1. Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

2. Safety Right to safety –Products must not endanger consumers’ lives or health Responsibility to use products safely –Consumers are responsible for following directions for proper use and maintenance of products

3. Information Right to be informed –Business must provide accurate information in advertising, labeling, and sales practices. Responsibility to use information –Consumers are responsible for using the information to evaluate product choices.

4. Choice Right to Choose –Consumers should have a variety of goods and services from which to choose. Responsibility to choose carefully –Consumers should take advantage of product variety by considering many opinions and making rational choices.

5. Heard Right to be heard –The government must consider consumer interests when creating laws. Responsibility to express satisfaction or dissatisfaction –Consumers should tell their elected officials their opinions on consumer issues, and inform them of improper business practices.

6. Redress Right to redress –Consumers should be able to obtain fair remedies to consumer problems. Responsibility to seek redress –Consumers should inform businesses of product defects and unfair practices and pursue remedies.

7. Consumer Education Right to consumer education –Sufficient information should be available for consumers to make rational decisions. Responsibility to be an educated consumer –Consumers should take advantage of opportunities to gather information and learn how to make rational buying decisions.

8. Healthy Environment Right to a healthy environment –Businesses should avoid polluting the environment and should contribute to the welfare of the community in which they operate. Responsibility to contribute to a healthy environment –Consumers should support businesses that operate responsibly and report environmental abuses to authorities.

9. Why? Consumer movement –Seeks to protect and inform consumers of requiring such practices as honest advertising, product warranties, and improved safety standards.

10. Who can help? Federal Trade Commission (FTC) –Most important federal consumer protection agency –Responsible for protecting consumers from unfair or deceptive business practices such as misleading information in advertising or on product labels –Cease-and-desist order – stops deceptive advertising

11. Who else? Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) –Protects consumers from dangerous products. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) State and local governments

12. Warranties Company’s promise that the product will meet specific standards over a given time period or the company will repair or replace it, or give a refund

13. Misc. Consumer’s Union tests products and reports on the results in Consumer Reports. Underwriter’s Laboratories checks products for safety from fire, electric shock, and other hazards. State’s attorney’s office handles frauds and misleading ad claims