"Consumer protection is the practice of safeguarding buyers of goods and services, and the public, against unfair practices in the marketplace."
This topic covers the rights that consumers have when purchasing goods and services, including the right to safety, information, choice, and redress.
Basic Consumer Rights: These include right to safety, right to information, right to choose, right to be heard, right to redressal, and right to consumer education.
Consumer Protection Laws and Acts: This includes the Consumer Protection Act of 1986, The Sale of Goods Act, The Indian Contract Act, and The Food Safety and Standards Act.
Product Liability and Safety Standards: Covers the safety standards a product must meet before being sold, and the liability a manufacturer or seller carries in case of an unsafe product.
Unfair Trade Practices: Covers unethical or fraudulent practices such as misleading advertising, false and deceptive claims, and pricing irregularities.
Consumer Credit and Debt: Deals with issues related to credit agreements, interest rates, credit reporting, and collection practices.
Online Consumer Protection: Provides information on Consumer Internet Privacy, phishing scams, identity theft, and fraudulent online practices.
Product Warranties and Guarantees: Covers the various types of product warranties and guarantees, their limitations and their coverage.
Dispute Resolution and Complaint Mechanisms: Deals with methods for resolving disputes between sellers and consumers, and the various forums available for lodging consumer complaints.
Consumer Education and Advocacy: Encourages consumers to become better advocates for themselves and others by providing them with relevant information and resources.
Consumer Responsibility and Ethics: Explains consumers' social and ethical responsibilities towards safe and sustainable consumerism practices.
Right to Safety: Consumers have the right to be protected from products or services that could pose a threat to their health, safety or lives.
Right to Information: Consumers have the right to receive accurate and complete information about products, services, prices, and terms of sale.
Right to Choose: Consumers have the right to choose from a variety of products and services at competitive prices.
Right to be Heard: Consumers have the right to voice their complaints or grievances and have them addressed in a timely and responsive manner.
Right to Consumer Education: Consumers have the right to access information and resources that will help them make informed decisions about products and services.
Right to Redress: Consumers have the right to seek compensation or other remedies when they have been harmed or otherwise treated unfairly by a business.
Right to Privacy: Consumers have the right to safeguard their personal information from unauthorized access or misuse by businesses.
Right to Fair Treatment: Consumers have the right to be treated fairly and without discrimination by businesses.
Right to Sustainability: Consumers have the right to purchase products that are environmentally sustainable and socially responsible.
Right to Healthy Environment: Consumers have the right to live in a clean and healthy environment that is free of pollution and other harmful substances.
"Consumer protection measures are often established by law."
"Such laws are intended to prevent businesses from engaging in fraud or specified unfair practices to gain an advantage over competitors or to mislead consumers."
"Government regulations may require businesses to disclose detailed information about their products—particularly in areas where public health or safety is an issue, such as with food or automobiles."
"Consumer organizations help consumers make better choices in the marketplace and pursue complaints against businesses."
"Entities that promote consumer protection include government organizations (such as the Federal Trade Commission in the United States), self-regulating business organizations (such as the Better Business Bureaus in the US, Canada, England, etc.), and non-governmental organizations that advocate for consumer protection laws and help to ensure their enforcement (such as consumer protection agencies and watchdog groups)."
"A consumer is defined as someone who acquires goods or services for direct use or ownership rather than for resale or use in production and manufacturing."
"Consumer protection can also be asserted via non-governmental organizations and individuals as consumer activism."
"The right to satisfaction of basic needs."
"The right to safety."
"The right to be informed."
"The right to choose."
"The right to be heard."
"The right to redress."
"The right to consumer education."
"The right to a healthy environment."
"Consumer protection laws are intended to prevent businesses from engaging in fraud or specified unfair practices."
"Self-regulating business organizations, such as the Better Business Bureaus, promote consumer protection by ensuring ethical practices in the marketplace."
"Consumer protection agencies and watchdog groups advocate for consumer protection laws and help to ensure their enforcement."
"Consumer organizations help consumers make better choices in the marketplace and pursue complaints against businesses."