Probably, every consumer had the practice of returning a product to the store at least once in his/her life. Maybe the product you bought was defective, or chances are you were given it as a present and did not like it. Whatever the reason, it is quite a tough task to return a product to the store and get your money back as manufacturers usually do not welcome the fact. Here is when fundamental consumer rights can benefit you. Under Consumer Rights Act, you have right to a refund if you return your faulty good within 30 days of purchasing it, regardless of what the store’s return policy says.
In 1962, the US president John Kennedy introduced the Consumer Bill of Rights to the Congress. In his speech, the president laid out four basic consumer rights: the right to safety, the right to be informed, the right to choose and the right to be heard. Later, in the 1980s, the four basic consumer rights were expanded to eight. The eight rights can be described in the following terms:
The Right to Basic Needs: Consumers have a right to satisfy their basic needs regarding food, water, clothing, shelter, education, healthcare, sanitation, etc. With the right to basic needs, consumers are allowed to access the fundamental and prime commodities at a reasonable price and good quality.
The Right to Redress: Consumers are entitled by law to get compensation for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services. For instance, if a consumer suffered financial loss or otherwise felt cheated as a result of misrepresentation, shoddy products, or unsatisfactory services, he/she is eligible to request recovery for the loss.
The Right to Consumer Education: To make informed and justified choices, consumers need to have certain knowledge about the goods and services they make use of. Consumer awareness will raise their ability to make the best-informed decision when making a purchase.
The Right to a Healthy Environment: This is to ensure the right of living and working in an environment that is healthy and non-threatening. This right assumes certain responsibilities towards future generations, that is making choices to minimize environmental impact on the people of future.
The Right to Safety: Consumers must be protected against the goods and services that are hazardous for his/her health and life. Consumer Product Safety Commission has established safety and performance standards for goods and services, requiring them to be tested and have warning labels, if needed.
The Right to Information: Consumer must be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising or labeling. The CPA also endows the consumers with the right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, standard and price of goods or services so as to be protected against unfair trade practices.
The Right to Choose: It is of consumers’ rights to choose from the various goods and services at competitive prices and of satisfactory quality.
The Right to be Heard: The right is exercised in expressing consumer interests in the making and execution of government policies. Consumers have the right to express their complaints and concerns about a product or service. The state and federal consumer protection lawyers are to take steps to file a complaint against a company about a purchase. The skillful consumer protection lawyers at the Margarian Law firm are always willing to litigate aggressively on your behalf to ensure your consumer rights are protected effectively.
