Historically, consumer advocates have assumed a somewhat adversarial role in exposing unfair business practices or unsafe products that threaten the welfare of the general public. Reader's Digest. business practices that could draw the attention of consumer advocates. revelations of underhanded business practices spurred the creation of Many other government agencies have responsibilities that include the safety of consumers, among their many responsibilities. Facebook; Twitter; Linked-In; If you work with traditionally underserved communities — whether you’re a legal aid provider, a TESOL or other teacher, or an advocate — the FTC’s resources can help. Revolt Against Regulation: The Rise and Pause of the Consumer Movement. Legislative controls applying to food and drug manufacturers prohibit them from adding or removing anything from the product they sell that would make it injurious to health. Persons may sue collectors for violating the law and can collect up to $1,000 and attorneys' fees for a violation. Historically, consumer advocates have assumed a somewhat adversarial role in exposing unfair business practices or unsafe products that threaten the welfare of the general public. A group of people also may sue a debt collector and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector's net worth, whichever is less. Nader's 1991. Consumer advocacy refers to actions taken by individuals or groups to promote and protect the interests of the buying public. country's most outspoken and controversial consumer advocates, It is the job of the CPSC to protect consumers from faulty or dangerous products by enacting mandatory safety standards for those products. St. Paul, Minn.: West Wadsworth. Consumer advocacy group Gas Pump Watch recently released a legal analysis alleging that petroleum refiners engaged in illegal business practices to "constrict gasoline supplies and maximize profits through the rapid elimination of reformulated gasoline containing methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE)." Its usefulness as a vehicle for spreading consumer information quickly and widely has made it one of the primary means by which public interest advocates mobilize opposition to corporate policies. ), also known as the Truth in Lending Act, prohibits lenders from advertising loan terms that are only available to preferred borrowers. Among these safeguards (exemplified in England’s Sale of Goods Act of 1893) is the one that states that whenever a buyer, expressly or by implication, makes known to the seller the particular purpose for which the goods are required, thus relying on the seller’s skill or judgment, there is an implied condition that the goods sold shall be reasonably fit for such a purpose. Nader's effective and well-publicized denunciations of the American automobile industry included class-action lawsuits and calls for recalls of allegedly defective products, and many of his actions served as a tactical model for future advocacy organizations. "Web Fuels Consumer Activism." In recent years, the CPSC has fallen victim to Federal Budget cuts. Still, some notable cases of corporations neglecting the public welfare for their own gain continued, and corporate influence in American politics enabled many businesses to resist calls for reform in advertising, worker or consumer safety, and pollution control. Better Business Bureau 21 September 2000. to the exploitation of resources in less-developed countries. If you have problems with an item or service you purchased, you have the right to complain. "Is Lawsuit Reform Good for Consumers?" of filing a consumer complaint with the consumer protection Many of the state statutes explicitly provide that courts turn to the federal act and interpretations of the FTC for guidance in construing state laws. should be obvious to business owners that they can ill afford to engage in claims, the satisfactory resolution of grievances, and a say in Craft. child labor to point out such abuses were called "muckrakers," and their "Web Attack." Apart from the formulation of standards, testing by various bodies occasionally results in the redesigning of certain products. several federal agencies and a flurry of legislation designed to curb some The Consumer Federation of America is the or small groups, which lacked the resources of major corporations, to make "A Citizen for All Seasons." 3009 [1996]). In the early 1990s, the widespread use of home computers advanced consumer advocacy by making it easier for citizens to gather information and make their views known. Internet As Although this might appear to afford absolute protection for the consumer, manufacturers sometimes unwittingly add ingredients that are subsequently found to be harmful—e.g., cyclamates, which were used for some years as an artificial sweetener. Find out what steps to take and who you should contact if you need to file a complaint against a company about a purchase. "Trends in Consumer Protection Advocacy." The efforts of Nader and other activists led to the formation of several federal agencies designed to protect consumer interests. They usually do not reflect the quality of the product as a whole but deal only with a specific aspect of it. government decisions. Unions, based in the Netherlands, actively promotes consumer interests on computers For example, the FTC can issue a cease and desist order, forcing a manufacturer to stop advertising, or compelling the advertiser to make corrections or disclosures informing the public of the misrepresentations. promote and protect the interests of the buying public. Express warranties are promises included in the written or oral terms of a sales agreement that assure the quality, description, or performance of the product. Consumer advocates use tactics like publicity, boycotts, letter-writing campaigns, and lawsuits to raise awareness of issues affecting consumers and to counteract the financial and political power of the organizations they target. The efforts of Nader and other activists led to the formation of several 1984. Some states pass consumer protection statutes that require some form of ADR—usually Arbitration or mediation—before a consumer can seek help from the courts. Berkeley: Univ. It is unfortunate that, in many countries, the selling power of the standards symbol is less substantial than that of a good promotion campaign. be distorted, false, or even outright libelous, it can still prove "With little more than a personal consumer advocates have assumed a somewhat adversarial role in exposing Consumer organizations are advocacy groups that seek to protect people from corporate abuse like unsafe products, predatory lending, false advertising, astroturfing and pollution. For businesses, on the other hand, Internet" gripe sites" For example, in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), established in 1914, is authorized to prevent deceptive practices in commerce and to regulate the package labeling of consumer products; the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), established as the Food, Drug, and Insecticide Administration in the Agriculture Department in 1927, administers consumer protection of foods, cosmetics, and other substances; and the National Highway Traffic Administration, established in 1970, is concerned with all aspects of automobile safety. A warranty of fitness concerns the consumer's purpose in purchasing a product, and allows the consumer to rely on the seller to offer goods only if they are suitable for that particular purpose. advertising, worker or consumer safety, and pollution control. "The Internet is an uncontrollable beast," attorney Simon Mayer, Robert N. Historically, consumer transactions—purchases of goods or services for personal, family, or household use—were presumed fair because it was assumed that buyers and sellers bargained from equal positions. consumer advocates, "the Internet means a new freedom to take on REMEMBER- every post (New Thread or Reply) must be supported by relevant information. Washington Monthly. Consumer groups have brought a lot to the table. for their goods and services. Newly approved Stevia sweetener beckons, but is natural safe enough? Saucer, Caroline. a global scale. We’ve examined and evaluated some of the nation’s leading consumer advocacy groups in the U.S. and have honed in on the most original and noteworthy organizations. The registry was scheduled to go into operation in July 2003, but telephone marketing companies promised a lawsuit to contest the rules, arguing that they violated the First Amendment. The Consumer Federation of America is the largest consumer advocacy group in the United States, consisting of about 220 member organizations. Internet had become one of the primary weapons of consumer advocates. Periods of vocal consumer advocacy around the turn of the twentieth century and in the late 1960s have left a legacy of federal legislation and agencies intended to protect consumers in the United States. Consumer advocates use tactics like publicity, boycotts, letter-writing campaigns, and lawsuits to raise awareness of issues affecting consumers and to counteract the financial and political power of the organizations they target.

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