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5.5 Consumer Protection . Objective: Demonstrate how to be a responsible consumer in the 21 st century . Warm – Up: . What is a Consumer? How do we protect consumers? . I. Consumer Protection & Rights . A. Consumer : someone who buys a product or service
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5.5 Consumer Protection Objective: Demonstrate how to be a responsible consumer in the 21st century
Warm – Up: • What is a Consumer? • How do we protect consumers?
I. Consumer Protection & Rights • A. Consumer: someone who buys a product or service • B. Consumer Protection: movement backed up by laws and organizations designed to ensure the rights of a consumer
C. Rights of the Consumer • You have a right to… • 1. Safety: protection from goods/ services that are hazardous to health • 2. Be Informed: protection from misleading information, advertising or labeling
3. Choose: providing a selection of goods/services at fair prices • 4. Be Heard: Provides you the opportunity to be a voice in the creation & development of goods/services • 5. Redress: Request money or other benefits as compensation for a company’s mistake
II. Consumer Protection Agencies • A. There are many federal agencies that help consumers file complaints against businesses, be smarter shoppers and understand credit • B. Better Business Bureau (BBB) – use this agency to learn about a business and how they treat consumers • 1. Sets standards for ethical business behaviors • 2. Helps consumers identify trustworthy businesses and those that aren’t • 3. Evaluates advertisements to ensure we can trust what companies say
C. Federal Trade commission (FTC) –designed to protect consumers and promote competition • 1. Organizes National Do Not Call List –registering your name to be removed from telemarketers call lists • 2. The Fair Credit Reporting Act – provides that you must be given with a copy of you credit report if requested • 3. Prevents anti-business practices like monopolies (when a business has complete control of a good/service)
D. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) –protects investors who are purchasing stocks, bonds and other financial assets • 1. requires companies to provide consumer with reports of how the co. is doing • 2. Maintains a database EDGAR (Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system)that allows investors to see the information the SEC collects
III. How to Protect Yourself • A. Register on Do Not Call List • B. Read the Fine Print of any offer/deal/ad • C. Find Trusted Companies through the BBB and other sources
D. For more information check out… • 1. North American Securities Administrative Association – protects investors in the US, Canada and Mexico • 2. FBI Common Fraud Schemes – provides consumers with a list of fraudulent businesses practices • 3. Internet Crime Complaint Center – where consumers submit complaints regarding internet scams
Socratic Seminar - Consumer Credit Protection • You will be using the information from the articles on Consumer Credit Protection and Student Loans that you read over the weekend • You and your classmates will be having an open discussion about your thoughts on these two readings and what you learned • To keep your points you must contribute to the discussion in a professional manner. This means: You must have your printed documents. You must speak. You must wait to be called on. You must respect your classmates opinions. • I will keep track of who speaks, prompt you with points for discussion and call on students to speak