5.01A - Students will be able to understand the rights and responsibilities of consumers.

What basic consumer rights are protected by law? What does it mean to be a responsible consumer? What adjective describes these bananas?

Rights of consumers were first identified by President John F. Kennedy in a message to Congress in Later presidents have added additional rights to this “Consumer Bill of Rights.” Activist against corporate carelessness and greed, Ralph Nader brought attention to products that were not safe for consumers. He gained national attention in 1965 with his book, “Unsafe at Any Speed”. Known as “Father of the Consumer Movement”

1. Right to be safe 2. Right to be informed 3. Right to choose products and services 4. Right to be heard 5. Right to redress 6. Right to consumer education 7. Right to service 8. Right to a healthy environment A basic set of protections, agreed upon by society and written into law, apply to purchases of merchandise and services in the United States. These rights of consumers include:

1. To use products safely 2. To find and use information 3. To choose purchases carefully 4. To speak up 5. To seek redress 6. To learn 7. To reward good service 8. To promote a healthy & caring relationship with the environment Types of activities a consumer is expected to perform as part of a purchase decision. Each consumer responsibility parallels a consumer right.

Be their own advocates Look out for their own interests as a consumer with rights Be aware of the steps to take to resolve problems with products/services Be aware of organizations that assist consumers in resolving complaints Know when to seek help To protect their rights in the marketplace, consumers should:

Government agencies--- federal and state Merchant services Consumer advocate groups Sources of consumer protection

Clayton Antitrust Act Clean Air Act Clean Water Act CPSA-Consumer Product Safety Act EEOC-Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EPA- Environmental Protection Agency FCC- Federal Communications Commission FDA – Food and Drug Administration FLSA – Fair Labor Standards Act FPLA -Fair Packaging & Labeling Act FTC -Federal Trade Commission ICC -Interstate Commerce Commission NLRB - National Labor Relations Board OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration Patent and Trademark Office Robinson-Patman Act IRS -Internal Revenue Service TILA - Truth in Lending Act UCC –Uniform Commercial Code USDA - United States Dept of Agriculture USPS – United States Postal Service

Justice Department - Enforces the laws to maintain free trade BBB -Better Business Bureau Consumer Reports Local News Connects Ex: Action 9 Angie’s List

Consumer Reports is published by Consumer’s Union, which is one example of a consumer advocacy group. Where else might you go to get consumer information before making a purchase? What is a consumer advocate?

Greeting/salutation Opening Body Closure Components of a successful complaint letter Refer to Sample Letter