CAREER PLANNING CONSUMER RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Consumer rights & responsibilities Whenever you buy anything, you have certain rights and responsibilities. Under the law, your rights vary depending on what it is you are buying - goods or services

What are goods? Goods are things you have obtained in exchange for money - they could be new or second-hand, and could be bought from a shop or catalogue, at the market or from the Internet. These are all examples of goods:

What are services? If you pay a plumber to mend a dripping tap, that's a service. The plumber has agreed to carry out a service for an agreed amount of money. Sometimes services will be supplied with goods. A new boiler being fitted will involve both the supply of goods (the boiler) and a service (the fitting). Some other examples of services are :

CONSUMER Rights Responsibilities To safety –Consumers should be protected against products that are hazardous to health or life To be informed –Consumers should be protected against dishonest advertising, labeling, or sales practices. They should be given the facts needed to make informed choices To use products safely –Consumers should use products as they were meant to be used To use information –Consumers should look for information about products they plan to buy and use it to compare and evaluate different brands and models.

CONSUMER Rights Responsibilities To choose –Consumers should be assured access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices To be heard –Consumers should know that their interests will be considered in the making of laws be protected against dishonest advertising, labeling, or sales practices. They should be given the facts needed to make informed choices To choose carefully –Consumers should use their buying power intelligently to encourage ethical business practices and safe, reliable products To speak up –Consumers should let public officials know their opinions about consumer issues

CONSUMER Rights Responsibilities To redress –Consumers are entitled to swift and fair remedies for wrongs that are committed To consumer education –Consumers should have the opportunity to learn how to be effective consumers To seek redress –Consumers should pursue remedies when products and services do not meet expectations To learn –Consumers should take advantage of every opportunity to develop consumer skills

CONSUMER Rights Responsibilities To service –Consumers have the right to expect convenience, courtesy, and responsiveness from businesses To reward good service –Consumers should be courteous and responsive to businesses in return. They should show their appreciation for good service by patronizing businesses that provide it

SELECTED FEDERAL CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS Fair Packaging and Label Act Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Federal Hazardous Substances Labeling Act Requires truth in packaging to help consumers compare goods Assures consumers of the safety and purity of food products, drugs, and cosmetics Requires warning labels on all products that might be hazardous

SELECTED FEDERAL CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS Child Protection and Toy Safety Act Auto Information Disclosure Act Textile Fiber Products Identification Act Bans the shipment and sale of goods intended for use by children, including toys that ay be dangerous to children Requires that manufacturers label cars with specific information, such as suggested retail price Requires manufactures of textiles and fabrics to provide labels listing fiber content and other information

SELECTED FEDERAL CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act Truth in Savings Act Truth in Lending Equal Credit Opportunity Act Governs consumer protection warranties Requires financial institutions to provide figures such as interest rates in standard form Requires creditors to report all credit charges and interest to the consumer Protects people who apply for credit from discrimination

SELECTED FEDERAL CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS Fair Credit Billing Act Fair Credit Reporting Act Financial Services Modernization Act Provides a procedure for consumers to follow in having billing errors corrected Controls how a person’s credit history is kept, used, and shared Requires financial institutions to notify customers about the kinds of information they collect about them, how that information may be used, and their privacy rights

FEDERAL AGENCIES Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Enforces laws against dishonest advertising. Helps protect consumer rights in credit transactions, product labeling and privacy Works to protect the public against unreasonable risks and to develop safety standards for many household products Inspects and sets standards for meat, poultry, and canned fruits and vegetables

FEDERAL AGENCIES Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Enforces laws and regulations on the purity, quality, and labeling of food, drugs, and cosmetics Regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable

FEDERAL AGENCIES National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Federal Consumer Information Center (FCIC) Works to provide consumers with more choices and better quality telecommunications such as Internet, cellular, and cable service, at lower prices Provides information to consumers on a wide range of topics through low-cost publications, a Web site, and toll-free phone assistance

EMPLOYERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Proper hiring practices, including how to conduct interviews and investigate job applicants without invading their privacy

EMPLOYERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES Wage and hour laws, including those governing the minimum wage, overtime and compensatory time

EMPLOYERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES How to avoid harassment and discrimination based on a variety of characteristics, including gender, age, race, pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability and national origin

EMPLOYERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES The minimum requirements for sick, vacation, parental and other types of employee leave

EMPLOYERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES How to write an employee handbook, conduct performance reviews and discipline employees

EMPLOYERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES How to fire an employee without trampling on his or her legal rights

EMPLOYERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES How to protect your business and respect employees’ rights when they leave

EMPLOYERS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES What the law allows if you want to run a background check, do a workplace search, or monitor employee conduct