Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

Agency that is responsible for protecting consumers from unfair or deceptive business practices.

• Federal Trade Commission

• Better Business Bureau (BBB)

• Consumer Product Safety Commission

Agency that protects consumers from dangerous products.

• Environmental Protection Agency

• Federal Trade Commission

• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Agency that enforces laws that protect the environment.

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Cease and Desist Order

• Better Business Bureau

A company's promise that the product will meet specific standards over a given time period.

• Small claims court

• Warranty

• Competition

A situation in which there is only one company that sells a specific product or service.

• Trading up

• Redress

• Monopoly

To seek and receive a remedy to a problem

• Small claims court

• Bait and switch

• Redress

Pressuring consumers to buy a more expensive product than they intended.

• Trading up

• Bait and switch

• Competition

Deliberate deception, designed to secure unfair or unlawful gain.

• Cease and desist order

• Limited warranty

• Fraud

A nonprofit agency sponsored by local businesses that helps to resolve disputes between consumers and sellers.

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

• Walmart

• Better Business Bureau (BBB)

Handles disputes involving smaller dollar amounts.

• Small claims court

• Better Business Bureau (BBB)

• Arbitration