Protecting Consumers’
Rights
Section 1.2
Terms to Know
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Consumer advocates
Redress
Consumer affairs departments
Consumer action panels
media
• Consumer Advocates – people or
organizations who work on behalf of
consumers
• Who is Ralph Nader?
Government Protection
• Redress-a right of the consumer is a
remedy for a wrong or a loss
• Look at the Consumer Rights and
Responsibilities
Federal Consumer Protection
Laws
• Look at handout and discuss where you
have seen examples of these
Know these Agencies
• ___________________________(FTC)
– Enforces dishonest advertising
• _________________________ (CPSC)
– protects the public on safety
standards for household products
• __________________________
(USDA) -inspects and sets standards
for meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables
Know these Agencies
• FTC-Federal Trade Commission –
Enforces dishonest advertising
• Consumer Product Safety Commission
– protects the public on safety
standards for household products
• USDA-United States Department of
Agriculture-inspects and sets standards
for meat, poultry, fruits and vegetables
• ____________________(FDA) Enforces labeling
on food, drugs and cosmetics
• _________________________ (FCC) Regulates
interstate and international communications by
radio, tv, wire, satellite and cable. Provides info if
consumers have complaints.
• _______________________________ (NTIA)
Provides consumers choices and quality with the
internet, cellular, cable service at lower prices.
• __________________(FCIC) Provides
information to consumers on a wide range of
topics through low cost publications, a web site
and toll free phone assistance.
More Federal Agencies
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Enforces
labeling on food, drugs and cosmetics
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Regulates interstate and international
communications by radio, tv, wire, satellite and
cable. Provides info if consumers have complaints.
• National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) Provides consumers choices
and quality with the internet, cellular, cable service at
lower prices.
• Federal Consumer Information Center (FCIC)
Provides information to consumers on a wide range
of topics through low cost publications, a web site
Exercise
• Go online to FCIC and select an area
that interests you
– Read the description of the advice and
report to the class what you found.
Consumer Groups
• Organizations that focus on consumer
education, protection and advocacy.
– National Consumers League
– Public Citizen
– Consumer Action
Consumer Testing
Agencies
• Consumers Union is an independent
consumer testing agency that fights for
consumer rights. The members buy
products, test them and report to
Consumer Reports
A business
and
industry
group
that
works
BBB
to assist consumers.
Go online and research the BBB. Where
is our closest office? What other BBB Sites
are there?
Browse BBB OnLine Reliability
Participants
Media
• Channels of mass communication like
newspapers, magazines, radio,
television and related web sites.
Questions to answer
1. What is the underlying principle shared
by advocates of the consumer
movement.
2. Explain two consumer rights and their
corresponding responsibilities
3. Name and describe two federal laws
that regulate product labeling.