Consumer scams are common around the world. You might buy a product such as drugs, food, or cosmetics that cause damage or threatens your health for you and your family. It can also be a financial product that you feel was a misinformed choice that later hurt your finances. You might also feel like you were discriminated against in some way and the list goes on. Consumer protection agencies exist to assist you to get help whenever you fall victim to such instances. In this article, we look at what different consumer protections do and how they can assist you when you need help.
What consumer protection agencies do
Consumer protection agencies conduct various functions in the interest of the consumer. These functions include:
- Providing information on consumer rights
- Providing information on how to resolve complaints
- Providing information about laws that exist to protect consumers
- Enforcing consumer protection laws
- Licensing and regulating certain types of businesses
- Investigating consumer complaints
- Taking legal actions against businesses to stop illegal practices
- Educating consumers on how to avoid being scammed
- Educating consumers about product safety
How to contact them when you need help
You can find different consumer protection agencies in your state. You can visit their website to find their offices near you. https://www.usa.gov/state-consumer has a list of consumer protection offices for every county, city or state. You can also use the numbers listed to call and enquire about the complaint that you have.
When contacting a consumer protection agency, it is good to do so with the help of an attorney. Class action attorneys can guide you through the whole process should you file a class action lawsuit. Remember that you might be going against powerful businesses and the process itself can be complex. Going through the process with the help of an expert can raise the odds of getting a fair settlement.
What types of complaints they handle
Different consumer protection agencies handle different types of complaints. There are agencies that focus on a specific industry or consumer products. Here, we look at a few of these agencies and the type of complaints you can file with each.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – This regulatory agency handles complaints to do with financial products such as credit cards, loans, and mortgages. It focuses on protecting consumers from financial deception. CFPB requires financial products providers to disclose all the information about their products to consumers. This includes risks and prices in a way that the consumers understand. This way, consumers can make decisions from an informed position.
Consumer Product Safety Commission – If you have a complaint about a product that is unsafe for use, this is the agency to contact. This can be anything from toys, tools, furniture, and more that can cause injury or even death. CPSC protects consumers from products that threaten their safety. The agency develops safety standards that manufacturers must adhere to. It also tests products for safety before they are released for public use. CPSC also issues recall for products that prove unsafe.
Food and Drug Administration – This agency handles complaints relating to products such as food, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, veterinary products, medical devices, and cosmetics among others. FDA protects consumers against adverse negative effects from using the said products by ensuring that manufacturers adhere to accurate product labeling.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – This consumer protection agency focuses on preventing injuries and deaths through fatal accidents on roads and highways. The agency plays a huge role in ensuring that motor vehicles meet safety standards. Also, they play a part in investigating motor defects and issuing recalls.
Federal Trade Commission – This agency tasks itself with enforcing antitrust laws. It protects consumers from unfair exploitations from monopolies. FTC also handles false advertising. This is especially useful where businesses advertise to children and then bill the parents unfairly
How they can assist you
Most consumer protection agencies can help you submit your complaint to the involved business. For instance, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Communications Commission forward the complaint to the company. The company is then expected to reply within a stipulated time. Another way these agencies assist consumers is by gathering data and identifying trends. This helps in investigating the said products and filing lawsuits or issuing recalls.
Conclusion
If you ever fall victim to consumer fraud, consumer protection agencies exist to assist you to get help. However, it is always good to investigate which complaints each handle before submitting your complaint. And, if you want to go the lawsuit way, have a lawyer guide you through the process.
