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[LII](https://www.law.cornell.edu/) 2. [Wex](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex) 3. consumer protection laws # consumer protection laws Consumer protection laws safeguard [buyers](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/buyer) of [goods](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/goods) and services from [deceptive](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/deception), unfair, or [fraudulent](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fraud) practices. Historically, under the [common law](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/common_law) [doctrine](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/doctrine) of [*caveat emptor*](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/caveat_emptor) (“let the buyer beware”), consumers had little recourse against misleading or one-sided sales. Modern consumer protection regimes developed to address these limits, particularly in [adhesion contracts](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/adhesion_contract) where common law fraud doctrines offered limited [remedies](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/remedy). In the United States, consumer protection is governed by both federal and state law. At the federal level, the [Federal Trade Commission Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/45) prohibits “[unfair or deceptive acts or practices](https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=15-USC-1223246321-767021130&term_occur=999&term_src=title:15:chapter:2:subchapter:I:section:45).” The [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/) regulates lending, credit, and related financial services under the [Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/dodd-frank). Specialized [statutes](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/statute) provide additional protections, including the [Truth in Lending Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/truth_in_lending_act_\(tila\)), the [Fair Debt Collection Practices Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fair_debt_collection_practices_act), and the [Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/21/chapter-9) for product safety. States supplement federal law through their own consumer protection statutes and enforcement by state [attorneys general](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/attorney_general). Every state has an unfair or deceptive acts or practices statute (often called a “little FTC Act”) that prohibits [false advertising](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/false_advertising) and consumer misrepresentation. States also regulate particular industries such as [insurance](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/insurance), [real estate](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/real_property), and professional licensing. Although these laws provide remedies, enforcement often depends on [administrative agencies](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/administrative_agency) because individual consumers face cost and time barriers in bringing [claims](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/claim). Since the 1970s, however, federal and state agencies have significantly expanded enforcement efforts, making consumer protection a central feature of modern regulatory law. See also: [Justia’s Consumer Protection Law Center](https://www.justia.com/consumer/) \[Last reviewed in September of 2025 by the [Wex Definitions Team](https://about.law.cornell.edu/project/wex-definitions/)\] **Wex** - [COMMERCE](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/commerce) - [commercial activities](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/commercial-activities) - [consumer protection](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/consumer-protection) - [business law](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/business-law) - [wex definitions](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/wex-definitions) ## Wex Toolbox *** *** - [Accessibility](https://www.law.cornell.edu/lii/about/accessibility) - [About LII](https://www.law.cornell.edu/lii/about/about_lii) - [Contact us](https://www.law.cornell.edu/lii/about/contact_us) - [Advertise here](https://www.law.cornell.edu/lii/help_out/sponsor) - [Help](https://www.law.cornell.edu/lii/help) - [Terms of use](https://www.law.cornell.edu/lii/terms/documentation) - [Privacy](https://www.law.cornell.edu/lii/terms/privacy_policy) - [](https://www.law.cornell.edu/ "LII home page")

Consumer protection laws safeguard [buyers](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/buyer) of [goods](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/goods) and services from [deceptive](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/deception), unfair, or [fraudulent](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fraud) practices. Historically, under the [common law](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/common_law) [doctrine](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/doctrine) of [*caveat emptor*](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/caveat_emptor) (“let the buyer beware”), consumers had little recourse against misleading or one-sided sales. Modern consumer protection regimes developed to address these limits, particularly in [adhesion contracts](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/adhesion_contract) where common law fraud doctrines offered limited [remedies](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/remedy). In the United States, consumer protection is governed by both federal and state law. At the federal level, the [Federal Trade Commission Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/45) prohibits “[unfair or deceptive acts or practices](https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=15-USC-1223246321-767021130&term_occur=999&term_src=title:15:chapter:2:subchapter:I:section:45).” The [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/) regulates lending, credit, and related financial services under the [Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/dodd-frank). Specialized [statutes](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/statute) provide additional protections, including the [Truth in Lending Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/truth_in_lending_act_\(tila\)), the [Fair Debt Collection Practices Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/fair_debt_collection_practices_act), and the [Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/21/chapter-9) for product safety. States supplement federal law through their own consumer protection statutes and enforcement by state [attorneys general](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/attorney_general). Every state has an unfair or deceptive acts or practices statute (often called a “little FTC Act”) that prohibits [false advertising](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/false_advertising) and consumer misrepresentation. States also regulate particular industries such as [insurance](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/insurance), [real estate](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/real_property), and professional licensing. Although these laws provide remedies, enforcement often depends on [administrative agencies](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/administrative_agency) because individual consumers face cost and time barriers in bringing [claims](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/claim). Since the 1970s, however, federal and state agencies have significantly expanded enforcement efforts, making consumer protection a central feature of modern regulatory law. See also: [Justia’s Consumer Protection Law Center](https://www.justia.com/consumer/) \[Last reviewed in September of 2025 by the [Wex Definitions Team](https://about.law.cornell.edu/project/wex-definitions/)\] **Wex** - [COMMERCE](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/commerce) - [commercial activities](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/commercial-activities) - [consumer protection](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/consumer-protection) - [business law](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/business-law) - [wex definitions](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/category/wex-definitions)