A group of laws and organizations designed to ensure the rights of consumers
Five Major Consumer Rights
Within every activity we perform, the law is always involved. Even something as simple as shopping or consuming a product will allow us to access consumer rights.
Every consumer has rights that protect them against different situations that may arise. In fact, in the United States, there is a commission in charge of defending consumer rights and granting justice in the event of a dispute.
The problem is that most people have no idea what their rights as consumers are and the scope of the same. That is why in this article, you can look at the five primary consumer rights and their scope in today’s society.
Right to consumer protection
The first right is considered one of the most important of all those on this list. This right is the protection that the consumer has against a supplier. It also represents the state’s duty to defend the consumer against any violation.
If a consumer feels that abuse is being made against them or their interests are not being taken into account, they can turn to the Federal Trade Commission. Here, they can denounce any problem or report an irregular supplier by presenting their claims and the corresponding evidence.
Right to choose products
This right encompasses the customer’s right to be able to choose the product they want. In turn, the consumer cannot be coerced into carrying products he does not want. This right even includes promotions that require carrying some products that the customer does not want to opt for.
In addition, this right also protects the customer from coercion to choose a product. Nor may the customer be required to pay for products that the customer has not previously agreed to purchase. Finally, the customer is in no way obliged to choose a product that they do not like.
Right to quality
U.S. consumers have the right to expect that the products they purchase meet the minimum quality standards required by the market. A product is considered illegal and must be reported if it does not meet the minimum standards.
Violation of this right will result in the sanction of the company supplying the product and its withdrawal from the market.
On the other hand, the product must have instructions for its proper use in addition to any necessary safety considerations. In this way, the user will be able to make use of it without affecting the quality of the product in any way.
Right to compensation in case of defect
This right allows the customer to demand compensation from the company if the product does not meet the standards. This right applies if the product:
- It is not of the quality advertised
- It is not safe for use
- It does not meet the characteristics advertised
- Does not work
With this, the consumer can demand the company refund the money for the defective product. They can also demand the replacement of the product and 20% of the product’s value as compensation. In turn, this type of complaint can be made in case of defective or poor quality services.
Right to non-discrimination of the consumer
The consumer has the right to buy objects or contract a service without being discriminated against in any way. This discrimination includes race, sex, sexual preference, religion, or nationality of the consumer.
Likewise, you may not be denied purchase or service because you support positions in these areas. The only exception is if your position seriously violates the store owner’s or service provider’s beliefs.
Are there other consumer rights?
In addition to the rights found here, the Office of Consumer Protection in the United States grants validity to two additional rights.
Although these are two individual rights, both are usually combined in a single section as the “right to information.”
The first of these additional rights is the customer’s right to be informed about the product he will buy, either by advertising, instructions, labels, etc. He has the right to have this information verified and verifiable.
The second additional right is the right to information about the laws. This allows the consumer to be informed about the consumer’s laws, duties, and rights. With this, he can know which entities to complain to and how to make a claim.
Finally, if any of these rights are violated, the consumer may file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. In this way, the appropriate sanctions may be applied to the manufacturers or suppliers of any product.
