Consumer protection

Consumer protection comprises laws and policies that safeguard buyers against unsafe products, deceptive claims, and unfair commercial practices.

Product liability: Legal responsibility for harm caused by defective products. It gives injured consumers a route to compensation when products cause harm.
Consumer credit: Credit extended to individuals for personal, household, or family purposes. Disclosure and lending rules shape the terms on which consumers borrow.
Consumer movement: A social movement advocating for consumers’ rights, safety, and economic interests. Organized consumer advocacy pressed governments to regulate business conduct.
Caveat emptor: The principle that buyers bear responsibility for assessing a purchase before completing it. Consumer protection limits the risks buyers would otherwise bear under this principle.
Consumer product safety: Rules and practices that reduce risks from products offered to consumers. Safety requirements prevent dangerous goods from reaching buyers or staying on the market.
Fair Credit Reporting Act: A United States law regulating consumer reporting agencies and access to credit reports. It governs accuracy, access, and correction of personal credit information.
Ralph Nader: An American lawyer and activist known for campaigning for automobile safety and consumer rights. His advocacy helped make product safety a major public and legislative concern.
Freedom of contract: The legal principle that parties should generally be free to choose contractual terms and partners. Mandatory consumer rules restrict contractual freedom where bargaining power or information is unequal.
Truth in advertising: Legal standards requiring advertising claims to be truthful and not misleading. It addresses deception in the claims businesses use to sell products.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: A United States law restricting abusive practices by third-party debt collectors. It protects consumers from harassment and deception during debt collection.

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