \"Consumers International\")\n- [Cooling-off period](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cooling-off_period_\\(consumer_rights\\) \"Cooling-off period (consumer rights)\")\n- [Credit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Credit_\\(finance\\) \"Credit (finance)\") and [debt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Debt \"Debt\")\n- [Extended warranty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Extended_warranty \"Extended warranty\")\n- [Fairtrade labelling](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fairtrade_labelling \"Fairtrade labelling\")\n- [Federal Trade Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Trade_Commission \"Federal Trade Commission\")\n- [Food safety](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Food_safety \"Food safety\")\n- [List of food labeling regulations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_food_labeling_regulations \"List of food labeling regulations\")\n- [Mandatory labelling](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mandatory_labelling \"Mandatory labelling\")\n- [Ombudsman](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ombudsman \"Ombudsman\")\n- [Planned obsolescence](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Planned_obsolescence \"Planned obsolescence\")\n- [Product recall](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Product_recall \"Product recall\")\n- [Telephone Consumer Protection Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Telephone_Consumer_Protection_Act \"Telephone Consumer Protection Act\")\n- [Transparency (market)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transparency_\\(market\\) \"Transparency (market)\")\n- [Unfair competition](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unfair_competition \"Unfair competition\")\n\n### People\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=17 \"Edit section: People\")\\]\n\n- [Florence Kelley](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Florence_Kelley \"Florence Kelley\")\n- [Ralph Nader](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ralph_Nader \"Ralph Nader\")\n- [Phil Radford](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Phil_Radford \"Phil Radford\")\n- [Michael Vernon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michael_Vernon \"Michael Vernon\")\n\n## References\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=18 \"Edit section: References\")\\]\n\n1. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-1)**\n   Robbins, Richard (4 April 2024). [\"How to Transport, Store, Move Portable Aluminum Soccer Goals\"](https:\/\/robbinsathletics.com\/transport-storage-aluminum-goals\/). *Sports Equipment and Training for the Serious Athlete*. Retrieved 19 September 2025.\n2. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-2)**\n   Van Loo, Rory (1 November 2019). [\"Broadening Consumer Law: Competition, Protection, and Distribution\"](https:\/\/scholarship.law.bu.edu\/faculty_scholarship\/679). *Notre Dame Law Review*. **95** (1): 211.\n3. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:0_3-1)\n   [\"L8078\"](http:\/\/www.planalto.gov.br\/ccivil_03\/leis\/L8078.htm). *www.planalto.gov.br*. Retrieved 3 July 2019.\n4. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:1_4-0)**\n   [\"L8078\"](http:\/\/www.planalto.gov.br\/ccivil_03\/Leis\/L8078.htm). *www.planalto.gov.br*. Retrieved 12 April 2020.\n5. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-5)**\n   [\"DFR - BVerwGE 71, 183 - Transparenzliste\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20070219032816\/http:\/\/www.oefre.unibe.ch\/law\/dfr\/vw071183.html). Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.oefre.unibe.ch\/law\/dfr\/vw071183.html) on 19 February 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2006.\n6. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-6)**\n   [\"National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission\"](http:\/\/ncdrc.nic.in\/). *ncdrc.nic.in*.\n7. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-CONSUMER_PROTECTION_AND_NATIONAL_CONSUMER_DISPUTES_REDRESS_COMMISSION_7-0)** V. Balakrishna Eradi, [\"Consumer Protection and National Consumer Disputes Redress Commission\"](http:\/\/ncdrc.nic.in\/%7Cpublisher=NCDRC) [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20110721172525\/http:\/\/ncdrc.nic.in\/) 21 July 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wayback_Machine \"Wayback Machine\"). New Delhi: [National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Consumer_Disputes_Redressal_Commission \"National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission\"). Accessed 25 June 2013.\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-8)**\n   [\"(TAIWAN) CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW\"](http:\/\/luatcanhtranhvabaovenguoitieudung.wordpress.com\/2011\/06\/01\/taiwan-consumer-protection-law\/). 1 June 2011.\n9. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-9)**\n   [\"Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China\"](http:\/\/law.moj.gov.tw\/Eng\/news\/news_detail.aspx?id=189). *law.moj.gov.tw*.\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-10)** Carol T. Juang, [\"The Taiwan Consumer Protection Law: Attempt to Protect Consumers Proves Ineffective\"](http:\/\/digital.law.washington.edu\/dspace-law\/bitstream\/handle\/1773.1\/885\/6PacRimLPolyJ219.pdf?sequence=1) Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association, 1997.\n11. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-11)**\n    [\"EU law and the balance of competences: A short guide and glossary, 2012\"](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/eu-law-and-the-balance-of-competences-a-short-guide-and-glossary). Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2016.\n12. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-12)**\n    [\"New competition authority comes into existence\"](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/new-competition-authority-comes-into-existence). *gov.uk*. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2020.\n13. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-13)**\n    [\"Revised Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20100821232355\/http:\/\/www.law.upenn.edu\/bll\/archives\/ulc\/fnact99\/1920_69\/rudtpa66.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.law.upenn.edu\/bll\/archives\/ulc\/fnact99\/1920_69\/rudtpa66.pdf) (PDF) on 21 August 2010 – via Penn Law.\n14. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-14)**\n    [\"Title 6 - Chapter 25. Prohibited Trade Practices - Subchapter III. Deceptive Trade Practices\"](https:\/\/delcode.delaware.gov\/title6\/c025\/sc03\/index.html). *Delaware Code Online*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210126000707\/http:\/\/delcode.delaware.gov\/title6\/c025\/sc03\/index.shtml) from the original on 26 January 2021.\n15. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-15)**\n    [\"815 ILCS 510\/ Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act\"](http:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/legislation\/ilcs\/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2357&ChapterID=67). *www.ilga.gov*.\n16. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-16)**\n    [\"Title 10, §1212: Deceptive trade practices\"](http:\/\/www.mainelegislature.org\/legis\/statutes\/10\/title10sec1212.html). *www.mainelegislature.org*.\n17. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-17)**\n    [\"Nebraska State Statutes - Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20120117152328\/http:\/\/www.nebraskaautobody.com\/filedownloads\/deceptivetrade.html). *www.nebraskaautobody.com*. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.nebraskaautobody.com\/filedownloads\/deceptivetrade.html) on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011.\n18. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-18)**\n    [\"Missouri Revisor of Statutes - Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo, Missouri Law, MO Law\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20150213234218\/http:\/\/www.moga.mo.gov\/mostatutes\/stathtml\/40700000201.html). *www.moga.mo.gov*. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.moga.mo.gov\/mostatutes\/stathtml\/40700000201.html) on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.\n19. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-19)**\n    [\"Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help\"](https:\/\/consumer.ftc.gov\/articles\/buyers-remorse-ftcs-cooling-rule-may-help). *Consumer Advice*. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2022.\n20. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-20)**\n    [\"Consumer's Rights to Cancel Home Solicitation Contracts K-9 - California Department of Consumer Affairs\"](https:\/\/www.dca.ca.gov\/publications\/legal_guides\/k_9.shtml). *www.dca.ca.gov*. California Department of Consumer Affairs. September 2010.\n21. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-21)** Lewis D. Eigen, [\"A Solution to the Problem of Consumer Contracts That Cannot be Understood by Consumers Who Sign Them\"](http:\/\/scriptamus.wordpress.com\/2009\/11\/12\/a-solution-to-the-problem-of-consumer-contracts-that-cannot-be-understood-by-consumers\/), Scriptamus, 2009.\n22. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-22)**\n    [\"Section 9\"](https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/Laws\/GeneralLaws\/PartI\/TitleXV\/Chapter93A\/Section9). *The 191st general court of the commonwealth of Massachusetts*. Retrieved 11 April 2020.\n23. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-2)\n    [\"The Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law\"](https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/service-details\/the-massachusetts-consumer-protection-law). *Mass.gov*. Retrieved 12 April 2020.\n24. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-24)**\n    [*Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001*](http:\/\/www8.austlii.edu.au\/cgi-bin\/viewdb\/au\/legis\/cth\/consol_act\/asaica2001529\/), retrieved 3 July 2019\n\n## Further reading\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=19 \"Edit section: Further reading\")\\]\n\n- Mańko, Rafał. [\"The notion of 'consumer' in EU law\"](http:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/RegData\/bibliotheque\/briefing\/2013\/130477\/LDM_BRI\\(2013\\)130477_REV1_EN.pdf) (PDF). *Library Briefing*. Library of the European Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2013.\n- Consumer Rights Wiki. [consumerrights.wiki](https:\/\/consumerrights.wiki\/Main%20Page) with 1000+ articles on current\/past consumer rights violations and legal information.\n\n## External links\n\\[[edit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=20 \"Edit section: External links\")\\]\n\n[![logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Wikisource-logo.svg\/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikisource-logo.svg)\n\nEnglish [Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikisource \"Wikisource\") has original text related to this article:\n\n**[Category:National Consumer Protection Week](https:\/\/en.wikisource.org\/wiki\/en:Category:National_Consumer_Protection_Week \"s:en:Category:National Consumer Protection Week\")**\n\n[![logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/df\/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg\/40px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg)\n\nWikibooks has a book on the topic of: ***[Legal and Regulatory Issues in the Information Economy](https:\/\/en.wikibooks.org\/wiki\/Legal_and_Regulatory_Issues_in_the_Information_Economy \"wikibooks:Legal and Regulatory Issues in the Information Economy\")***\n\n\\-[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Commons-logo.svg\/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Commons-logo.svg) Media related to [Consumer protection](https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Consumer_protection \"commons:Category:Consumer protection\") at Wikimedia Commons\n\n- [Consumers International](http:\/\/www.consumersinternational.org\/)\n- [Role of Regulators in Consumer Protection: Discussion](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20150418044201\/http:\/\/www.policy.manchester.ac.uk\/resources\/regulation\/non-economic\/consumer_protection\/)\n- [Health-EU Portal](https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/health\/) Consumer Safety in the EU\n- [OECD Consumer Policy Toolkit Report](https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/sti\/consumer\/consumer-policy-toolkit-9789264079663-en.htm)\n- About [Econsumer.gov](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20110902051853\/http:\/\/www.econsumer.gov\/english\/about\/overview.shtm), a portal for consumers to report complaints concerning online and related transactions with foreign companies\n- [International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN)](https:\/\/icpen.org\/) study consumer\n\n| [v](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template:Consumerism \"Template:Consumerism\") [t](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Template_talk:Consumerism \"Template talk:Consumerism\") [e](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:EditPage\/Template:Consumerism \"Special:EditPage\/Template:Consumerism\")[Consumerism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumerism \"Consumerism\") |   |\n|---|---|\n| the philosophy of and activism for [consumer protection]() |   |\n| Concepts | [Consumerism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumerism \"Consumerism\") [Consumer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer \"Consumer\") [Anti-consumerism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anti-consumerism \"Anti-consumerism\") [Consumer capitalism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_capitalism \"Consumer capitalism\") [Consumer privacy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_privacy \"Consumer privacy\") [Consumer protection]() [Consumer revolution](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_revolution \"Consumer revolution\") [Consumer welfare standard](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_welfare_standard \"Consumer welfare standard\") [Ethical consumerism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ethical_consumerism \"Ethical consumerism\") [Informed consumer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Informed_consumer \"Informed consumer\") |\n| Activism | [Consumer activism](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_activism \"Consumer activism\") [Consumer Bill of Rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Bill_of_Rights \"Consumer Bill of Rights\") [Consumer complaint](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_complaint \"Consumer complaint\") [Consumer education](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_education \"Consumer education\") [Consumer movement](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_movement \"Consumer movement\") [Collaborative consumption](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Collaborative_consumption \"Collaborative consumption\") [United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Nations_Guidelines_for_Consumer_Protection \"United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection\") |\n| Fields of study | [Consumer math](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_math \"Consumer math\") [Euthenics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Euthenics \"Euthenics\") [Home economics](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Home_economics \"Home economics\") |\n| Key players | [Consumer organizations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_organization \"Consumer organization\") [list](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_consumer_organizations \"List of consumer organizations\") [Consumers' Association](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumers%27_Association_\\(disambiguation\\) \"Consumers' Association (disambiguation)\") [Ellen Swallow Richards](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ellen_Swallow_Richards \"Ellen Swallow Richards\") [Ralph Nader](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ralph_Nader \"Ralph Nader\") [Esther Peterson](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Esther_Peterson \"Esther Peterson\") |\n\n![](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Special:CentralAutoLogin\/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=1)\n\nRetrieved from \"<https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&oldid=1343944282>\"\n\n[Categories](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Help:Category \"Help:Category\"):\n\n- [Consumer protection](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Consumer_protection \"Category:Consumer protection\")\n- [Consumer protection law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Consumer_protection_law \"Category:Consumer protection law\")\n\nHidden categories:\n\n- [Webarchive template wayback links](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Webarchive_template_wayback_links \"Category:Webarchive template wayback links\")\n- [Articles with short description](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Articles_with_short_description \"Category:Articles with short description\")\n- [Short description is different from 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Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the [Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.](https:\/\/wikimediafoundation.org\/), a non-profit organization.\n\n- [Privacy policy](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Privacy_policy)\n- [About Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:About)\n- [Disclaimers](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:General_disclaimer)\n- [Contact Wikipedia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Contact_us)\n- [Legal & safety contacts](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Legal:Wikimedia_Foundation_Legal_and_Safety_Contact_Information)\n- [Code of Conduct](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Universal_Code_of_Conduct)\n- [Developers](https:\/\/developer.wikimedia.org\/)\n- [Statistics](https:\/\/stats.wikimedia.org\/#\/en.wikipedia.org)\n- [Cookie statement](https:\/\/foundation.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Special:MyLanguage\/Policy:Cookie_statement)\n- [Mobile view](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&mobileaction=toggle_view_mobile)\n\n- [![Wikimedia Foundation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/static\/images\/footer\/wikimedia.svg)](https:\/\/www.wikimedia.org\/)\n- [![Powered by MediaWiki](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/resources\/assets\/mediawiki_compact.svg)](https:\/\/www.mediawiki.org\/)\n\nSearch\n\nToggle the table of contents\n\nConsumer protection\n\n41 languages\n\n[Add topic](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection)","attrs_readable_markdown":"From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia\n\n\"Consumer Affairs\" redirects here. For the dot-com company, see [Consumer affairs](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_affairs \"Consumer affairs\").\n\n**Consumer protection** is the practice of safeguarding buyers of goods and services, and the public, against unfair practices in the [marketplace](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marketplace \"Marketplace\"). [Consumer](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer \"Consumer\") protection measures are often established by law. Such laws are intended to prevent businesses from engaging in [fraud](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fraud \"Fraud\") or specified [unfair practices](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anti-competitive_practices \"Anti-competitive practices\") to gain an advantage over competitors or to mislead consumers. They may also provide additional protection for the general public which may be impacted by a product (or its production) even when they are not the direct purchaser or consumer of that product. For example, government regulations may require businesses to disclose detailed information about their products—particularly in areas where public health or safety is an issue, such as with food or automobiles.\n\nConsumer protection is linked to the idea of **consumer rights** and to the formation of [consumer organizations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_organization \"Consumer organization\"), which help consumers make better choices in the marketplace and pursue complaints against businesses. Entities that promote consumer protection include government organizations (such as the [Federal Trade Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Trade_Commission \"Federal Trade Commission\") in the [United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States \"United States\")), self-regulating business organizations (such as the [Better Business Bureaus](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Better_Business_Bureau \"Better Business Bureau\") in the US, [Canada](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Canada \"Canada\"), [England](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/England \"England\"), etc.), and [non-governmental organizations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-governmental_organization \"Non-governmental organization\") that advocate for consumer protection laws and help to ensure their enforcement (such as consumer protection agencies and watchdog groups).[\\[1\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-1)\n\nA consumer is defined as someone who acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing. Consumer interests can also serve consumers, consistent with economic efficiency, but this topic is treated in competition law. Consumer protection can also be asserted via [non-government](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Non-governmental_organization \"Non-governmental organization\") organizations and individuals as consumer activism.\n\nEfforts made for the protection of consumer's rights and interests include the right to:\n\n- satisfaction of [basic needs](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Basic_needs \"Basic needs\")\n- safety and health protection\n- be informed\n- choose and give [consent](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consent \"Consent\")\n- be heard\n- [redress](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Redress \"Redress\")\n- [consumer education](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_education \"Consumer education\")\n- [a healthy environment](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Right_to_a_healthy_environment \"Right to a healthy environment\")\n\nConsumer protection law or consumer law is considered as an area of law that regulates [private law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Private_law \"Private law\") relationships between individual consumers and the businesses that sell those goods and services. Consumer protection covers a wide range of topics, including but not necessarily limited to [product liability](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Product_liability \"Product liability\"), [privacy rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Privacy_rights \"Privacy rights\"), [unfair business practices](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unfair_business_practices \"Unfair business practices\"), [fraud](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fraud \"Fraud\"), [misrepresentation](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Misrepresentation \"Misrepresentation\"), and other consumer\/business interactions. It is a way of preventing frauds and scams from service and sales contracts, eligible fraud, bill collector regulation, pricing, utility turnoffs, consolidation, [personal loans](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Personal_loans \"Personal loans\") that may lead to [bankruptcy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bankruptcy \"Bankruptcy\"). There have been some arguments that consumer law is also a better way to engage in large-scale redistribution than [tax law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tax_law \"Tax law\") because it does not necessitate legislation and can be more efficient, given the complexities of tax law.[\\[2\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-2)\n\nIn [Australia](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australia \"Australia\"), the corresponding agency is the [Australian Competition & Consumer Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Competition_%26_Consumer_Commission \"Australian Competition & Consumer Commission\") or the individual State Consumer Affairs agencies. The [Australian Securities & Investments Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Securities_%26_Investments_Commission \"Australian Securities & Investments Commission\") has responsibility for consumer protection regulation of financial services and products. However, in practice, it does so through privately run EDR schemes such as the [Australian Financial Complaints Authority](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Financial_Complaints_Authority \"Australian Financial Complaints Authority\").\n\nIn Brazil, consumer protection is regulated by the Consumer's Defense Code ([Código de Defesa do Consumidor](https:\/\/pt.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/C%C3%B3digo_de_Defesa_do_Consumidor \"pt:Código de Defesa do Consumidor\")),[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:0-3) as mandated by the [1988 Constitution of Brazil](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Constitution_of_Brazil \"Constitution of Brazil\"). Brazilian law mandates \"The offer and presentation of products or services must ensure correct, clear, accurate and conspicuous information in the Portuguese language about their characteristics, qualities, quantity, composition, price, guarantee, validity and origin, among other data, as well as the risks they pose to the health and safety of consumers.\"[\\[4\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:1-4) In Brazil, the consumer does not have to bring forward evidence that the defender is guilty. Instead, the defense has to bring forward evidence that they are innocent.[\\[3\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:0-3) In the case of Brazil, they narrowly define what consumers, suppliers, products, and services are, so that they can protect consumers from international channels trade laws and protect them from negligence and misconduct from international suppliers.\n\nSeveral regulations in the [European Union](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_Union \"European Union\") are concerned with consumer protection, including the [Regulation on general product safety](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Regulation_\\(EU\\)_2023\/988 \"Regulation (EU) 2023\/988\") (GPSR) and the [Directive (EU) 2024\/2853](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Directive_\\(EU\\)_2024\/2853 \"Directive (EU) 2024\/2853\") on liability for defective products.\n\n[Germany](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Germany \"Germany\"), as a member state of the [European Union](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_Union \"European Union\"), is bound by the consumer protection [directives](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_Directive \"European Directive\") of the European Union; residents may be directly bound by EU regulations. A minister of the federal cabinet is responsible for consumer rights and protection (*Verbraucherschutzminister*). In the [current cabinet](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Merz_cabinet \"Merz cabinet\") of [Friedrich Merz](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Friedrich_Merz \"Friedrich Merz\"), this is [Carsten Schneider](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Carsten_Schneider \"Carsten Schneider\").\n\nWhen issuing public warnings about products and services, the issuing authority has to take into account that this affects the supplier's constitutionally protected economic liberty, see [Bundesverwaltungsgericht](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bundesverwaltungsgericht \"Bundesverwaltungsgericht\") (Federal Administrative Court) Case 3 C 34.84, 71 BVerwGE 183.[\\[5\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-5)\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg\/250px-Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet,_Jaipur.jpg)\n\nSign showing Code of Buyers. Fuel outlet, [Jaipur](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaipur \"Jaipur\")\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/2\/28\/Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg\/250px-Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet,_Jaipur.jpg)\n\nCode of Seller. Fuel outlet, Jaipur\n\nIn [India](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/India \"India\"), consumer protection is specified in The [Consumer Protection Act, 2019](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Protection_Act,_2019 \"Consumer Protection Act, 2019\"). Under this law, Separate Consumer Dispute Redress Forums have been set up throughout India in every district in which a consumer can file their complaint on a simple paper with nominal court fees and their complaint will be decided by the Presiding Officer of the District Level. The complaint can be filed by both the consumer of a goods as well as of the services. An appeal could be filed to the State Consumer Disputes Redress Commissions and after that to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissiaon (NCDRC).[\\[6\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-6) The procedures in these [tribunals](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribunal \"Tribunal\") are relatively less formal and more people-friendly and they also take less time to decide upon a consumer dispute[\\[7\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-CONSUMER_PROTECTION_AND_NATIONAL_CONSUMER_DISPUTES_REDRESS_COMMISSION-7) when compared to the years-long time taken by the traditional [Indian judiciary](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indian_judiciary \"Indian judiciary\"). In recent years, many effective judgments have been passed by some state and National Consumer Forums.\n\n[Indian Contract Act, 1872](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indian_Contract_Act,_1872 \"Indian Contract Act, 1872\") lays down the conditions in which promises made by parties to a contract will be legally binding on each other. It also lays down the remedies available to the aggregate party if the other party fails to honor their promise.\n\nThe Sale of Goods Act of 1930 provides some safeguards to buyers of goods if goods purchased do not fulfill the express or implied conditions and warranties.\n\nThe Agriculture Produce Act of 1937 act provides grade standards for agricultural commodities and livestock products. It specifies the conditions which govern the use of standards and lays down the procedure for grading, marking, and packaging of agricultural produce. The quality mark provided under the act is known as [AGMARK](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/AGMARK \"AGMARK\")\\-Agriculture Marketing.\n\nThe Nigerian government must protect its people from any form of harm to human health through the use and purchase of items to meet daily needs. In light of this, the [Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Competition_and_Consumer_Protection_Commission \"Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission\") (FCCPC), whose aim is to protect and enhance consumers' interest through information, education, and enforcement of the rights of consumers was established by an Act of Parliament o promote and protect the interest of consumers over all products and services. In a nutshell, it is empowered to eliminate hazardous & substandard goods from the market. Provide speedy redress to consumer complaints and petition arisen from fraud, unfair practice, and exploitation of the consumer.\n\nOn 5 February 2019, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, assented to the new Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Bill, 2018. Thus, the bill became a law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and binding on entities and organizations so specified in the Act.\n\nThe long title of the Act reads: \"This Act establishes the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal for the promotion of competition in the Nigerian market at all levels by eliminating monopolies, prohibiting abuse of dominant market position and penalizing other restrictive trade and business practices.\" The Act further repealed the hitherto Nigerian Consumer Protection Council Act and transferred its core mandate to the new Commission.\n\nModern Taiwanese law has been heavily influenced by the European civil law systems, particularly German and Swiss law. The Civil Code in Taiwan contains five books: General Principles, Obligations, Rights over Things, Family, and Succession. The second book of the Code, the Book of Obligations, provided the basis from which consumers could bring product liability actions prior to the enactment of the CPL.[\\[8\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-8)[\\[9\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-9)\n\nThe Consumer Protection Law (CPL) in [Taiwan](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Taiwan \"Taiwan\"), as promulgated on 11 January 1994, and effective on 13 January 1993, specifically protects the interests and safety of customers using the products or services provided by business operators. The Consumer Protection Commission of Executive Yuan serves as an ombudsman supervising, coordinating, reporting any unsafe products\/services, and periodically reviewing the legislation.\n\nAccording to the Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association and the American Chamber of Commerce, in a 1997 critical study, the law has been criticized by stating that \"although many agree that the intent of the CPL is fair, the CPL's various problems, such as ambiguous terminology, favoritism towards consumer protection groups, and the compensation liability defense, must be addressed before the CPL becomes a truly effective piece of legislation that will protect consumers\"[\\[10\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-10)\n\nThe main consumer protection laws in the UK are the [Consumer Protection Act 1987](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Protection_Act_1987 \"Consumer Protection Act 1987\") and the [Consumer Rights Act 2015](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Rights_Act_2015 \"Consumer Rights Act 2015\").\n\nThe [United Kingdom](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_Kingdom \"United Kingdom\") has left the [European Union](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_Union \"European Union\"), but during the transition period (until end of 2020) the UK was still bound by [directives](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/European_Directive \"European Directive\") of the European Union. Specifics of the division of roles between the EU and the UK are detailed here.[\\[11\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-11) Domestic UK laws originated within the ambit of [contract](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Contract \"Contract\") and [tort](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tort \"Tort\") but, with the influence of [EU law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/EU_law \"EU law\"), it is emerging as an independent area of law. In many circumstances, where domestic law is in question, the matter is judicially treated as [tort](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tort \"Tort\"), [contract](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Contract \"Contract\"), [restitution](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Restitution \"Restitution\") or even [criminal law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Criminal_law \"Criminal law\").\\[*[citation needed](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikipedia:Citation_needed \"Wikipedia:Citation needed\")*\\]\n\nConsumer protection issues were dealt with by the [Office of Fair Trading](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Office_of_Fair_Trading \"Office of Fair Trading\") before 2014. Since then, the [Competition and Markets Authority](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Competition_and_Markets_Authority \"Competition and Markets Authority\") has taken on this role.[\\[12\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-12)\n\n[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/7\/7b\/CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg\/250px-CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg)\n\nConsumer protection laws often mandate the posting of notices, such as this one which appears in all [automotive repair](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Auto_mechanic \"Auto mechanic\") shops in California.\n\nIn the [United States](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States \"United States\") a variety of laws at both the federal and state levels have regulated consumer affairs since the early 20th century. Among them are the [Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Food,_Drug,_and_Cosmetic_Act \"Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act\"), [Fair Debt Collection Practices Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_Debt_Collection_Practices_Act \"Fair Debt Collection Practices Act\"), the [Fair Credit Reporting Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_Credit_Reporting_Act \"Fair Credit Reporting Act\"), [Truth in Lending Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Truth_in_Lending_Act \"Truth in Lending Act\"), [Fair Credit Billing Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_Credit_Billing_Act \"Fair Credit Billing Act\"), and the [Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gramm%E2%80%93Leach%E2%80%93Bliley_Act \"Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act\"). Federal consumer protection laws are mainly enforced by the [Federal Trade Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Trade_Commission \"Federal Trade Commission\"), the [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Financial_Protection_Bureau \"Consumer Financial Protection Bureau\"), the [Food and Drug Administration](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Food_and_Drug_Administration \"Food and Drug Administration\"), and the [U.S. Department of Justice](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/U.S._Department_of_Justice \"U.S. Department of Justice\").\n\nAt the state level, many states have adopted the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act[\\[13\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-13) including, but not limited to, Delaware,[\\[14\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-14) Illinois,[\\[15\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-15) Maine,[\\[16\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-16) and Nebraska.[\\[17\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-17) The deceptive trade practices prohibited by the Uniform Act can be roughly subdivided into conduct involving either a) unfair or fraudulent business practices and b) untrue or misleading advertising. The Uniform Act contains a private remedy with attorneys fees for prevailing parties where the losing party \"willfully engaged in the trade practice knowing it to be deceptive\". Uniform Act §3(b). Missouri has a similar statute called the Merchandising Practices Act.[\\[18\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-18) This statute allows local prosecutors or the Attorney General to press charges against people who knowingly use deceptive business practices in a consumer transaction and authorizes consumers to hire a private attorney to bring an action seeking their actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees.\n\nAlso, the majority of states have a Department of Consumer Affairs devoted to regulating certain industries and protecting consumers who use goods and services from those industries. For example, in California, the [California Department of Consumer Affairs](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/California_Department_of_Consumer_Affairs \"California Department of Consumer Affairs\") regulates about 2.3 million professionals in over 230 different professions, through its forty regulatory entities. In addition, California encourages its consumers to act as [private attorneys general](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Private_attorney_general \"Private attorney general\") through the liberal provisions of its [Consumers Legal Remedies Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumers_Legal_Remedies_Act \"Consumers Legal Remedies Act\").\n\nState and federal laws provide for \"cooling off\" periods giving consumers the right to cancel contracts within a certain time period for several specified types of transactions, potentially including transactions entered into at home, and warranty and repair services contracts.[\\[19\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-19)[\\[20\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-20)\n\nOther states have been the leaders in specific aspects of consumer protection. For example, Florida, Delaware, and Minnesota have legislated requirements that contracts be written at reasonable readability levels as a large proportion of contracts cannot be understood by most consumers who sign them.[\\[21\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-21)\n\nConsidering the state of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law, MGL 93A, clearly highlights the rights and violations of consumer protection law in the state. The chapter explains what actions are considered illegal under the law for which a party can seek monetary damages from the other party at fault.[\\[22\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-22) Some examples of practices that constitute a Chapter 93A violation would be when:\n\n1. *A Business charges a consumer higher rates than the marked price*\n2. *The refund policy is not clearly posted where it can be readily noticed and understood*\n3. *A business fails to tell you relevant information regarding your product or service misleads you in any way.*[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23)\n\nThe laws under MGL 93A prohibit activities that relate to overpricing to a consumer and the use of \"[Bait and Switch](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bait-and-switch \"Bait-and-switch\")\" techniques. A court will award the plaintiff the damages if they can prove the (1) defendant knowingly and intentionally violated the MGL 93A agreement or (2) the defendant would not \"grant relief in bad faith\" knowing that the actions violated the MGL 93A agreement.[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23) Additionally, failure to disclose refund\/ return policy, warranties, and critical information about the product\/service are all in violation of the legislation, and can result in triple damages and lawyer fees.[\\[23\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23)\n\n- [Competition law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Competition_law \"Competition law\")\n\n- [Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Protection_\\(Distance_Selling\\)_Regulations_2000 \"Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000\")\n- [Consumer Rights Act 2015](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Rights_Act_2015 \"Consumer Rights Act 2015\")\n- [Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Electronic_Commerce_Regulations_2002 \"Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002\")\n- [Enterprise Act 2002](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Enterprise_Act_2002 \"Enterprise Act 2002\")\n- [General Product Safety Regulations 2005](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/General_Product_Safety_Regulations_2005 \"General Product Safety Regulations 2005\")\n- Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002\/3045\n- [Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supply_of_Goods_\\(Implied_Terms\\)_Act_1973 \"Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973\")\n- [Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supply_of_Goods_and_Services_Act_1982 \"Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982\")\n- [Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unfair_Contract_Terms_Act_1977 \"Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977\")\n- [Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unfair_Terms_in_Consumer_Contracts_Regulations_1999 \"Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999\")\n\n- [Consumer Product Safety Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Product_Safety_Act \"Consumer Product Safety Act\") – gives the [Consumer Product Safety Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_Product_Safety_Commission \"Consumer Product Safety Commission\") the power to develop safety standards and pursue recalls for products\n- [Federal Trade Commission Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Trade_Commission_Act \"Federal Trade Commission Act\") – created the [Federal Trade Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Trade_Commission \"Federal Trade Commission\") (FTC) to prevent unfair competition, deceptive acts, regulate trade, etc.\n\n[Privacy laws](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Privacy_laws_of_the_United_States \"Privacy laws of the United States\")\n\n- [United States National Do Not Call Registry](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/United_States_National_Do_Not_Call_Registry \"United States National Do Not Call Registry\") – allows US consumers to limit telemarketing calls they receive.\n\nFood and drug\n\n- [Pure Food and Drug Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pure_Food_and_Drug_Act \"Pure Food and Drug Act\") – led to the creation of the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/U.S._Food_and_Drug_Administration \"U.S. Food and Drug Administration\") (FDA) to regulate foods, drugs, and more.\n\nCommunications\n\n- [Communications Act of 1934](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Communications_Act_of_1934 \"Communications Act of 1934\") – created the [Federal Communications Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Communications_Commission \"Federal Communications Commission\") (FCC) to regulate all radio and interstate cable, phone, and satellite communications.\n\n[Banking](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bank_regulation \"Bank regulation\")\n\n- [Fair Credit Reporting Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_Credit_Reporting_Act \"Fair Credit Reporting Act\") (FRCA) – regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer credit information\n- [Fair Debt Collection Practices Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_Debt_Collection_Practices_Act \"Fair Debt Collection Practices Act\") (FDCPA) – eliminates abusive consumer practices, ensures fairness, etc.\n- [Truth in Lending Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Truth_in_Lending_Act \"Truth in Lending Act\") (TILA) – requires clear disclosure of key terms of the lending arrangement and all costs.\n\nReal estate\n\n- [Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Real_Estate_Settlement_Procedures_Act \"Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act\") (RESPA) – prohibits kickbacks and requires lenders to provide a good faith estimate of costs\n\n[Health insurance](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Health_insurance_in_the_United_States \"Health insurance in the United States\")\n\n- [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Health_Insurance_Portability_and_Accountability_Act \"Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act\") (HIPAA) – provides consumer protection for health information\n\nDigital media\n\n- [Digital Millennium Copyright Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act \"Digital Millennium Copyright Act\") – prohibits production or sale of devices or services intended to circumvent copyright measures.\n- [Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Digital_Media_Consumers%27_Rights_Act \"Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act\") (proposed) – would repeal the [Digital Millennium Copyright Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act \"Digital Millennium Copyright Act\")\n\n- The [Australian Consumer Law](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Australian_Consumer_Law \"Australian Consumer Law\")\n- Division 2 of Part 2 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001[\\[24\\]](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_note-24) about financial services and products.\n\n- [Airline complaints](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Airline_complaints \"Airline complaints\")\n- [Antitrust](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Antitrust \"Antitrust\")\n- [Better Business Bureau](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Better_Business_Bureau \"Better Business Bureau\")\n- [Cannabis rights](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cannabis_rights \"Cannabis rights\")\n- [Class action](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Class_action \"Class action\")\n- [Competition policy](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Competition_policy \"Competition policy\")\n- [Competition regulator](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Competition_regulator \"Competition regulator\")\n- [Consumer complaint](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_complaint \"Consumer complaint\")\n- [Consumer organization](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_organization \"Consumer organization\")\n- [Consumers International](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumers_International \"Consumers International\")\n- [Cooling-off period](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cooling-off_period_\\(consumer_rights\\) \"Cooling-off period (consumer rights)\")\n- [Credit](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Credit_\\(finance\\) \"Credit (finance)\") and [debt](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Debt \"Debt\")\n- [Extended warranty](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Extended_warranty \"Extended warranty\")\n- [Fairtrade labelling](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fairtrade_labelling \"Fairtrade labelling\")\n- [Federal Trade Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Federal_Trade_Commission \"Federal Trade Commission\")\n- [Food safety](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Food_safety \"Food safety\")\n- [List of food labeling regulations](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_food_labeling_regulations \"List of food labeling regulations\")\n- [Mandatory labelling](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mandatory_labelling \"Mandatory labelling\")\n- [Ombudsman](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ombudsman \"Ombudsman\")\n- [Planned obsolescence](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Planned_obsolescence \"Planned obsolescence\")\n- [Product recall](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Product_recall \"Product recall\")\n- [Telephone Consumer Protection Act](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Telephone_Consumer_Protection_Act \"Telephone Consumer Protection Act\")\n- [Transparency (market)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Transparency_\\(market\\) \"Transparency (market)\")\n- [Unfair competition](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Unfair_competition \"Unfair competition\")\n\n- [Florence Kelley](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Florence_Kelley \"Florence Kelley\")\n- [Ralph Nader](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ralph_Nader \"Ralph Nader\")\n- [Phil Radford](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Phil_Radford \"Phil Radford\")\n- [Michael Vernon](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michael_Vernon \"Michael Vernon\")\n\n1. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-1)**\n   Robbins, Richard (4 April 2024). [\"How to Transport, Store, Move Portable Aluminum Soccer Goals\"](https:\/\/robbinsathletics.com\/transport-storage-aluminum-goals\/). *Sports Equipment and Training for the Serious Athlete*. Retrieved 19 September 2025.\n2. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-2)**\n   Van Loo, Rory (1 November 2019). [\"Broadening Consumer Law: Competition, Protection, and Distribution\"](https:\/\/scholarship.law.bu.edu\/faculty_scholarship\/679). *Notre Dame Law Review*. **95** (1): 211.\n3. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:0_3-1)\n   [\"L8078\"](http:\/\/www.planalto.gov.br\/ccivil_03\/leis\/L8078.htm). *www.planalto.gov.br*. Retrieved 3 July 2019.\n4. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:1_4-0)**\n   [\"L8078\"](http:\/\/www.planalto.gov.br\/ccivil_03\/Leis\/L8078.htm). *www.planalto.gov.br*. Retrieved 12 April 2020.\n5. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-5)**\n   [\"DFR - BVerwGE 71, 183 - Transparenzliste\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20070219032816\/http:\/\/www.oefre.unibe.ch\/law\/dfr\/vw071183.html). Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.oefre.unibe.ch\/law\/dfr\/vw071183.html) on 19 February 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2006.\n6. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-6)**\n   [\"National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission\"](http:\/\/ncdrc.nic.in\/). *ncdrc.nic.in*.\n7. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-CONSUMER_PROTECTION_AND_NATIONAL_CONSUMER_DISPUTES_REDRESS_COMMISSION_7-0)** V. Balakrishna Eradi, [\"Consumer Protection and National Consumer Disputes Redress Commission\"](http:\/\/ncdrc.nic.in\/%7Cpublisher=NCDRC) [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20110721172525\/http:\/\/ncdrc.nic.in\/) 21 July 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wayback_Machine \"Wayback Machine\"). New Delhi: [National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/National_Consumer_Disputes_Redressal_Commission \"National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission\"). Accessed 25 June 2013.\n8. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-8)**\n   [\"(TAIWAN) CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW\"](http:\/\/luatcanhtranhvabaovenguoitieudung.wordpress.com\/2011\/06\/01\/taiwan-consumer-protection-law\/). 1 June 2011.\n9. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-9)**\n   [\"Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China\"](http:\/\/law.moj.gov.tw\/Eng\/news\/news_detail.aspx?id=189). *law.moj.gov.tw*.\n10. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-10)** Carol T. Juang, [\"The Taiwan Consumer Protection Law: Attempt to Protect Consumers Proves Ineffective\"](http:\/\/digital.law.washington.edu\/dspace-law\/bitstream\/handle\/1773.1\/885\/6PacRimLPolyJ219.pdf?sequence=1) Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association, 1997.\n11. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-11)**\n    [\"EU law and the balance of competences: A short guide and glossary, 2012\"](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/guidance\/eu-law-and-the-balance-of-competences-a-short-guide-and-glossary). Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2016.\n12. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-12)**\n    [\"New competition authority comes into existence\"](https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/new-competition-authority-comes-into-existence). *gov.uk*. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2020.\n13. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-13)**\n    [\"Revised Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20100821232355\/http:\/\/www.law.upenn.edu\/bll\/archives\/ulc\/fnact99\/1920_69\/rudtpa66.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.law.upenn.edu\/bll\/archives\/ulc\/fnact99\/1920_69\/rudtpa66.pdf) (PDF) on 21 August 2010 – via Penn Law.\n14. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-14)**\n    [\"Title 6 - Chapter 25. Prohibited Trade Practices - Subchapter III. Deceptive Trade Practices\"](https:\/\/delcode.delaware.gov\/title6\/c025\/sc03\/index.html). *Delaware Code Online*. [Archived](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20210126000707\/http:\/\/delcode.delaware.gov\/title6\/c025\/sc03\/index.shtml) from the original on 26 January 2021.\n15. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-15)**\n    [\"815 ILCS 510\/ Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act\"](http:\/\/www.ilga.gov\/legislation\/ilcs\/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2357&ChapterID=67). *www.ilga.gov*.\n16. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-16)**\n    [\"Title 10, §1212: Deceptive trade practices\"](http:\/\/www.mainelegislature.org\/legis\/statutes\/10\/title10sec1212.html). *www.mainelegislature.org*.\n17. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-17)**\n    [\"Nebraska State Statutes - Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20120117152328\/http:\/\/www.nebraskaautobody.com\/filedownloads\/deceptivetrade.html). *www.nebraskaautobody.com*. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.nebraskaautobody.com\/filedownloads\/deceptivetrade.html) on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011.\n18. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-18)**\n    [\"Missouri Revisor of Statutes - Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo, Missouri Law, MO Law\"](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20150213234218\/http:\/\/www.moga.mo.gov\/mostatutes\/stathtml\/40700000201.html). *www.moga.mo.gov*. Archived from [the original](http:\/\/www.moga.mo.gov\/mostatutes\/stathtml\/40700000201.html) on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.\n19. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-19)**\n    [\"Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help\"](https:\/\/consumer.ftc.gov\/articles\/buyers-remorse-ftcs-cooling-rule-may-help). *Consumer Advice*. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2022.\n20. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-20)**\n    [\"Consumer's Rights to Cancel Home Solicitation Contracts K-9 - California Department of Consumer Affairs\"](https:\/\/www.dca.ca.gov\/publications\/legal_guides\/k_9.shtml). *www.dca.ca.gov*. California Department of Consumer Affairs. September 2010.\n21. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-21)** Lewis D. Eigen, [\"A Solution to the Problem of Consumer Contracts That Cannot be Understood by Consumers Who Sign Them\"](http:\/\/scriptamus.wordpress.com\/2009\/11\/12\/a-solution-to-the-problem-of-consumer-contracts-that-cannot-be-understood-by-consumers\/), Scriptamus, 2009.\n22. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-22)**\n    [\"Section 9\"](https:\/\/malegislature.gov\/Laws\/GeneralLaws\/PartI\/TitleXV\/Chapter93A\/Section9). *The 191st general court of the commonwealth of Massachusetts*. Retrieved 11 April 2020.\n23. ^ [***a***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-0) [***b***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-1) [***c***](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-2)\n    [\"The Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law\"](https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/service-details\/the-massachusetts-consumer-protection-law). *Mass.gov*. Retrieved 12 April 2020.\n24. **[^](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-24)**\n    [*Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001*](http:\/\/www8.austlii.edu.au\/cgi-bin\/viewdb\/au\/legis\/cth\/consol_act\/asaica2001529\/), retrieved 3 July 2019\n\n- Mańko, Rafał. [\"The notion of 'consumer' in EU law\"](http:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/RegData\/bibliotheque\/briefing\/2013\/130477\/LDM_BRI\\(2013\\)130477_REV1_EN.pdf) (PDF). *Library Briefing*. Library of the European Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2013.\n- Consumer Rights Wiki. [consumerrights.wiki](https:\/\/consumerrights.wiki\/Main%20Page) with 1000+ articles on current\/past consumer rights violations and legal information.\n\n[![logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Wikisource-logo.svg\/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikisource-logo.svg)\n\nEnglish [Wikisource](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Wikisource \"Wikisource\") has original text related to this article:\n\n[![logo](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/d\/df\/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg\/40px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg)\n\n\\-[![](https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/thumb\/4\/4a\/Commons-logo.svg\/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png)](https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Commons-logo.svg) Media related to [Consumer protection](https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/Category:Consumer_protection \"commons:Category:Consumer protection\") at Wikimedia Commons\n\n- [Consumers International](http:\/\/www.consumersinternational.org\/)\n- [Role of Regulators in Consumer Protection: Discussion](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20150418044201\/http:\/\/www.policy.manchester.ac.uk\/resources\/regulation\/non-economic\/consumer_protection\/)\n- [Health-EU Portal](https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/health\/) Consumer Safety in the EU\n- [OECD Consumer Policy Toolkit Report](https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/sti\/consumer\/consumer-policy-toolkit-9789264079663-en.htm)\n- About [Econsumer.gov](https:\/\/web.archive.org\/web\/20110902051853\/http:\/\/www.econsumer.gov\/english\/about\/overview.shtm), a portal for consumers to report complaints concerning online and related transactions with foreign companies\n- [International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN)](https:\/\/icpen.org\/) study consumer","meta_canonical":null}

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Boilerpipe Text	From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Consumer Affairs" redirects here. For the dot-com company, see Consumer affairs . Consumer protection is the practice of safeguarding buyers of goods and services, and the public, against unfair practices in the marketplace . Consumer protection measures are often established by law. Such laws are intended to prevent businesses from engaging in fraud or specified unfair practices to gain an advantage over competitors or to mislead consumers. They may also provide additional protection for the general public which may be impacted by a product (or its production) even when they are not the direct purchaser or consumer of that product. For example, government regulations may require businesses to disclose detailed information about their products—particularly in areas where public health or safety is an issue, such as with food or automobiles. Consumer protection is linked to the idea of consumer rights and to the formation of consumer organizations , which help consumers make better choices in the marketplace and pursue complaints against businesses. Entities that promote consumer protection include government organizations (such as the Federal Trade Commission in the United States ), self-regulating business organizations (such as the Better Business Bureaus in the US, Canada , England , etc.), and non-governmental organizations that advocate for consumer protection laws and help to ensure their enforcement (such as consumer protection agencies and watchdog groups). [ 1 ] A consumer is defined as someone who acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing. Consumer interests can also serve consumers, consistent with economic efficiency, but this topic is treated in competition law. Consumer protection can also be asserted via non-government organizations and individuals as consumer activism. Efforts made for the protection of consumer's rights and interests include the right to: satisfaction of basic needs safety and health protection be informed choose and give consent be heard redress consumer education a healthy environment Consumer protection law or consumer law is considered as an area of law that regulates private law relationships between individual consumers and the businesses that sell those goods and services. Consumer protection covers a wide range of topics, including but not necessarily limited to product liability , privacy rights , unfair business practices , fraud , misrepresentation , and other consumer/business interactions. It is a way of preventing frauds and scams from service and sales contracts, eligible fraud, bill collector regulation, pricing, utility turnoffs, consolidation, personal loans that may lead to bankruptcy . There have been some arguments that consumer law is also a better way to engage in large-scale redistribution than tax law because it does not necessitate legislation and can be more efficient, given the complexities of tax law. [ 2 ] In Australia , the corresponding agency is the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission or the individual State Consumer Affairs agencies. The Australian Securities & Investments Commission has responsibility for consumer protection regulation of financial services and products. However, in practice, it does so through privately run EDR schemes such as the Australian Financial Complaints Authority . In Brazil, consumer protection is regulated by the Consumer's Defense Code ( Código de Defesa do Consumidor ), [ 3 ] as mandated by the 1988 Constitution of Brazil . Brazilian law mandates "The offer and presentation of products or services must ensure correct, clear, accurate and conspicuous information in the Portuguese language about their characteristics, qualities, quantity, composition, price, guarantee, validity and origin, among other data, as well as the risks they pose to the health and safety of consumers." [ 4 ] In Brazil, the consumer does not have to bring forward evidence that the defender is guilty. Instead, the defense has to bring forward evidence that they are innocent. [ 3 ] In the case of Brazil, they narrowly define what consumers, suppliers, products, and services are, so that they can protect consumers from international channels trade laws and protect them from negligence and misconduct from international suppliers. Several regulations in the European Union are concerned with consumer protection, including the Regulation on general product safety (GPSR) and the Directive (EU) 2024/2853 on liability for defective products. Germany , as a member state of the European Union , is bound by the consumer protection directives of the European Union; residents may be directly bound by EU regulations. A minister of the federal cabinet is responsible for consumer rights and protection ( Verbraucherschutzminister ). In the current cabinet of Friedrich Merz , this is Carsten Schneider . When issuing public warnings about products and services, the issuing authority has to take into account that this affects the supplier's constitutionally protected economic liberty, see Bundesverwaltungsgericht (Federal Administrative Court) Case 3 C 34.84, 71 BVerwGE 183. [ 5 ] Sign showing Code of Buyers. Fuel outlet, Jaipur Code of Seller. Fuel outlet, Jaipur In India , consumer protection is specified in The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 . Under this law, Separate Consumer Dispute Redress Forums have been set up throughout India in every district in which a consumer can file their complaint on a simple paper with nominal court fees and their complaint will be decided by the Presiding Officer of the District Level. The complaint can be filed by both the consumer of a goods as well as of the services. An appeal could be filed to the State Consumer Disputes Redress Commissions and after that to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissiaon (NCDRC). [ 6 ] The procedures in these tribunals are relatively less formal and more people-friendly and they also take less time to decide upon a consumer dispute [ 7 ] when compared to the years-long time taken by the traditional Indian judiciary . In recent years, many effective judgments have been passed by some state and National Consumer Forums. Indian Contract Act, 1872 lays down the conditions in which promises made by parties to a contract will be legally binding on each other. It also lays down the remedies available to the aggregate party if the other party fails to honor their promise. The Sale of Goods Act of 1930 provides some safeguards to buyers of goods if goods purchased do not fulfill the express or implied conditions and warranties. The Agriculture Produce Act of 1937 act provides grade standards for agricultural commodities and livestock products. It specifies the conditions which govern the use of standards and lays down the procedure for grading, marking, and packaging of agricultural produce. The quality mark provided under the act is known as AGMARK -Agriculture Marketing. The Nigerian government must protect its people from any form of harm to human health through the use and purchase of items to meet daily needs. In light of this, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), whose aim is to protect and enhance consumers' interest through information, education, and enforcement of the rights of consumers was established by an Act of Parliament o promote and protect the interest of consumers over all products and services. In a nutshell, it is empowered to eliminate hazardous & substandard goods from the market. Provide speedy redress to consumer complaints and petition arisen from fraud, unfair practice, and exploitation of the consumer. On 5 February 2019, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, assented to the new Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Bill, 2018. Thus, the bill became a law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and binding on entities and organizations so specified in the Act. The long title of the Act reads: "This Act establishes the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal for the promotion of competition in the Nigerian market at all levels by eliminating monopolies, prohibiting abuse of dominant market position and penalizing other restrictive trade and business practices." The Act further repealed the hitherto Nigerian Consumer Protection Council Act and transferred its core mandate to the new Commission. Modern Taiwanese law has been heavily influenced by the European civil law systems, particularly German and Swiss law. The Civil Code in Taiwan contains five books: General Principles, Obligations, Rights over Things, Family, and Succession. The second book of the Code, the Book of Obligations, provided the basis from which consumers could bring product liability actions prior to the enactment of the CPL. [ 8 ] [ 9 ] The Consumer Protection Law (CPL) in Taiwan , as promulgated on 11 January 1994, and effective on 13 January 1993, specifically protects the interests and safety of customers using the products or services provided by business operators. The Consumer Protection Commission of Executive Yuan serves as an ombudsman supervising, coordinating, reporting any unsafe products/services, and periodically reviewing the legislation. According to the Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association and the American Chamber of Commerce, in a 1997 critical study, the law has been criticized by stating that "although many agree that the intent of the CPL is fair, the CPL's various problems, such as ambiguous terminology, favoritism towards consumer protection groups, and the compensation liability defense, must be addressed before the CPL becomes a truly effective piece of legislation that will protect consumers" [ 10 ] The main consumer protection laws in the UK are the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the Consumer Rights Act 2015 . The United Kingdom has left the European Union , but during the transition period (until end of 2020) the UK was still bound by directives of the European Union. Specifics of the division of roles between the EU and the UK are detailed here. [ 11 ] Domestic UK laws originated within the ambit of contract and tort but, with the influence of EU law , it is emerging as an independent area of law. In many circumstances, where domestic law is in question, the matter is judicially treated as tort , contract , restitution or even criminal law . [ citation needed ] Consumer protection issues were dealt with by the Office of Fair Trading before 2014. Since then, the Competition and Markets Authority has taken on this role. [ 12 ] Consumer protection laws often mandate the posting of notices, such as this one which appears in all automotive repair shops in California. In the United States a variety of laws at both the federal and state levels have regulated consumer affairs since the early 20th century. Among them are the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act , Fair Debt Collection Practices Act , the Fair Credit Reporting Act , Truth in Lending Act , Fair Credit Billing Act , and the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act . Federal consumer protection laws are mainly enforced by the Federal Trade Commission , the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , the Food and Drug Administration , and the U.S. Department of Justice . At the state level, many states have adopted the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act [ 13 ] including, but not limited to, Delaware, [ 14 ] Illinois, [ 15 ] Maine, [ 16 ] and Nebraska. [ 17 ] The deceptive trade practices prohibited by the Uniform Act can be roughly subdivided into conduct involving either a) unfair or fraudulent business practices and b) untrue or misleading advertising. The Uniform Act contains a private remedy with attorneys fees for prevailing parties where the losing party "willfully engaged in the trade practice knowing it to be deceptive". Uniform Act §3(b). Missouri has a similar statute called the Merchandising Practices Act. [ 18 ] This statute allows local prosecutors or the Attorney General to press charges against people who knowingly use deceptive business practices in a consumer transaction and authorizes consumers to hire a private attorney to bring an action seeking their actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees. Also, the majority of states have a Department of Consumer Affairs devoted to regulating certain industries and protecting consumers who use goods and services from those industries. For example, in California, the California Department of Consumer Affairs regulates about 2.3 million professionals in over 230 different professions, through its forty regulatory entities. In addition, California encourages its consumers to act as private attorneys general through the liberal provisions of its Consumers Legal Remedies Act . State and federal laws provide for "cooling off" periods giving consumers the right to cancel contracts within a certain time period for several specified types of transactions, potentially including transactions entered into at home, and warranty and repair services contracts. [ 19 ] [ 20 ] Other states have been the leaders in specific aspects of consumer protection. For example, Florida, Delaware, and Minnesota have legislated requirements that contracts be written at reasonable readability levels as a large proportion of contracts cannot be understood by most consumers who sign them. [ 21 ] Considering the state of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law, MGL 93A, clearly highlights the rights and violations of consumer protection law in the state. The chapter explains what actions are considered illegal under the law for which a party can seek monetary damages from the other party at fault. [ 22 ] Some examples of practices that constitute a Chapter 93A violation would be when: A Business charges a consumer higher rates than the marked price The refund policy is not clearly posted where it can be readily noticed and understood A business fails to tell you relevant information regarding your product or service misleads you in any way. [ 23 ] The laws under MGL 93A prohibit activities that relate to overpricing to a consumer and the use of " Bait and Switch " techniques. A court will award the plaintiff the damages if they can prove the (1) defendant knowingly and intentionally violated the MGL 93A agreement or (2) the defendant would not "grant relief in bad faith" knowing that the actions violated the MGL 93A agreement. [ 23 ] Additionally, failure to disclose refund/ return policy, warranties, and critical information about the product/service are all in violation of the legislation, and can result in triple damages and lawyer fees. [ 23 ] Competition law Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 Consumer Rights Act 2015 Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002 Enterprise Act 2002 General Product Safety Regulations 2005 Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002/3045 Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973 Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 Consumer Product Safety Act – gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission the power to develop safety standards and pursue recalls for products Federal Trade Commission Act – created the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prevent unfair competition, deceptive acts, regulate trade, etc. Privacy laws United States National Do Not Call Registry – allows US consumers to limit telemarketing calls they receive. Food and drug Pure Food and Drug Act – led to the creation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate foods, drugs, and more. Communications Communications Act of 1934 – created the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to regulate all radio and interstate cable, phone, and satellite communications. Banking Fair Credit Reporting Act (FRCA) – regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer credit information Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) – eliminates abusive consumer practices, ensures fairness, etc. Truth in Lending Act (TILA) – requires clear disclosure of key terms of the lending arrangement and all costs. Real estate Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) – prohibits kickbacks and requires lenders to provide a good faith estimate of costs Health insurance Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – provides consumer protection for health information Digital media Digital Millennium Copyright Act – prohibits production or sale of devices or services intended to circumvent copyright measures. Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act (proposed) – would repeal the Digital Millennium Copyright Act The Australian Consumer Law Division 2 of Part 2 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 [ 24 ] about financial services and products. Airline complaints Antitrust Better Business Bureau Cannabis rights Class action Competition policy Competition regulator Consumer complaint Consumer organization Consumers International Cooling-off period Credit and debt Extended warranty Fairtrade labelling Federal Trade Commission Food safety List of food labeling regulations Mandatory labelling Ombudsman Planned obsolescence Product recall Telephone Consumer Protection Act Transparency (market) Unfair competition Florence Kelley Ralph Nader Phil Radford Michael Vernon ^ Robbins, Richard (4 April 2024). "How to Transport, Store, Move Portable Aluminum Soccer Goals" . Sports Equipment and Training for the Serious Athlete . Retrieved 19 September 2025 . ^ Van Loo, Rory (1 November 2019). "Broadening Consumer Law: Competition, Protection, and Distribution" . Notre Dame Law Review . 95 (1): 211. ^ a b "L8078" . www.planalto.gov.br . Retrieved 3 July 2019 . ^ "L8078" . www.planalto.gov.br . Retrieved 12 April 2020 . ^ "DFR - BVerwGE 71, 183 - Transparenzliste" . Archived from the original on 19 February 2007 . Retrieved 11 July 2006 . ^ "National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission" . ncdrc.nic.in . ^ V. Balakrishna Eradi, "Consumer Protection and National Consumer Disputes Redress Commission" Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine . New Delhi: National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission . Accessed 25 June 2013. ^ "(TAIWAN) CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW" . 1 June 2011. ^ "Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China" . law.moj.gov.tw . ^ Carol T. Juang, "The Taiwan Consumer Protection Law: Attempt to Protect Consumers Proves Ineffective" Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association, 1997. ^ "EU law and the balance of competences: A short guide and glossary, 2012" . Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 21 March 2013 . Retrieved 20 April 2016 . ^ "New competition authority comes into existence" . gov.uk . 1 October 2013 . Retrieved 15 January 2020 . ^ "Revised Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2010 – via Penn Law. ^ "Title 6 - Chapter 25. Prohibited Trade Practices - Subchapter III. Deceptive Trade Practices" . Delaware Code Online . Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. ^ "815 ILCS 510/ Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act" . www.ilga.gov . ^ "Title 10, §1212: Deceptive trade practices" . www.mainelegislature.org . ^ "Nebraska State Statutes - Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act" . www.nebraskaautobody.com . Archived from the original on 17 January 2012 . Retrieved 13 December 2011 . ^ "Missouri Revisor of Statutes - Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo, Missouri Law, MO Law" . www.moga.mo.gov . Archived from the original on 13 February 2015 . Retrieved 13 February 2015 . ^ "Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help" . Consumer Advice . 16 May 2021 . Retrieved 26 August 2022 . ^ "Consumer's Rights to Cancel Home Solicitation Contracts K-9 - California Department of Consumer Affairs" . www.dca.ca.gov . California Department of Consumer Affairs. September 2010. ^ Lewis D. Eigen, "A Solution to the Problem of Consumer Contracts That Cannot be Understood by Consumers Who Sign Them" , Scriptamus, 2009. ^ "Section 9" . The 191st general court of the commonwealth of Massachusetts . Retrieved 11 April 2020 . ^ a b c "The Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law" . Mass.gov . Retrieved 12 April 2020 . ^ Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 , retrieved 3 July 2019 Mańko, Rafał. "The notion of 'consumer' in EU law" (PDF) . Library Briefing . Library of the European Parliament . Retrieved 6 May 2013 . Consumer Rights Wiki. consumerrights.wiki with 1000+ articles on current/past consumer rights violations and legal information. English Wikisource has original text related to this article: - Media related to Consumer protection at Wikimedia Commons Consumers International Role of Regulators in Consumer Protection: Discussion Health-EU Portal Consumer Safety in the EU OECD Consumer Policy Toolkit Report About Econsumer.gov , a portal for consumers to report complaints concerning online and related transactions with foreign companies International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN) study consumer
Markdown	[Jump to content](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#bodyContent) Main menu Main menu move to sidebar hide Navigation - [Main page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page "Visit the main page [z]") - [Contents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents "Guides to browsing Wikipedia") - [Current events](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Current_events "Articles related to current events") - [Random article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random "Visit a randomly selected article [x]") - [About Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About "Learn about Wikipedia and how it works") - [Contact us](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contact_us "How to contact Wikipedia") Contribute - [Help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Contents "Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia") - [Learn to edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Introduction "Learn how to edit Wikipedia") - [Community portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Community_portal "The hub for editors") - [Recent changes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RecentChanges "A list of recent changes to Wikipedia [r]") - [Upload file](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:File_upload_wizard "Add images or other media for use on Wikipedia") - [Special pages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:SpecialPages "A list of all special pages [q]") [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/icons/enwiki-25.svg) ![Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-wordmark-en-25.svg) ![The Free Encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/static/images/mobile/copyright/wikipedia-tagline-en-25.svg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) [Search](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search "Search Wikipedia [f]") Appearance - [Donate](https://donate.wikimedia.org/?wmf_source=donate&wmf_medium=sidebar&wmf_campaign=en.wikipedia.org&uselang=en) - [Create account](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CreateAccount&returnto=Consumer+protection "You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory") - [Log in](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Consumer+protection "You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. 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[o]") ## Contents move to sidebar hide - [(Top)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection) - [1 Consumer law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#Consumer_law) Toggle Consumer law subsection - [1\.1 Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#Australia) - [1\.2 Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#Brazil) - [1\.3 European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#European_Union) - [1\.4 Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#Germany) - [1\.5 India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#India) - [1\.6 Nigeria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#Nigeria) - [1\.7 Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#Taiwan) - [1\.8 United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#United_Kingdom) - [1\.9 United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#United_States) - [2 Laws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#Laws) Toggle Laws subsection - [2\.1 United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#United_Kingdom_2) - [2\.2 United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#United_States_2) - [2\.3 Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#Australia_2) - [3 See also](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#See_also) Toggle See also subsection - [3\.1 Consumer issues](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#Consumer_issues) - [3\.2 People](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#People) - [4 References](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#References) - [5 Further reading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#Further_reading) - [6 External links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#External_links) Toggle the table of contents # Consumer protection 41 languages - [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%84%D9%83 "قانون حماية المستهلك – Arabic") - [Azərbaycanca](https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0stehlak%C3%A7%C4%B1_h%C3%BCquqlar%C4%B1n%C4%B1n_m%C3%BCdafi%C9%99si "İstehlakçı hüquqlarının müdafiəsi – Azerbaijani") - [Български](https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5 "Защита на потребителите – Bulgarian") - [Català](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dret_del_consumidor "Dret del consumidor – Catalan") - [کوردی](https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8E%D8%B2%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C_%D9%84%DB%95_%D8%A8%DB%95%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A8%DB%95%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86 "پارێزگاری لە بەکاربەران – Central Kurdish") - [Čeština](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochrana_spot%C5%99ebitele "Ochrana spotřebitele – Czech") - [Deutsch](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbraucherschutz "Verbraucherschutz – German") - [Ελληνικά](https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A0%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%AF%CE%B1_%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%BB%CF%89%CF%84%CE%AE "Προστασία καταναλωτή – Greek") - [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derecho_del_consumo "Derecho del consumo – Spanish") - [Eesti](https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarbijakaitse "Tarbijakaitse – Estonian") - [فارسی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA_%D8%A7%D8%B2_%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%81%E2%80%8C%DA%A9%D9%86%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87 "حمایت از مصرف‌کننده – Persian") - [Français](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droit_de_la_consommation "Droit de la consommation – French") - [Hausa](https://ha.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kariyar_mabu%C6%99aci "Kariyar mabuƙaci – Hausa") - [עברית](https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%94%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%AA_%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%9B%D7%9F "הגנת הצרכן – Hebrew") - [हिन्दी](https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%89%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%AD%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3 "उपभोक्ता संरक्षण – Hindi") - [Hrvatski](https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Za%C5%A1tita_potro%C5%A1a%C4%8Da "Zaštita potrošača – Croatian") - [Հայերեն](https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D5%8D%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%BC%D5%B8%D5%B2%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AB_%D5%AB%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%BE%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6%D6%84%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80%D5%AB_%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%B7%D5%BF%D5%BA%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6 "Սպառողների իրավունքների պաշտպանություն – Armenian") - [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perlindungan_konsumen "Perlindungan konsumen – Indonesian") - [Italiano](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutela_del_consumatore "Tutela del consumatore – Italian") - [日本語](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B6%88%E8%B2%BB%E8%80%85%E4%BF%9D%E8%AD%B7 "消費者保護 – Japanese") - [ಕನ್ನಡ](https://kn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B2%97%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B0%E0%B2%BE%E0%B2%B9%E0%B2%95%E0%B2%B0_%E0%B2%B8%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%B0%E0%B2%95%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B7%E0%B2%A3%E0%B3%86 "ಗ್ರಾಹಕರ ಸಂರಕ್ಷಣೆ – Kannada") - [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%86%8C%EB%B9%84%EC%9E%90%EB%B3%B4%ED%98%B8 "소비자보호 – Korean") - [Lëtzebuergesch](https://lb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konsumenteschutz "Konsumenteschutz – Luxembourgish") - [Македонски](https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%88%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%88%D1%83%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5 "Заштита на потрошувачите – Macedonian") - [മലയാളം](https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%89%E0%B4%AA%E0%B4%AD%E0%B5%8B%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%A4%E0%B5%83_%E0%B4%B8%E0%B4%82%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B7%E0%B4%A3_%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%AF%E0%B4%AE%E0%B4%82_1986 "ഉപഭോക്തൃ സംരക്ഷണ നിയമം 1986 – Malayalam") - [Bahasa Melayu](https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hak_pengguna "Hak pengguna – Malay") - [Nederlands](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumentenbescherming "Consumentenbescherming – Dutch") - [Polski](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochrona_praw_konsumenta "Ochrona praw konsumenta – Polish") - [Português](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direito_do_consumidor "Direito do consumidor – Portuguese") - [Română](https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drepturile_consumatorului "Drepturile consumatorului – Romanian") - [Русский](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%89%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2_%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B1%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B9 "Защита прав потребителей – Russian") - [Simple English](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection "Consumer protection – Simple English") - [Slovenščina](https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Za%C5%A1%C4%8Dita_potro%C5%A1nikov "Zaščita potrošnikov – Slovenian") - [Shqip](https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mbrojtja_e_konsumatorit "Mbrojtja e konsumatorit – Albanian") - [Svenska](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konsumentr%C3%A4tt "Konsumenträtt – Swedish") - [தமிழ்](https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%A8%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B5%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%B0%E0%AF%8D_%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B3%E0%AF%8D "நுகர்வோர் உரிமைகள் – Tamil") - [Türkçe](https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/T%C3%BCketici_haklar%C4%B1 "Tüketici hakları – Turkish") - [Українська](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%97%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2_%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%87%D1%96%D0%B2 "Захист прав споживачів – Ukrainian") - [Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча](https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iste%CA%BCmolchilar_huquqlarini_himoya_qilish "Isteʼmolchilar huquqlarini himoya qilish – Uzbek") - [Tiếng Việt](https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%E1%BA%A3o_v%E1%BB%87_ng%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Di_ti%C3%AAu_d%C3%B9ng "Bảo vệ người tiêu dùng – Vietnamese") - [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B6%88%E8%B4%B9%E8%80%85%E4%BF%9D%E6%8A%A4 "消费者保护 – Chinese") [Edit links](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q664183#sitelinks-wikipedia "Edit interlanguage links") - [Article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection "View the content page [c]") - [Talk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Consumer_protection "Discuss improvements to the content page [t]") English - [Read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection) - [Edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit "Edit this page [e]") - [View history](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=history "Past revisions of this page [h]") Tools Tools move to sidebar hide Actions - [Read](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection) - [Edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit "Edit this page [e]") - [View history](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=history) General - [What links here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:WhatLinksHere/Consumer_protection "List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [j]") - [Related changes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:RecentChangesLinked/Consumer_protection "Recent changes in pages linked from this page [k]") - 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[Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Consumer_protection) - [Wikidata item](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q664183 "Structured data on this page hosted by Wikidata [g]") Appearance move to sidebar hide From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Protection of consumers against unfair practices "Consumer Affairs" redirects here. For the dot-com company, see [Consumer affairs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_affairs "Consumer affairs"). \| \| \|---\| \| Part of [a series](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Rights "Category:Rights") on \| \| [Rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights "Rights") \| \| [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/HumanRightsLogo.svg/120px-HumanRightsLogo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HumanRightsLogo.svg) \| \| Theoretical distinctions \| \| [Claim and liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claim_rights_and_liberty_rights "Claim rights and liberty rights") [Individual and group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_and_group_rights "Individual and group rights") [Natural and legal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_rights_and_legal_rights "Natural rights and legal rights") [Negative and positive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative_and_positive_rights "Negative and positive rights") \| \| [Human rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights "Human rights") \| \| [Civil and political](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_and_political_rights "Civil and political rights") [Economic, social and cultural](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic,_social_and_cultural_rights "Economic, social and cultural rights") [Three generations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_generations_of_human_rights "Three generations of human rights") \| \| Rights by beneficiary \| \| [Accused](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rights_of_the_accused "Rights of the accused") [Animals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_rights "Animal rights") [Autistic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_rights_movement "Autism rights movement") [Children](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_rights "Children's rights") [Consumers]() [Creditors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creditors%27_rights "Creditors' rights") [Deaf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaf_rights_movement "Deaf rights movement") [Disabled](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability_rights_movement "Disability rights movement") [Elders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elder_rights "Elder rights") [Family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_rights "Family rights") [Farmers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Treaty_on_Plant_Genetic_Resources_for_Food_and_Agriculture#Farmers'_rights "International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture") [Fetus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_rights "Fetal rights") [Homeless](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeless_Bill_of_Rights "Homeless Bill of Rights") [Humans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights "Human rights") [Indigenous](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_rights "Indigenous rights") [Intersex](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex_human_rights "Intersex human rights") [Kings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings "Divine right of kings") [LGBTQ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_by_country_or_territory "LGBTQ rights by country or territory") [Transgender](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_rights "Transgender rights") [Life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_life "Right to life") [Men](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Men%27s_rights_movement "Men's rights movement") [Minorities](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minority_rights "Minority rights") [Parents](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parents%27_rights_movement "Parents' rights movement") [Fathers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fathers%27_rights_movement "Fathers' rights movement") [Mothers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothers%27_rights "Mothers' rights") [Patients](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patients%27_rights "Patients' rights") [Peasants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Declaration_on_the_Rights_of_Peasants "United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants") [Plants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_rights "Plant rights") [Prisoners](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoners%27_rights "Prisoners' rights") [Robots](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_of_artificial_intelligence#Robot_rights_or_AI_rights "Ethics of artificial intelligence") [States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States%27_rights "States' rights") [Students](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Student_rights "Student rights") [Victims](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victims%27_rights "Victims' rights") [Effective remedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_an_effective_remedy "Right to an effective remedy") [Women](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights "Women's rights") [Wind](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_rights "Wind rights") [Workers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_rights "Labor rights") [Youth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Youth_rights "Youth rights") \| \| Other groups of rights \| \| [Air](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedoms_of_the_air "Freedoms of the air") [Assembly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_assembly "Freedom of assembly") [Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_association "Freedom of association") [Asylum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_asylum "Right of asylum") [Civil liberties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_liberties "Civil liberties") [Clothing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_clothing "Right to clothing") [Death](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_die "Right to die") [Development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_development "Right to development") [Digital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights "Digital rights") [Education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_education "Right to education") [Elective](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elective_rights "Elective rights") [Environment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_a_healthy_environment "Right to a healthy environment") [Fair trial](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_a_fair_trial "Right to a fair trial") [Food](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_food "Right to food") [Guns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_keep_and_bear_arms "Right to keep and bear arms") [Health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_health "Right to health") [Housing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_housing "Right to housing") [Linguistic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguistic_rights "Linguistic rights") [Movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_movement "Freedom of movement") [Personal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_rights "Personal rights") [Personality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_rights "Personality rights") [Privacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_privacy "Right to privacy") [Property](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_property "Right to property") [Public participation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_public_participation "Right to public participation") [Repair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_repair "Right to repair") [Resist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_resist "Right to resist") [Rest and leisure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_rest_and_leisure "Right to rest and leisure") [Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_revolution "Right of revolution") [Security](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_of_person "Security of person") [Sexual and reproductive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_and_reproductive_health_and_rights "Sexual and reproductive health and rights") [Abortion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion-rights "Abortion-rights") [Reproductive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reproductive_rights "Reproductive rights") [Sexuality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_sexuality "Right to sexuality") [Self defense](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_self-defense "Right of self-defense") [Self-determination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-determination "Self-determination") [Speech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech "Freedom of speech") [Substantive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substantive_rights "Substantive rights") [Unenumerated](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unenumerated_rights "Unenumerated rights") [Voting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_rights "Voting rights") [Water and sanitation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_right_to_water_and_sanitation "Human right to water and sanitation") \| \| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Rights "Template:Rights") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Rights "Template talk:Rights") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Rights "Special:EditPage/Template:Rights") \| Consumer protection is the practice of safeguarding buyers of goods and services, and the public, against unfair practices in the [marketplace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketplace "Marketplace"). [Consumer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer "Consumer") protection measures are often established by law. Such laws are intended to prevent businesses from engaging in [fraud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraud "Fraud") or specified [unfair practices](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-competitive_practices "Anti-competitive practices") to gain an advantage over competitors or to mislead consumers. They may also provide additional protection for the general public which may be impacted by a product (or its production) even when they are not the direct purchaser or consumer of that product. For example, government regulations may require businesses to disclose detailed information about their products—particularly in areas where public health or safety is an issue, such as with food or automobiles. Consumer protection is linked to the idea of consumer rights and to the formation of [consumer organizations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_organization "Consumer organization"), which help consumers make better choices in the marketplace and pursue complaints against businesses. Entities that promote consumer protection include government organizations (such as the [Federal Trade Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission "Federal Trade Commission") in the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States "United States")), self-regulating business organizations (such as the [Better Business Bureaus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Business_Bureau "Better Business Bureau") in the US, [Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada "Canada"), [England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England "England"), etc.), and [non-governmental organizations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organization "Non-governmental organization") that advocate for consumer protection laws and help to ensure their enforcement (such as consumer protection agencies and watchdog groups).[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-1) A consumer is defined as someone who acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing. Consumer interests can also serve consumers, consistent with economic efficiency, but this topic is treated in competition law. Consumer protection can also be asserted via [non-government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organization "Non-governmental organization") organizations and individuals as consumer activism. Efforts made for the protection of consumer's rights and interests include the right to: - satisfaction of [basic needs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_needs "Basic needs") - safety and health protection - be informed - choose and give [consent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consent "Consent") - be heard - [redress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redress "Redress") - [consumer education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_education "Consumer education") - [a healthy environment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_a_healthy_environment "Right to a healthy environment") ## Consumer law \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=1 "Edit section: Consumer law")\] Consumer protection law or consumer law is considered as an area of law that regulates [private law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_law "Private law") relationships between individual consumers and the businesses that sell those goods and services. Consumer protection covers a wide range of topics, including but not necessarily limited to [product liability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_liability "Product liability"), [privacy rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_rights "Privacy rights"), [unfair business practices](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_business_practices "Unfair business practices"), [fraud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraud "Fraud"), [misrepresentation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misrepresentation "Misrepresentation"), and other consumer/business interactions. It is a way of preventing frauds and scams from service and sales contracts, eligible fraud, bill collector regulation, pricing, utility turnoffs, consolidation, [personal loans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_loans "Personal loans") that may lead to [bankruptcy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankruptcy "Bankruptcy"). There have been some arguments that consumer law is also a better way to engage in large-scale redistribution than [tax law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_law "Tax law") because it does not necessitate legislation and can be more efficient, given the complexities of tax law.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-2) ### Australia \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=2 "Edit section: Australia")\] In [Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia "Australia"), the corresponding agency is the [Australian Competition & Consumer Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Competition_%26_Consumer_Commission "Australian Competition & Consumer Commission") or the individual State Consumer Affairs agencies. The [Australian Securities & Investments Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Securities_%26_Investments_Commission "Australian Securities & Investments Commission") has responsibility for consumer protection regulation of financial services and products. However, in practice, it does so through privately run EDR schemes such as the [Australian Financial Complaints Authority](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Financial_Complaints_Authority "Australian Financial Complaints Authority"). ### Brazil \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=3 "Edit section: Brazil")\] In Brazil, consumer protection is regulated by the Consumer's Defense Code ([Código de Defesa do Consumidor](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B3digo_de_Defesa_do_Consumidor "pt:Código de Defesa do Consumidor")),[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:0-3) as mandated by the [1988 Constitution of Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Brazil "Constitution of Brazil"). Brazilian law mandates "The offer and presentation of products or services must ensure correct, clear, accurate and conspicuous information in the Portuguese language about their characteristics, qualities, quantity, composition, price, guarantee, validity and origin, among other data, as well as the risks they pose to the health and safety of consumers."[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:1-4) In Brazil, the consumer does not have to bring forward evidence that the defender is guilty. Instead, the defense has to bring forward evidence that they are innocent.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:0-3) In the case of Brazil, they narrowly define what consumers, suppliers, products, and services are, so that they can protect consumers from international channels trade laws and protect them from negligence and misconduct from international suppliers. ### European Union \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=4 "Edit section: European Union")\] Main article: [European consumer law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_consumer_law "European consumer law") Several regulations in the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union "European Union") are concerned with consumer protection, including the [Regulation on general product safety](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_\(EU\)_2023/988 "Regulation (EU) 2023/988") (GPSR) and the [Directive (EU) 2024/2853](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_\(EU\)_2024/2853 "Directive (EU) 2024/2853") on liability for defective products. ### Germany \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=5 "Edit section: Germany")\] [Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany "Germany"), as a member state of the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union "European Union"), is bound by the consumer protection [directives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Directive "European Directive") of the European Union; residents may be directly bound by EU regulations. A minister of the federal cabinet is responsible for consumer rights and protection (Verbraucherschutzminister). In the [current cabinet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merz_cabinet "Merz cabinet") of [Friedrich Merz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Merz "Friedrich Merz"), this is [Carsten Schneider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carsten_Schneider "Carsten Schneider"). When issuing public warnings about products and services, the issuing authority has to take into account that this affects the supplier's constitutionally protected economic liberty, see [Bundesverwaltungsgericht](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundesverwaltungsgericht "Bundesverwaltungsgericht") (Federal Administrative Court) Case 3 C 34.84, 71 BVerwGE 183.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-5) ### India \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=6 "Edit section: India")\] See also: [Consumer Protection Act, 1986](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Protection_Act,_1986 "Consumer Protection Act, 1986") [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg/250px-Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet,_Jaipur.jpg) Sign showing Code of Buyers. Fuel outlet, [Jaipur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipur "Jaipur") [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg/250px-Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet,_Jaipur.jpg) Code of Seller. Fuel outlet, Jaipur In [India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India "India"), consumer protection is specified in The [Consumer Protection Act, 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Protection_Act,_2019 "Consumer Protection Act, 2019"). Under this law, Separate Consumer Dispute Redress Forums have been set up throughout India in every district in which a consumer can file their complaint on a simple paper with nominal court fees and their complaint will be decided by the Presiding Officer of the District Level. The complaint can be filed by both the consumer of a goods as well as of the services. An appeal could be filed to the State Consumer Disputes Redress Commissions and after that to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissiaon (NCDRC).[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-6) The procedures in these [tribunals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribunal "Tribunal") are relatively less formal and more people-friendly and they also take less time to decide upon a consumer dispute[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-CONSUMER_PROTECTION_AND_NATIONAL_CONSUMER_DISPUTES_REDRESS_COMMISSION-7) when compared to the years-long time taken by the traditional [Indian judiciary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_judiciary "Indian judiciary"). In recent years, many effective judgments have been passed by some state and National Consumer Forums. [Indian Contract Act, 1872](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Contract_Act,_1872 "Indian Contract Act, 1872") lays down the conditions in which promises made by parties to a contract will be legally binding on each other. It also lays down the remedies available to the aggregate party if the other party fails to honor their promise. The Sale of Goods Act of 1930 provides some safeguards to buyers of goods if goods purchased do not fulfill the express or implied conditions and warranties. The Agriculture Produce Act of 1937 act provides grade standards for agricultural commodities and livestock products. It specifies the conditions which govern the use of standards and lays down the procedure for grading, marking, and packaging of agricultural produce. The quality mark provided under the act is known as [AGMARK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGMARK "AGMARK")\-Agriculture Marketing. ### Nigeria \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Nigeria")\] The Nigerian government must protect its people from any form of harm to human health through the use and purchase of items to meet daily needs. In light of this, the [Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Competition_and_Consumer_Protection_Commission "Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission") (FCCPC), whose aim is to protect and enhance consumers' interest through information, education, and enforcement of the rights of consumers was established by an Act of Parliament o promote and protect the interest of consumers over all products and services. In a nutshell, it is empowered to eliminate hazardous & substandard goods from the market. Provide speedy redress to consumer complaints and petition arisen from fraud, unfair practice, and exploitation of the consumer. On 5 February 2019, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, assented to the new Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Bill, 2018. Thus, the bill became a law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and binding on entities and organizations so specified in the Act. The long title of the Act reads: "This Act establishes the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal for the promotion of competition in the Nigerian market at all levels by eliminating monopolies, prohibiting abuse of dominant market position and penalizing other restrictive trade and business practices." The Act further repealed the hitherto Nigerian Consumer Protection Council Act and transferred its core mandate to the new Commission. ### Taiwan \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=8 "Edit section: Taiwan")\] Modern Taiwanese law has been heavily influenced by the European civil law systems, particularly German and Swiss law. The Civil Code in Taiwan contains five books: General Principles, Obligations, Rights over Things, Family, and Succession. The second book of the Code, the Book of Obligations, provided the basis from which consumers could bring product liability actions prior to the enactment of the CPL.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-8)[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-9) The Consumer Protection Law (CPL) in [Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan "Taiwan"), as promulgated on 11 January 1994, and effective on 13 January 1993, specifically protects the interests and safety of customers using the products or services provided by business operators. The Consumer Protection Commission of Executive Yuan serves as an ombudsman supervising, coordinating, reporting any unsafe products/services, and periodically reviewing the legislation. According to the Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association and the American Chamber of Commerce, in a 1997 critical study, the law has been criticized by stating that "although many agree that the intent of the CPL is fair, the CPL's various problems, such as ambiguous terminology, favoritism towards consumer protection groups, and the compensation liability defense, must be addressed before the CPL becomes a truly effective piece of legislation that will protect consumers"[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-10) ### United Kingdom \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=9 "Edit section: United Kingdom")\] Main article: [Consumer protection in the United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection_in_the_United_Kingdom "Consumer protection in the United Kingdom") The main consumer protection laws in the UK are the [Consumer Protection Act 1987](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Protection_Act_1987 "Consumer Protection Act 1987") and the [Consumer Rights Act 2015](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Rights_Act_2015 "Consumer Rights Act 2015"). The [United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom "United Kingdom") has left the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union "European Union"), but during the transition period (until end of 2020) the UK was still bound by [directives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Directive "European Directive") of the European Union. Specifics of the division of roles between the EU and the UK are detailed here.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-11) Domestic UK laws originated within the ambit of [contract](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract "Contract") and [tort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort "Tort") but, with the influence of [EU law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EU_law "EU law"), it is emerging as an independent area of law. In many circumstances, where domestic law is in question, the matter is judicially treated as [tort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort "Tort"), [contract](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract "Contract"), [restitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restitution "Restitution") or even [criminal law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_law "Criminal law").\[[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")\] Consumer protection issues were dealt with by the [Office of Fair Trading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Fair_Trading "Office of Fair Trading") before 2014. Since then, the [Competition and Markets Authority](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_and_Markets_Authority "Competition and Markets Authority") has taken on this role.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-12) ### United States \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=10 "Edit section: United States")\] [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg/250px-CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg) Consumer protection laws often mandate the posting of notices, such as this one which appears in all [automotive repair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_mechanic "Auto mechanic") shops in California. In the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States "United States") a variety of laws at both the federal and state levels have regulated consumer affairs since the early 20th century. Among them are the [Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Food,_Drug,_and_Cosmetic_Act "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act"), [Fair Debt Collection Practices Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Debt_Collection_Practices_Act "Fair Debt Collection Practices Act"), the [Fair Credit Reporting Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Credit_Reporting_Act "Fair Credit Reporting Act"), [Truth in Lending Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_in_Lending_Act "Truth in Lending Act"), [Fair Credit Billing Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Credit_Billing_Act "Fair Credit Billing Act"), and the [Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramm%E2%80%93Leach%E2%80%93Bliley_Act "Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act"). Federal consumer protection laws are mainly enforced by the [Federal Trade Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission "Federal Trade Commission"), the [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Financial_Protection_Bureau "Consumer Financial Protection Bureau"), the [Food and Drug Administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_and_Drug_Administration "Food and Drug Administration"), and the [U.S. Department of Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Department_of_Justice "U.S. Department of Justice"). At the state level, many states have adopted the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-13) including, but not limited to, Delaware,[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-14) Illinois,[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-15) Maine,[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-16) and Nebraska.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-17) The deceptive trade practices prohibited by the Uniform Act can be roughly subdivided into conduct involving either a) unfair or fraudulent business practices and b) untrue or misleading advertising. The Uniform Act contains a private remedy with attorneys fees for prevailing parties where the losing party "willfully engaged in the trade practice knowing it to be deceptive". Uniform Act §3(b). Missouri has a similar statute called the Merchandising Practices Act.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-18) This statute allows local prosecutors or the Attorney General to press charges against people who knowingly use deceptive business practices in a consumer transaction and authorizes consumers to hire a private attorney to bring an action seeking their actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees. Also, the majority of states have a Department of Consumer Affairs devoted to regulating certain industries and protecting consumers who use goods and services from those industries. For example, in California, the [California Department of Consumer Affairs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Consumer_Affairs "California Department of Consumer Affairs") regulates about 2.3 million professionals in over 230 different professions, through its forty regulatory entities. In addition, California encourages its consumers to act as [private attorneys general](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_attorney_general "Private attorney general") through the liberal provisions of its [Consumers Legal Remedies Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers_Legal_Remedies_Act "Consumers Legal Remedies Act"). State and federal laws provide for "cooling off" periods giving consumers the right to cancel contracts within a certain time period for several specified types of transactions, potentially including transactions entered into at home, and warranty and repair services contracts.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-19)[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-20) Other states have been the leaders in specific aspects of consumer protection. For example, Florida, Delaware, and Minnesota have legislated requirements that contracts be written at reasonable readability levels as a large proportion of contracts cannot be understood by most consumers who sign them.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-21) Considering the state of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law, MGL 93A, clearly highlights the rights and violations of consumer protection law in the state. The chapter explains what actions are considered illegal under the law for which a party can seek monetary damages from the other party at fault.[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-22) Some examples of practices that constitute a Chapter 93A violation would be when: 1. A Business charges a consumer higher rates than the marked price 2. The refund policy is not clearly posted where it can be readily noticed and understood 3. A business fails to tell you relevant information regarding your product or service misleads you in any way.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23) The laws under MGL 93A prohibit activities that relate to overpricing to a consumer and the use of "[Bait and Switch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait-and-switch "Bait-and-switch")" techniques. A court will award the plaintiff the damages if they can prove the (1) defendant knowingly and intentionally violated the MGL 93A agreement or (2) the defendant would not "grant relief in bad faith" knowing that the actions violated the MGL 93A agreement.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23) Additionally, failure to disclose refund/ return policy, warranties, and critical information about the product/service are all in violation of the legislation, and can result in triple damages and lawyer fees.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23) ## Laws \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=11 "Edit section: Laws")\] - [Competition law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_law "Competition law") ### United Kingdom \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=12 "Edit section: United Kingdom")\] - [Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Protection_\(Distance_Selling\)_Regulations_2000 "Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000") - [Consumer Rights Act 2015](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Rights_Act_2015 "Consumer Rights Act 2015") - [Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Commerce_Regulations_2002 "Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002") - [Enterprise Act 2002](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_Act_2002 "Enterprise Act 2002") - [General Product Safety Regulations 2005](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Product_Safety_Regulations_2005 "General Product Safety Regulations 2005") - Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002/3045 - [Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_of_Goods_\(Implied_Terms\)_Act_1973 "Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973") - [Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_of_Goods_and_Services_Act_1982 "Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982") - [Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_Contract_Terms_Act_1977 "Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977") - [Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_Terms_in_Consumer_Contracts_Regulations_1999 "Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999") ### United States \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=13 "Edit section: United States")\] - [Consumer Product Safety Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Product_Safety_Act "Consumer Product Safety Act") – gives the [Consumer Product Safety Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Product_Safety_Commission "Consumer Product Safety Commission") the power to develop safety standards and pursue recalls for products - [Federal Trade Commission Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission_Act "Federal Trade Commission Act") – created the [Federal Trade Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission "Federal Trade Commission") (FTC) to prevent unfair competition, deceptive acts, regulate trade, etc. [Privacy laws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_laws_of_the_United_States "Privacy laws of the United States") - [United States National Do Not Call Registry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Do_Not_Call_Registry "United States National Do Not Call Registry") – allows US consumers to limit telemarketing calls they receive. Food and drug - [Pure Food and Drug Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_Food_and_Drug_Act "Pure Food and Drug Act") – led to the creation of the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Food_and_Drug_Administration "U.S. Food and Drug Administration") (FDA) to regulate foods, drugs, and more. Communications - [Communications Act of 1934](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Act_of_1934 "Communications Act of 1934") – created the [Federal Communications Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission "Federal Communications Commission") (FCC) to regulate all radio and interstate cable, phone, and satellite communications. [Banking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_regulation "Bank regulation") - [Fair Credit Reporting Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Credit_Reporting_Act "Fair Credit Reporting Act") (FRCA) – regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer credit information - [Fair Debt Collection Practices Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Debt_Collection_Practices_Act "Fair Debt Collection Practices Act") (FDCPA) – eliminates abusive consumer practices, ensures fairness, etc. - [Truth in Lending Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_in_Lending_Act "Truth in Lending Act") (TILA) – requires clear disclosure of key terms of the lending arrangement and all costs. Real estate - [Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Estate_Settlement_Procedures_Act "Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act") (RESPA) – prohibits kickbacks and requires lenders to provide a good faith estimate of costs [Health insurance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance_in_the_United_States "Health insurance in the United States") - [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Insurance_Portability_and_Accountability_Act "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act") (HIPAA) – provides consumer protection for health information Digital media - [Digital Millennium Copyright Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act "Digital Millennium Copyright Act") – prohibits production or sale of devices or services intended to circumvent copyright measures. - [Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Media_Consumers%27_Rights_Act "Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act") (proposed) – would repeal the [Digital Millennium Copyright Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act "Digital Millennium Copyright Act") ### Australia \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=14 "Edit section: Australia")\] - The [Australian Consumer Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Consumer_Law "Australian Consumer Law") - Division 2 of Part 2 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-24) about financial services and products. ## See also \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=15 "Edit section: See also")\] ### Consumer issues \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=16 "Edit section: Consumer issues")\] - [Airline complaints](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_complaints "Airline complaints") - [Antitrust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antitrust "Antitrust") - [Better Business Bureau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Business_Bureau "Better Business Bureau") - [Cannabis rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_rights "Cannabis rights") - [Class action](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_action "Class action") - [Competition policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_policy "Competition policy") - [Competition regulator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_regulator "Competition regulator") - [Consumer complaint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_complaint "Consumer complaint") - [Consumer organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_organization "Consumer organization") - [Consumers International](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers_International "Consumers International") - [Cooling-off period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling-off_period_\(consumer_rights\) "Cooling-off period (consumer rights)") - [Credit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_\(finance\) "Credit (finance)") and [debt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debt "Debt") - [Extended warranty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_warranty "Extended warranty") - [Fairtrade labelling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairtrade_labelling "Fairtrade labelling") - [Federal Trade Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission "Federal Trade Commission") - [Food safety](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_safety "Food safety") - [List of food labeling regulations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_food_labeling_regulations "List of food labeling regulations") - [Mandatory labelling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_labelling "Mandatory labelling") - [Ombudsman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ombudsman "Ombudsman") - [Planned obsolescence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence "Planned obsolescence") - [Product recall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_recall "Product recall") - [Telephone Consumer Protection Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_Consumer_Protection_Act "Telephone Consumer Protection Act") - [Transparency (market)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transparency_\(market\) "Transparency (market)") - [Unfair competition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_competition "Unfair competition") ### People \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=17 "Edit section: People")\] - [Florence Kelley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Kelley "Florence Kelley") - [Ralph Nader](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Nader "Ralph Nader") - [Phil Radford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Radford "Phil Radford") - [Michael Vernon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Vernon "Michael Vernon") ## References \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=18 "Edit section: References")\] 1. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-1) Robbins, Richard (4 April 2024). ["How to Transport, Store, Move Portable Aluminum Soccer Goals"](https://robbinsathletics.com/transport-storage-aluminum-goals/). Sports Equipment and Training for the Serious Athlete. Retrieved 19 September 2025. 2. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-2) Van Loo, Rory (1 November 2019). ["Broadening Consumer Law: Competition, Protection, and Distribution"](https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/679). Notre Dame Law Review. 95 (1): 211. 3. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["L8078"](http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/L8078.htm). www.planalto.gov.br. Retrieved 3 July 2019. 4. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:1_4-0)* ["L8078"](http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L8078.htm). www.planalto.gov.br. Retrieved 12 April 2020. 5. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-5) ["DFR - BVerwGE 71, 183 - Transparenzliste"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070219032816/http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/dfr/vw071183.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/dfr/vw071183.html) on 19 February 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2006. 6. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-6) ["National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission"](http://ncdrc.nic.in/). ncdrc.nic.in. 7. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-CONSUMER_PROTECTION_AND_NATIONAL_CONSUMER_DISPUTES_REDRESS_COMMISSION_7-0) V. Balakrishna Eradi, ["Consumer Protection and National Consumer Disputes Redress Commission"](http://ncdrc.nic.in/%7Cpublisher=NCDRC) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172525/http://ncdrc.nic.in/) 21 July 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayback_Machine "Wayback Machine"). New Delhi: [National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Consumer_Disputes_Redressal_Commission "National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission"). Accessed 25 June 2013. 8. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-8) ["(TAIWAN) CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW"](http://luatcanhtranhvabaovenguoitieudung.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/taiwan-consumer-protection-law/). 1 June 2011. 9. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-9) ["Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China"](http://law.moj.gov.tw/Eng/news/news_detail.aspx?id=189). law.moj.gov.tw. 10. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-10) Carol T. Juang, ["The Taiwan Consumer Protection Law: Attempt to Protect Consumers Proves Ineffective"](http://digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/handle/1773.1/885/6PacRimLPolyJ219.pdf?sequence=1) Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association, 1997. 11. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-11) ["EU law and the balance of competences: A short guide and glossary, 2012"](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-law-and-the-balance-of-competences-a-short-guide-and-glossary). Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2016. 12. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-12) ["New competition authority comes into existence"](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-competition-authority-comes-into-existence). gov.uk. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2020. 13. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-13) ["Revised Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100821232355/http://www.law.upenn.edu/bll/archives/ulc/fnact99/1920_69/rudtpa66.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.law.upenn.edu/bll/archives/ulc/fnact99/1920_69/rudtpa66.pdf) (PDF) on 21 August 2010 – via Penn Law. 14. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-14) ["Title 6 - Chapter 25. Prohibited Trade Practices - Subchapter III. Deceptive Trade Practices"](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title6/c025/sc03/index.html). Delaware Code Online. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210126000707/http://delcode.delaware.gov/title6/c025/sc03/index.shtml) from the original on 26 January 2021. 15. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-15) ["815 ILCS 510/ Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act"](http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2357&ChapterID=67). www.ilga.gov. 16. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-16) ["Title 10, §1212: Deceptive trade practices"](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/10/title10sec1212.html). www.mainelegislature.org. 17. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-17) ["Nebraska State Statutes - Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120117152328/http://www.nebraskaautobody.com/filedownloads/deceptivetrade.html). www.nebraskaautobody.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.nebraskaautobody.com/filedownloads/deceptivetrade.html) on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011. 18. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-18) ["Missouri Revisor of Statutes - Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo, Missouri Law, MO Law"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150213234218/http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/40700000201.html). www.moga.mo.gov. Archived from [the original](http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/40700000201.html) on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015. 19. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-19) ["Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help"](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/buyers-remorse-ftcs-cooling-rule-may-help). Consumer Advice. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2022. 20. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-20) ["Consumer's Rights to Cancel Home Solicitation Contracts K-9 - California Department of Consumer Affairs"](https://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/k_9.shtml). www.dca.ca.gov. California Department of Consumer Affairs. September 2010. 21. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-21) Lewis D. Eigen, ["A Solution to the Problem of Consumer Contracts That Cannot be Understood by Consumers Who Sign Them"](http://scriptamus.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/a-solution-to-the-problem-of-consumer-contracts-that-cannot-be-understood-by-consumers/), Scriptamus, 2009. 22. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-22) ["Section 9"](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter93A/Section9). The 191st general court of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 11 April 2020. 23. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-1) [c](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-2) ["The Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law"](https://www.mass.gov/service-details/the-massachusetts-consumer-protection-law). Mass.gov. Retrieved 12 April 2020. 24. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-24)* [Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001](http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/cth/consol_act/asaica2001529/), retrieved 3 July 2019 ## Further reading \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=19 "Edit section: Further reading")\] - Mańko, Rafał. ["The notion of 'consumer' in EU law"](http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/bibliotheque/briefing/2013/130477/LDM_BRI\(2013\)130477_REV1_EN.pdf) (PDF). Library Briefing. Library of the European Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2013. - Consumer Rights Wiki. [consumerrights.wiki](https://consumerrights.wiki/Main%20Page) with 1000+ articles on current/past consumer rights violations and legal information. ## External links \[[edit](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&action=edit&section=20 "Edit section: External links")\] [![logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) English [Wikisource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource") has original text related to this article: [Category:National Consumer Protection Week](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/en:Category:National_Consumer_Protection_Week "s:en:Category:National Consumer Protection Week") [![logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/40px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg) Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: *[Legal and Regulatory Issues in the Information Economy](https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Legal_and_Regulatory_Issues_in_the_Information_Economy "wikibooks:Legal and Regulatory Issues in the Information Economy")* \-[![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg) Media related to [Consumer protection](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Consumer_protection "commons:Category:Consumer protection") at Wikimedia Commons - [Consumers International](http://www.consumersinternational.org/) - [Role of Regulators in Consumer Protection: Discussion](https://web.archive.org/web/20150418044201/http://www.policy.manchester.ac.uk/resources/regulation/non-economic/consumer_protection/) - [Health-EU Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/health/) Consumer Safety in the EU - [OECD Consumer Policy Toolkit Report](https://www.oecd.org/sti/consumer/consumer-policy-toolkit-9789264079663-en.htm) - About [Econsumer.gov](https://web.archive.org/web/20110902051853/http://www.econsumer.gov/english/about/overview.shtm), a portal for consumers to report complaints concerning online and related transactions with foreign companies - [International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN)](https://icpen.org/) study consumer \| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Consumerism "Template:Consumerism") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Consumerism "Template talk:Consumerism") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Consumerism "Special:EditPage/Template:Consumerism")[Consumerism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism "Consumerism") \| \| \|---\|---\| \| the philosophy of and activism for [consumer protection]() \| \| \| Concepts \| [Consumerism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumerism "Consumerism") [Consumer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer "Consumer") [Anti-consumerism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-consumerism "Anti-consumerism") [Consumer capitalism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_capitalism "Consumer capitalism") [Consumer privacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_privacy "Consumer privacy") [Consumer protection]() [Consumer revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_revolution "Consumer revolution") [Consumer welfare standard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_welfare_standard "Consumer welfare standard") [Ethical consumerism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical_consumerism "Ethical consumerism") [Informed consumer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informed_consumer "Informed consumer") \| \| Activism \| [Consumer activism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_activism "Consumer activism") [Consumer Bill of Rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Bill_of_Rights "Consumer Bill of Rights") [Consumer complaint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_complaint "Consumer complaint") [Consumer education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_education "Consumer education") [Consumer movement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_movement "Consumer movement") [Collaborative consumption](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_consumption "Collaborative consumption") [United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Guidelines_for_Consumer_Protection "United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection") \| \| Fields of study \| [Consumer math](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_math "Consumer math") [Euthenics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthenics "Euthenics") [Home economics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_economics "Home economics") \| \| Key players \| [Consumer organizations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_organization "Consumer organization") [list](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_consumer_organizations "List of consumer organizations") [Consumers' Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers%27_Association_\(disambiguation\) "Consumers' Association (disambiguation)") [Ellen Swallow Richards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Swallow_Richards "Ellen Swallow Richards") [Ralph Nader](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Nader "Ralph Nader") [Esther Peterson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Peterson "Esther Peterson") \| ![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=1) Retrieved from "<https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Consumer_protection&oldid=1343944282>" [Categories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"): - 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Readable Markdown	From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Consumer Affairs" redirects here. For the dot-com company, see [Consumer affairs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_affairs "Consumer affairs"). Consumer protection is the practice of safeguarding buyers of goods and services, and the public, against unfair practices in the [marketplace](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketplace "Marketplace"). [Consumer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer "Consumer") protection measures are often established by law. Such laws are intended to prevent businesses from engaging in [fraud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraud "Fraud") or specified [unfair practices](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-competitive_practices "Anti-competitive practices") to gain an advantage over competitors or to mislead consumers. They may also provide additional protection for the general public which may be impacted by a product (or its production) even when they are not the direct purchaser or consumer of that product. For example, government regulations may require businesses to disclose detailed information about their products—particularly in areas where public health or safety is an issue, such as with food or automobiles. Consumer protection is linked to the idea of consumer rights and to the formation of [consumer organizations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_organization "Consumer organization"), which help consumers make better choices in the marketplace and pursue complaints against businesses. Entities that promote consumer protection include government organizations (such as the [Federal Trade Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission "Federal Trade Commission") in the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States "United States")), self-regulating business organizations (such as the [Better Business Bureaus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Business_Bureau "Better Business Bureau") in the US, [Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada "Canada"), [England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England "England"), etc.), and [non-governmental organizations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organization "Non-governmental organization") that advocate for consumer protection laws and help to ensure their enforcement (such as consumer protection agencies and watchdog groups).[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-1) A consumer is defined as someone who acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing. Consumer interests can also serve consumers, consistent with economic efficiency, but this topic is treated in competition law. Consumer protection can also be asserted via [non-government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organization "Non-governmental organization") organizations and individuals as consumer activism. Efforts made for the protection of consumer's rights and interests include the right to: - satisfaction of [basic needs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_needs "Basic needs") - safety and health protection - be informed - choose and give [consent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consent "Consent") - be heard - [redress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redress "Redress") - [consumer education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_education "Consumer education") - [a healthy environment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_a_healthy_environment "Right to a healthy environment") Consumer protection law or consumer law is considered as an area of law that regulates [private law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_law "Private law") relationships between individual consumers and the businesses that sell those goods and services. Consumer protection covers a wide range of topics, including but not necessarily limited to [product liability](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_liability "Product liability"), [privacy rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_rights "Privacy rights"), [unfair business practices](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_business_practices "Unfair business practices"), [fraud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraud "Fraud"), [misrepresentation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misrepresentation "Misrepresentation"), and other consumer/business interactions. It is a way of preventing frauds and scams from service and sales contracts, eligible fraud, bill collector regulation, pricing, utility turnoffs, consolidation, [personal loans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_loans "Personal loans") that may lead to [bankruptcy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bankruptcy "Bankruptcy"). There have been some arguments that consumer law is also a better way to engage in large-scale redistribution than [tax law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_law "Tax law") because it does not necessitate legislation and can be more efficient, given the complexities of tax law.[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-2) In [Australia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia "Australia"), the corresponding agency is the [Australian Competition & Consumer Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Competition_%26_Consumer_Commission "Australian Competition & Consumer Commission") or the individual State Consumer Affairs agencies. The [Australian Securities & Investments Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Securities_%26_Investments_Commission "Australian Securities & Investments Commission") has responsibility for consumer protection regulation of financial services and products. However, in practice, it does so through privately run EDR schemes such as the [Australian Financial Complaints Authority](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Financial_Complaints_Authority "Australian Financial Complaints Authority"). In Brazil, consumer protection is regulated by the Consumer's Defense Code ([Código de Defesa do Consumidor](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B3digo_de_Defesa_do_Consumidor "pt:Código de Defesa do Consumidor")),[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:0-3) as mandated by the [1988 Constitution of Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Brazil "Constitution of Brazil"). Brazilian law mandates "The offer and presentation of products or services must ensure correct, clear, accurate and conspicuous information in the Portuguese language about their characteristics, qualities, quantity, composition, price, guarantee, validity and origin, among other data, as well as the risks they pose to the health and safety of consumers."[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:1-4) In Brazil, the consumer does not have to bring forward evidence that the defender is guilty. Instead, the defense has to bring forward evidence that they are innocent.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-:0-3) In the case of Brazil, they narrowly define what consumers, suppliers, products, and services are, so that they can protect consumers from international channels trade laws and protect them from negligence and misconduct from international suppliers. Several regulations in the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union "European Union") are concerned with consumer protection, including the [Regulation on general product safety](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_\(EU\)_2023/988 "Regulation (EU) 2023/988") (GPSR) and the [Directive (EU) 2024/2853](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directive_\(EU\)_2024/2853 "Directive (EU) 2024/2853") on liability for defective products. [Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany "Germany"), as a member state of the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union "European Union"), is bound by the consumer protection [directives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Directive "European Directive") of the European Union; residents may be directly bound by EU regulations. A minister of the federal cabinet is responsible for consumer rights and protection (Verbraucherschutzminister). In the [current cabinet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merz_cabinet "Merz cabinet") of [Friedrich Merz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Merz "Friedrich Merz"), this is [Carsten Schneider](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carsten_Schneider "Carsten Schneider"). When issuing public warnings about products and services, the issuing authority has to take into account that this affects the supplier's constitutionally protected economic liberty, see [Bundesverwaltungsgericht](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundesverwaltungsgericht "Bundesverwaltungsgericht") (Federal Administrative Court) Case 3 C 34.84, 71 BVerwGE 183.[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-5) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg/250px-Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sign_showing_Code_of_Buyers._Fuel_outlet,_Jaipur.jpg) Sign showing Code of Buyers. Fuel outlet, [Jaipur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaipur "Jaipur") [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg/250px-Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet%2C_Jaipur.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Code_of_Seller._Fuel_outlet,_Jaipur.jpg) Code of Seller. Fuel outlet, Jaipur In [India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India "India"), consumer protection is specified in The [Consumer Protection Act, 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Protection_Act,_2019 "Consumer Protection Act, 2019"). Under this law, Separate Consumer Dispute Redress Forums have been set up throughout India in every district in which a consumer can file their complaint on a simple paper with nominal court fees and their complaint will be decided by the Presiding Officer of the District Level. The complaint can be filed by both the consumer of a goods as well as of the services. An appeal could be filed to the State Consumer Disputes Redress Commissions and after that to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commissiaon (NCDRC).[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-6) The procedures in these [tribunals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribunal "Tribunal") are relatively less formal and more people-friendly and they also take less time to decide upon a consumer dispute[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-CONSUMER_PROTECTION_AND_NATIONAL_CONSUMER_DISPUTES_REDRESS_COMMISSION-7) when compared to the years-long time taken by the traditional [Indian judiciary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_judiciary "Indian judiciary"). In recent years, many effective judgments have been passed by some state and National Consumer Forums. [Indian Contract Act, 1872](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Contract_Act,_1872 "Indian Contract Act, 1872") lays down the conditions in which promises made by parties to a contract will be legally binding on each other. It also lays down the remedies available to the aggregate party if the other party fails to honor their promise. The Sale of Goods Act of 1930 provides some safeguards to buyers of goods if goods purchased do not fulfill the express or implied conditions and warranties. The Agriculture Produce Act of 1937 act provides grade standards for agricultural commodities and livestock products. It specifies the conditions which govern the use of standards and lays down the procedure for grading, marking, and packaging of agricultural produce. The quality mark provided under the act is known as [AGMARK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGMARK "AGMARK")\-Agriculture Marketing. The Nigerian government must protect its people from any form of harm to human health through the use and purchase of items to meet daily needs. In light of this, the [Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Competition_and_Consumer_Protection_Commission "Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission") (FCCPC), whose aim is to protect and enhance consumers' interest through information, education, and enforcement of the rights of consumers was established by an Act of Parliament o promote and protect the interest of consumers over all products and services. In a nutshell, it is empowered to eliminate hazardous & substandard goods from the market. Provide speedy redress to consumer complaints and petition arisen from fraud, unfair practice, and exploitation of the consumer. On 5 February 2019, the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, assented to the new Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Bill, 2018. Thus, the bill became a law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and binding on entities and organizations so specified in the Act. The long title of the Act reads: "This Act establishes the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal for the promotion of competition in the Nigerian market at all levels by eliminating monopolies, prohibiting abuse of dominant market position and penalizing other restrictive trade and business practices." The Act further repealed the hitherto Nigerian Consumer Protection Council Act and transferred its core mandate to the new Commission. Modern Taiwanese law has been heavily influenced by the European civil law systems, particularly German and Swiss law. The Civil Code in Taiwan contains five books: General Principles, Obligations, Rights over Things, Family, and Succession. The second book of the Code, the Book of Obligations, provided the basis from which consumers could bring product liability actions prior to the enactment of the CPL.[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-8)[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-9) The Consumer Protection Law (CPL) in [Taiwan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan "Taiwan"), as promulgated on 11 January 1994, and effective on 13 January 1993, specifically protects the interests and safety of customers using the products or services provided by business operators. The Consumer Protection Commission of Executive Yuan serves as an ombudsman supervising, coordinating, reporting any unsafe products/services, and periodically reviewing the legislation. According to the Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association and the American Chamber of Commerce, in a 1997 critical study, the law has been criticized by stating that "although many agree that the intent of the CPL is fair, the CPL's various problems, such as ambiguous terminology, favoritism towards consumer protection groups, and the compensation liability defense, must be addressed before the CPL becomes a truly effective piece of legislation that will protect consumers"[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-10) The main consumer protection laws in the UK are the [Consumer Protection Act 1987](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Protection_Act_1987 "Consumer Protection Act 1987") and the [Consumer Rights Act 2015](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Rights_Act_2015 "Consumer Rights Act 2015"). The [United Kingdom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom "United Kingdom") has left the [European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union "European Union"), but during the transition period (until end of 2020) the UK was still bound by [directives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Directive "European Directive") of the European Union. Specifics of the division of roles between the EU and the UK are detailed here.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-11) Domestic UK laws originated within the ambit of [contract](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract "Contract") and [tort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort "Tort") but, with the influence of [EU law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EU_law "EU law"), it is emerging as an independent area of law. In many circumstances, where domestic law is in question, the matter is judicially treated as [tort](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort "Tort"), [contract](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contract "Contract"), [restitution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restitution "Restitution") or even [criminal law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_law "Criminal law").\[[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed "Wikipedia:Citation needed")\] Consumer protection issues were dealt with by the [Office of Fair Trading](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Fair_Trading "Office of Fair Trading") before 2014. Since then, the [Competition and Markets Authority](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_and_Markets_Authority "Competition and Markets Authority") has taken on this role.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-12) [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg/250px-CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CDCA_auto_repair_notice.jpg) Consumer protection laws often mandate the posting of notices, such as this one which appears in all [automotive repair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_mechanic "Auto mechanic") shops in California. In the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States "United States") a variety of laws at both the federal and state levels have regulated consumer affairs since the early 20th century. Among them are the [Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Food,_Drug,_and_Cosmetic_Act "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act"), [Fair Debt Collection Practices Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Debt_Collection_Practices_Act "Fair Debt Collection Practices Act"), the [Fair Credit Reporting Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Credit_Reporting_Act "Fair Credit Reporting Act"), [Truth in Lending Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_in_Lending_Act "Truth in Lending Act"), [Fair Credit Billing Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Credit_Billing_Act "Fair Credit Billing Act"), and the [Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramm%E2%80%93Leach%E2%80%93Bliley_Act "Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act"). Federal consumer protection laws are mainly enforced by the [Federal Trade Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission "Federal Trade Commission"), the [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Financial_Protection_Bureau "Consumer Financial Protection Bureau"), the [Food and Drug Administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_and_Drug_Administration "Food and Drug Administration"), and the [U.S. Department of Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Department_of_Justice "U.S. Department of Justice"). At the state level, many states have adopted the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-13) including, but not limited to, Delaware,[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-14) Illinois,[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-15) Maine,[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-16) and Nebraska.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-17) The deceptive trade practices prohibited by the Uniform Act can be roughly subdivided into conduct involving either a) unfair or fraudulent business practices and b) untrue or misleading advertising. The Uniform Act contains a private remedy with attorneys fees for prevailing parties where the losing party "willfully engaged in the trade practice knowing it to be deceptive". Uniform Act §3(b). Missouri has a similar statute called the Merchandising Practices Act.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-18) This statute allows local prosecutors or the Attorney General to press charges against people who knowingly use deceptive business practices in a consumer transaction and authorizes consumers to hire a private attorney to bring an action seeking their actual damages, punitive damages, and attorney's fees. Also, the majority of states have a Department of Consumer Affairs devoted to regulating certain industries and protecting consumers who use goods and services from those industries. For example, in California, the [California Department of Consumer Affairs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Department_of_Consumer_Affairs "California Department of Consumer Affairs") regulates about 2.3 million professionals in over 230 different professions, through its forty regulatory entities. In addition, California encourages its consumers to act as [private attorneys general](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_attorney_general "Private attorney general") through the liberal provisions of its [Consumers Legal Remedies Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers_Legal_Remedies_Act "Consumers Legal Remedies Act"). State and federal laws provide for "cooling off" periods giving consumers the right to cancel contracts within a certain time period for several specified types of transactions, potentially including transactions entered into at home, and warranty and repair services contracts.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-19)[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-20) Other states have been the leaders in specific aspects of consumer protection. For example, Florida, Delaware, and Minnesota have legislated requirements that contracts be written at reasonable readability levels as a large proportion of contracts cannot be understood by most consumers who sign them.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-21) Considering the state of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law, MGL 93A, clearly highlights the rights and violations of consumer protection law in the state. The chapter explains what actions are considered illegal under the law for which a party can seek monetary damages from the other party at fault.[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-22) Some examples of practices that constitute a Chapter 93A violation would be when: 1. A Business charges a consumer higher rates than the marked price 2. The refund policy is not clearly posted where it can be readily noticed and understood 3. A business fails to tell you relevant information regarding your product or service misleads you in any way.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23) The laws under MGL 93A prohibit activities that relate to overpricing to a consumer and the use of "[Bait and Switch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait-and-switch "Bait-and-switch")" techniques. A court will award the plaintiff the damages if they can prove the (1) defendant knowingly and intentionally violated the MGL 93A agreement or (2) the defendant would not "grant relief in bad faith" knowing that the actions violated the MGL 93A agreement.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23) Additionally, failure to disclose refund/ return policy, warranties, and critical information about the product/service are all in violation of the legislation, and can result in triple damages and lawyer fees.[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-mass.gov-23) - [Competition law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_law "Competition law") - [Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Protection_\(Distance_Selling\)_Regulations_2000 "Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000") - [Consumer Rights Act 2015](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Rights_Act_2015 "Consumer Rights Act 2015") - [Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_Commerce_Regulations_2002 "Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002") - [Enterprise Act 2002](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_Act_2002 "Enterprise Act 2002") - [General Product Safety Regulations 2005](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Product_Safety_Regulations_2005 "General Product Safety Regulations 2005") - Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002/3045 - [Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_of_Goods_\(Implied_Terms\)_Act_1973 "Supply of Goods (Implied Terms) Act 1973") - [Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_of_Goods_and_Services_Act_1982 "Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982") - [Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_Contract_Terms_Act_1977 "Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977") - [Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_Terms_in_Consumer_Contracts_Regulations_1999 "Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999") - [Consumer Product Safety Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Product_Safety_Act "Consumer Product Safety Act") – gives the [Consumer Product Safety Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Product_Safety_Commission "Consumer Product Safety Commission") the power to develop safety standards and pursue recalls for products - [Federal Trade Commission Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission_Act "Federal Trade Commission Act") – created the [Federal Trade Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission "Federal Trade Commission") (FTC) to prevent unfair competition, deceptive acts, regulate trade, etc. [Privacy laws](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_laws_of_the_United_States "Privacy laws of the United States") - [United States National Do Not Call Registry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Do_Not_Call_Registry "United States National Do Not Call Registry") – allows US consumers to limit telemarketing calls they receive. Food and drug - [Pure Food and Drug Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pure_Food_and_Drug_Act "Pure Food and Drug Act") – led to the creation of the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Food_and_Drug_Administration "U.S. Food and Drug Administration") (FDA) to regulate foods, drugs, and more. Communications - [Communications Act of 1934](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Act_of_1934 "Communications Act of 1934") – created the [Federal Communications Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Communications_Commission "Federal Communications Commission") (FCC) to regulate all radio and interstate cable, phone, and satellite communications. [Banking](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_regulation "Bank regulation") - [Fair Credit Reporting Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Credit_Reporting_Act "Fair Credit Reporting Act") (FRCA) – regulates the collection, dissemination, and use of consumer credit information - [Fair Debt Collection Practices Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Debt_Collection_Practices_Act "Fair Debt Collection Practices Act") (FDCPA) – eliminates abusive consumer practices, ensures fairness, etc. - [Truth in Lending Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_in_Lending_Act "Truth in Lending Act") (TILA) – requires clear disclosure of key terms of the lending arrangement and all costs. Real estate - [Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Estate_Settlement_Procedures_Act "Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act") (RESPA) – prohibits kickbacks and requires lenders to provide a good faith estimate of costs [Health insurance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance_in_the_United_States "Health insurance in the United States") - [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_Insurance_Portability_and_Accountability_Act "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act") (HIPAA) – provides consumer protection for health information Digital media - [Digital Millennium Copyright Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act "Digital Millennium Copyright Act") – prohibits production or sale of devices or services intended to circumvent copyright measures. - [Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Media_Consumers%27_Rights_Act "Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act") (proposed) – would repeal the [Digital Millennium Copyright Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act "Digital Millennium Copyright Act") - The [Australian Consumer Law](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Consumer_Law "Australian Consumer Law") - Division 2 of Part 2 of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_note-24) about financial services and products. - [Airline complaints](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_complaints "Airline complaints") - [Antitrust](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antitrust "Antitrust") - [Better Business Bureau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Business_Bureau "Better Business Bureau") - [Cannabis rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_rights "Cannabis rights") - [Class action](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Class_action "Class action") - [Competition policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_policy "Competition policy") - [Competition regulator](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition_regulator "Competition regulator") - [Consumer complaint](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_complaint "Consumer complaint") - [Consumer organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_organization "Consumer organization") - [Consumers International](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers_International "Consumers International") - [Cooling-off period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling-off_period_\(consumer_rights\) "Cooling-off period (consumer rights)") - [Credit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_\(finance\) "Credit (finance)") and [debt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debt "Debt") - [Extended warranty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_warranty "Extended warranty") - [Fairtrade labelling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairtrade_labelling "Fairtrade labelling") - [Federal Trade Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission "Federal Trade Commission") - [Food safety](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_safety "Food safety") - [List of food labeling regulations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_food_labeling_regulations "List of food labeling regulations") - [Mandatory labelling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_labelling "Mandatory labelling") - [Ombudsman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ombudsman "Ombudsman") - [Planned obsolescence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_obsolescence "Planned obsolescence") - [Product recall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Product_recall "Product recall") - [Telephone Consumer Protection Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_Consumer_Protection_Act "Telephone Consumer Protection Act") - [Transparency (market)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transparency_\(market\) "Transparency (market)") - [Unfair competition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unfair_competition "Unfair competition") - [Florence Kelley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Kelley "Florence Kelley") - [Ralph Nader](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Nader "Ralph Nader") - [Phil Radford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Radford "Phil Radford") - [Michael Vernon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Vernon "Michael Vernon") 1. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-1) Robbins, Richard (4 April 2024). ["How to Transport, Store, Move Portable Aluminum Soccer Goals"](https://robbinsathletics.com/transport-storage-aluminum-goals/). Sports Equipment and Training for the Serious Athlete. Retrieved 19 September 2025. 2. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-2) Van Loo, Rory (1 November 2019). ["Broadening Consumer Law: Competition, Protection, and Distribution"](https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/679). Notre Dame Law Review. 95 (1): 211. 3. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["L8078"](http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/L8078.htm). www.planalto.gov.br. Retrieved 3 July 2019. 4. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-:1_4-0)* ["L8078"](http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L8078.htm). www.planalto.gov.br. Retrieved 12 April 2020. 5. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-5) ["DFR - BVerwGE 71, 183 - Transparenzliste"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070219032816/http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/dfr/vw071183.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/dfr/vw071183.html) on 19 February 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2006. 6. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-6) ["National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission"](http://ncdrc.nic.in/). ncdrc.nic.in. 7. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-CONSUMER_PROTECTION_AND_NATIONAL_CONSUMER_DISPUTES_REDRESS_COMMISSION_7-0) V. Balakrishna Eradi, ["Consumer Protection and National Consumer Disputes Redress Commission"](http://ncdrc.nic.in/%7Cpublisher=NCDRC) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110721172525/http://ncdrc.nic.in/) 21 July 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayback_Machine "Wayback Machine"). New Delhi: [National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Consumer_Disputes_Redressal_Commission "National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission"). Accessed 25 June 2013. 8. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-8) ["(TAIWAN) CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW"](http://luatcanhtranhvabaovenguoitieudung.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/taiwan-consumer-protection-law/). 1 June 2011. 9. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-9) ["Laws & Regulations Database of The Republic of China"](http://law.moj.gov.tw/Eng/news/news_detail.aspx?id=189). law.moj.gov.tw. 10. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-10) Carol T. Juang, ["The Taiwan Consumer Protection Law: Attempt to Protect Consumers Proves Ineffective"](http://digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/handle/1773.1/885/6PacRimLPolyJ219.pdf?sequence=1) Pacific Rim Law & Policy Association, 1997. 11. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-11) ["EU law and the balance of competences: A short guide and glossary, 2012"](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-law-and-the-balance-of-competences-a-short-guide-and-glossary). Foreign & Commonwealth Office. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2016. 12. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-12) ["New competition authority comes into existence"](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-competition-authority-comes-into-existence). gov.uk. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2020. 13. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-13) ["Revised Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100821232355/http://www.law.upenn.edu/bll/archives/ulc/fnact99/1920_69/rudtpa66.pdf) (PDF). Archived from [the original](http://www.law.upenn.edu/bll/archives/ulc/fnact99/1920_69/rudtpa66.pdf) (PDF) on 21 August 2010 – via Penn Law. 14. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-14) ["Title 6 - Chapter 25. Prohibited Trade Practices - Subchapter III. Deceptive Trade Practices"](https://delcode.delaware.gov/title6/c025/sc03/index.html). Delaware Code Online. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210126000707/http://delcode.delaware.gov/title6/c025/sc03/index.shtml) from the original on 26 January 2021. 15. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-15) ["815 ILCS 510/ Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act"](http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=2357&ChapterID=67). www.ilga.gov. 16. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-16) ["Title 10, §1212: Deceptive trade practices"](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/10/title10sec1212.html). www.mainelegislature.org. 17. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-17) ["Nebraska State Statutes - Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120117152328/http://www.nebraskaautobody.com/filedownloads/deceptivetrade.html). www.nebraskaautobody.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.nebraskaautobody.com/filedownloads/deceptivetrade.html) on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2011. 18. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-18) ["Missouri Revisor of Statutes - Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo, Missouri Law, MO Law"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150213234218/http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/40700000201.html). www.moga.mo.gov. Archived from [the original](http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/40700000201.html) on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015. 19. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-19) ["Buyer's Remorse: The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule May Help"](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/buyers-remorse-ftcs-cooling-rule-may-help). Consumer Advice. 16 May 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2022. 20. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-20) ["Consumer's Rights to Cancel Home Solicitation Contracts K-9 - California Department of Consumer Affairs"](https://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/legal_guides/k_9.shtml). www.dca.ca.gov. California Department of Consumer Affairs. September 2010. 21. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-21) Lewis D. Eigen, ["A Solution to the Problem of Consumer Contracts That Cannot be Understood by Consumers Who Sign Them"](http://scriptamus.wordpress.com/2009/11/12/a-solution-to-the-problem-of-consumer-contracts-that-cannot-be-understood-by-consumers/), Scriptamus, 2009. 22. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-22) ["Section 9"](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXV/Chapter93A/Section9). The 191st general court of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 11 April 2020. 23. ^ [*a](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-0) [b](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-1) [c](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-mass.gov_23-2) ["The Massachusetts Consumer Protection Law"](https://www.mass.gov/service-details/the-massachusetts-consumer-protection-law). Mass.gov. Retrieved 12 April 2020. 24. [^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_protection#cite_ref-24)* [Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001](http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/cth/consol_act/asaica2001529/), retrieved 3 July 2019 - Mańko, Rafał. ["The notion of 'consumer' in EU law"](http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/bibliotheque/briefing/2013/130477/LDM_BRI\(2013\)130477_REV1_EN.pdf) (PDF). Library Briefing. Library of the European Parliament. Retrieved 6 May 2013. - Consumer Rights Wiki. [consumerrights.wiki](https://consumerrights.wiki/Main%20Page) with 1000+ articles on current/past consumer rights violations and legal information. [![logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/40px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikisource-logo.svg) English [Wikisource](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikisource "Wikisource") has original text related to this article: [![logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg/40px-Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wikibooks-logo-en-noslogan.svg) \-[![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/20px-Commons-logo.svg.png)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg) Media related to [Consumer protection](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Consumer_protection "commons:Category:Consumer protection") at Wikimedia Commons - [Consumers International](http://www.consumersinternational.org/) - [Role of Regulators in Consumer Protection: Discussion](https://web.archive.org/web/20150418044201/http://www.policy.manchester.ac.uk/resources/regulation/non-economic/consumer_protection/) - [Health-EU Portal](https://ec.europa.eu/health/) Consumer Safety in the EU - [OECD Consumer Policy Toolkit Report](https://www.oecd.org/sti/consumer/consumer-policy-toolkit-9789264079663-en.htm) - About [Econsumer.gov](https://web.archive.org/web/20110902051853/http://www.econsumer.gov/english/about/overview.shtm), a portal for consumers to report complaints concerning online and related transactions with foreign companies - [International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN)](https://icpen.org/) study consumer
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