...CONSUMER AWARENESS GUIDELINES Be an Alert Consumer ! Also be a Responsible Consumer !! Issued by Government of Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies & Consumer Protection Department, Ezhilagam, Chennai-5. Phone: 044-28583222 / 28583422 Web: www.consumer.tn.gov.in E.mail: consumer@tn.nic.in A. WHO IS A CONSUMER? A ”consumer” is a person who buys any goods or hires any service for valuable consideration (including deferred payment). The term does not include a person who obtains goods or services for resale or for any commercial purpose. However, persons who avail goods or services exclusively for the purpose of earning their livelihood by means of self employment are considered as ‘consumers’. B. CONSUMER RIGHTS Rights 1 to 6 are directly guaranteed under the Consumer Protection Act 1986 while Rights 7&8 are implied under the Constitution of India. 1. Right to safety Right to be protected against marketing of goods which are hazardous to life and property. 2. Right to information Right to be informed about the quality, quantity, potency, purity, standard and price of goods or services as the case may be, so as to protect the consumer against unfair trade practices. 3. Right to choose Right to be assured, wherever possible, access to a variety of goods and services at competitive prices. 4. Right to be heard Right to be heard and to be assured that consumer’s interest will receive due consideration at appropriate fora. 5. Right to redressal Right to seek redressal against Unfair...
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...U.S. Governments Role in Consumer Protection & Advertising The United States government has continued to grow in size and influence, its effect on marketing is no exception. Consumer protection and product safety include the efforts made by government, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individuals to create, protect, and enforce the rights of consumers who buy products or services. This may also be identified as consumerism, or the organized efforts of individuals, groups, and organizations to protect the rights of consumers (Pride102). Consumer protection was brought upon through several medians, but is primarily attributed to background legislation. The first major federal law to affect the marketing environment was the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, which prohibited contracts, combinations, and conspiracies to restrain trade, in an attempt to discourage monopolies (Pride 73). Many federal laws regarding consumer protection have since followed, such as the Wheeler-Lea Act of 1936 and the FTC Act of 1914. Such legislation is generally the work of the Federal Trade Commission, which was created in the aforementioned FTC Act of 1914, and is considered the primary consumer protection agency at the federal level. By the 1950’s the consumerism movement had a substantial following and consumers began pushing for legal protection against malicious business practices. Two of the most well known and significant consumer activists are Ralph Nader and the late John...
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...CONSUMER RIGHTS WHO IS A CONSUMER 1. A person who has indicated his or her willingness to obtain goods and/or services from a supplier with the intention of paying for them. 2. Someone who has purchased goods and/or services for personal consumption 3. A person or group of people, such as a household, who are the final users of products or services. The consumer's use is final in the sense that the product is usually not improved by the use. DUTIES OF CONSUMERS 1. Buying quality products at reasonable price. 2. To check the weights and measures before making purchases 3. Reading the label carefully. 4. To procure the bill, cash received warranty, etc. 5. Shopping carefully and wisely 6. Understanding the terms of the sale 7. Reading and following instructions HOW CONSUMERS ARE EXPLOITED 1. Underweight and Under-measurements : The goods being sold in the market are sometimes not measured or weighed correctly 2. Sub-standard Quality : The goods sold are sometimes of sub-standard quality. Selling of medicine beyond their expiry dates is generally the grievances of consumers. 3. High Prices : Very often the traders charge a higher price than the prescribed retail price 4. Duplicate Articles : In the name of genuine parts or goods, fake or duplicate items are being sold to the consumers. 5. Artificial Scarcity : In order to amass illegitimate profit, businessman create artificial scarcity by hoarding. They sell it later at a higher...
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...Essay Draft Is water a free and basic human right, or should all the water on the planet belong to major corporations and be treated like a product? Should the poor who cannot afford to pay these said corporations suffer from starvation due to their lack of financial wealth? Water Privatization refers to the transfer of ownership of water resources from the public sector to the private sector. Countries such as Australia, Canada, Argentina and Britain all have private water supplies and are facing numeric challenges such as a lack of access to clean water, corruption in the process and a reduction in local control and public rights. Should Jamaica be allowed to go through the same problems these countries face? Water is a fundamental human right and should be available to all the people of the world for little or nothing. Due to it being a human right Jamaica’s water supply should not be privatized as privatization may lead to rate increases and poor water quality. Firstly, Privatization of Jamaica’s water supply would lead to rate increases. Over the years Private corporations increase rates to increase and boost their profits for which they are accountable to shareholders not to consumers. This would lead to customers paying more for water supply on their monthly bill since the private entity recovers its investment and profit through user bills, privatizing water can lead to considerable rate hikes for consumers. In fact, consumers can expect future rate increases to reflect...
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...Before the 1950s consumers had little protection in the world marketplace. On March 15, 1962, President John F. Kennedy put forth the "Consumer Bill of Rights" to help consumers recognize their rights and responsibilities. March 15 is now declared as World Consumer Rights Day! The six basic consumer rights are: 1. The right to choose. 2. The right to safety. 3. The right to be heard. 4. The right to be informed. 5. The right to a healthy environment. 6. The right to satisfaction of basic needs. The right to choose. Within reason, consumers have the right to be guaranteed that a selection of quality products and services are accessible for them to purchase at reasonable prices. It means that a consumer should have the opportunity to select the goods or services that they want to purchase. The right to safety. Consumers have the right to expect protection from hazardous products and services bought in the marketplace, particularly if used correctly for their intended purpose. Consumers have protection from the sale and distribution of hazardous goods and services. The right to be heard and the right to voice. Consumers have the right to equal and fair consideration in government policy-making situations, as well as apt treatment in administrative courts or legal communities. In other words, consumers have a right to dispute when there are problems or concerns. They have the right to speak up, to be heard, and to expect positive results. With this right, both business...
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...The ability to determine what is right and what is wrong is known as moral philosophy. These ethics are learned through friends, family, and formal education. However, moral philosophy can be influenced by business and corporate culture. This is why it is important for all of society that business and corporate leaders understand and manage their firms with the highest ethical respect possible. It is the social responsibility of these companies to be aware that they are accountable for their actions and what they may or may not do can echo an eternity into the world’s future. In 1972, Ford Motor Company released the Ford Pinto, a small cheap car that could financially compete with the new economic cars from Asia. The Ford Pinto got a lot of attention because it was the first American made car to rival the Asia automobiles. However, the Pinto had a design flaw in that the position of the fuel tank was poorly placed and as a result was highly susceptible to car fires. This flaw was recognized by ford but was deemed an economic step backwards. If the production to fix the flaw was put in place, it would raise the overall price of the car. Thus, making the car less attractive to potential buyer. Ford decided to push the car despite the recognition of the fatal flaw. To make this decision Ford ultimately broke it down in terms of money. Ford determined that to go back and fix the design flaw to would cost $137 million as oppose to $49.5 million for those who will lose their life...
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...The law Overview of Australian contract law Formation A contract is a promise or a set of promises that is legally binding. In this context a promise is an undertaking by one person to do something or refrain from doing something if another person does something or refrains from doing something or makes a promise in return. A promise or set of promises will be legally binding if certain criteria are met. In Australia this requires that there be an agreement (comprising an offer and acceptance), consideration, intention to create legal relations, compliance with any legal formalities and that the parties have the legal capacity to contract. Agreement Consideration Intention Capacity Formalities Scope and Content A contract is generally only enforceable by and against parties to the contract. This section considers the issue of privity of contract. This section also considers the content of a contract; once formed, how do you determine what the terms of the contract are? How should the various terms by classified and how should they be interpreted in cases of ambiguity? Exclusion clauses are given special attention here. Privity of contract Terms Construction Classification Exclusion clauses Avoidance / Vitiating Factors A contract validly formed may nevertheless be avoided as a result of a number of possible 'vitiating factors'. Most of these involve some form of unfair or unconscionable dealing by one of the parties. Misleading...
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...Chapter 5 Consumer Credit: Advantages, Disadvantages, Sources, and Costs McGraw-Hill/Irwin Copyright © 2010 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Consumer Credit Chapter Objectives 1. Analyze advantages and disadvantages of using consumer credit 2. Assess the types and sources of consumer credit 3. Determine whether you can afford a loan and how to apply for credit 4. Determine the cost of credit by calculating interest using various interest formulas 5. Develop a plan to protect your credit and manage your debts 5-2 Objective 1 Analyze Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Consumer Credit • Credit – An arrangement to receive cash, goods or services now, and pay for them in the future – Based on trust in people’s ability and willingness to pay bills when due • Consumer credit – Use of credit by individuals for personal needs, except a home mortgage – A major force in our economy 5-3 Uses and Misuses of Credit • Before you use credit for a major purchase, consider: – – – – – – Do I have the cash for the down payment? Do I want to use my savings for this purchase? Does the purchase fit my budget? Could I use the credit I’ll need in some better way? Can I postpone this purchase? What are the opportunity costs of postponing this purchase? – What are the dollar and psychological costs of using credit for this purchase? 5-4 Advantages of Credit • Current use of goods and services • Permits purchase even when funds are low • A...
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...Angela Lee HCA-240 June 23, 2013 Professor Tirizia York Health Care Reform The health care reform in this country is in need of reform. Many initiatives have been made to protect the professionals that deliver health care services, and to protect the major corporations that have become stakeholders in the health system, but little has been done to protect the primary stakeholder, which is the consumer who accesses the health care system in search of treatment for a chronic condition or illness. There is transparency in the services consumers use on a daily basis. They know how much there mortgage payment is going to be, how much they have to pay for their cell phone bills, groceries, and other services they use on a regular basis; but when it comes to knowing how much a physician charges for a specific service, the blinders are then pulled over their eyes. The need for a more value driven health care system is vital to changing the misconceptions many have about what ails them and transparency will allow the consumer to make choices based on facts and costs rather than being led about in the direction providers would have them to go. With transparency the patient gets to decide where it is they want to go to get the most value for their dollar while still receiving quality medical care. There is also a desperate need for insurance for all Americans, and the idea of Universal Coverage is not a bad idea at all. It would be more feasible to provide protection for citizens...
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...States was designed to have three general functions that include establishing a structure for the federal government and rules for amending the constitution, granting powers for different branches of government, and to provide procedural protections for US from wrongful government action. The Constitution is composed of a preamble, seven articles and twenty seven amendments. The preamble specifies the Constitutions broad objectives e.g. justice, liberty, tranquility, and common defense. The articles outline the structure, power and procedure of the federal government. Overtime the Constitution has been amended and thus the amendments have been established to further protect citizens from unlawful or repressive acts of government (Bill of Rights are included in the first ten amendments and were established in 1791). Inasmuch, the limited powers have been granted to the three branches of government (Executive, Legislative and Judicial) known as enumerated powers. Primary powers of government have been given to Congress; Congress has enumerated powers in 18 different clauses. The powers that generally impact business owners and managers include (1) the power to regulate commerce ( Commerce Clause ); (2) taxing the citizenry and commercial entities and spending government funds...
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...Credit Card Reporting Literacy: It’s Effects On The Quality Of Life Within The African American Community. By: Kaye D. Jackson Credit Reporting Literacy is defined simply as the consumers understanding of the basic of credit reporting and the disputes process, if needed be. The (GAO) Government Accountability Office, states that many consumers understood just what a credit report contained and the sources of this information (for example Equifax) and about 60 percent had seen their credit report. The GAO furthers states that many consumers did not know more detailed information, such as, how long items remained on their credit report or the impact their credit reports or the impact their credit history could have on their insurances rates and potential employment. Further behaviors, such as, using all their available credit could negatively affect their scores. Many consumer knew their right to dispute an inaccurate credit report (to be exact about 18 percent), but most consumers did not fully understand their right in the dispute processes. First, there is no cost to dispute inaccurate information, or that they could contact the Federal Trade Commission, which is the Federal agency primarily responsible for enforcing consumer rights with respect to credit reporting agencies, if they could not resolve a disputes with the (CRA’S). Bottom line; How does this reporting affect the Quality of Life for African Americans? Let’s examine the following factors: For African...
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...WHY ISO 26000 is an international standard which provides guidance for what it means to be a social responsible organisation. The standard is not a certification but provides guidance on social responsibility actions, and is strictly voluntary. It was launched in November 2010 after a substantial consultation processes with experts in over 75 countries, lead by the working group on social responsibility set up in 2004. It is intended to promote a common understanding of social responsibility, and to complement other instruments and initiatives for social responsibility, not replace them. | The ISO 26000 guidance has come about as a result of the need for organisations in the private and public sector to behave in a socially responsible way and to maximise their contribution to sustainable development. An organisation's performance in relation to the society in which it operates and its impacts on the environment is a critical measurement of its overall performance and its continued long-term operating effectiveness. As a guidance document ISO26000 encourages organisations to discuss their social responsibility issues and possible actions with all their stakeholders. It is intended to encourage them to go beyond legal compliance, recognising that compliance with the law is a fundamental duty of any organisation and an essential part of their social responsibility. An organisation should seek to integrate social responsibility through its decisions and activities, involving...
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...Topic Two: Human Rights Rights The nature and development of concepts of human rights. State sovereignty, ‘natural law’ doctrine, historic constitutional documents, movement for slavery abolition, trade unionism, universal suffrage and universal education Human Rights Human rights are the basic rights to which all human beings are entitled to. The most recognized document in modern human rights is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, created by the UN. Human rights can be said to come from the idea of ‘natural law’. Natural Law Doctrine is the idea that some laws come from God or higher reasoning whether they have been written down or not. State sovereignty State sovereignty refers to the power of a state to have control over its territory and its subject. It’s important for protecting human rights because it means someone whose rights are being abused can flee to a safe country for protection. Because it restricts the actions of neighbours and other concerned states, also allows human rights abuses to go unpunished within the boundaries of a state. Movement for the Abolition of Slavery Slavery is the state of being under the control of another person. Trade Unionism Trade unionism is the collective organisation of workers formed to protect the rights of individuals from the power exercised by employees. The benefits of trade unionism include: * Prevention of child labour * Prevention of forced labour * Fair treatment of workers ...
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...This paper explains the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and other laws that apply to debt collectors. This paper will provide information about how to stop calls from collectors and how to correspond with them about your account or to dispute a collection action. This paper also explain one’s right to privacy, and how debt collection efforts may affect your job, your credit report, even information in your medical files. This paper will also reflect from the business owner’s aspect and how debt collection agencies can affect their business, especially if the collection agency is not following the law as they should. Why are you being contacted by a collection agency? It usually means that a creditor has not received payment from you for several months. They have negotiated with another company or are using an in-house affiliate called a debt collector to attempt to get you to pay. Third party collectors often purchase your debt for less than you owe, and your debt is now owned by the collector. A collector may also work for the creditor in return for a fee or a percentage of any money collected. In-house collectors that are affiliated with the original creditor work on behalf of the company directly. Because the creditor has taken a loss on your account or because you are late with making payments, this negative information may show up on your credit report. Often the first contact with the debt collector is a telephone call from a representative, a prerecorded...
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...number of serious social issues which affect developing countries as well as large countries such as China and the United States. These issues include the degradation of the environment, collapse of the global financial system, the abuse of human rights, and the improper use of child labor. There are numerous agents (stakeholders) involved in these ethical debates including employees of the corporation, government agencies, NGOs, consumers, and the media (Lopez-De-Pedro & Rimbau-Gilabert, 2012). Riordan Manufacturing is faced with three potential ethical issues in their Chinese operations plant. This paper will address these three issues, as well as possible mitigation plans, implications for the stakeholders, and a recommended course of action for the organization. Issues Raised There are three primary issues raised related to Riordan Manufacturing which will be discussed in further detail: (1) potential water supply contamination issues; (2) worker rights issues at the Yin Motor Company; and (3) child labor law violations. These issues could result in potential fair trade agreement violations, ethical violations, and legal violations for Riordan Manufacturing resulting in high fines, penalties, and a loss of public and consumer trust. The first issue is the potential water supply contamination due to the run off from machine manufacturing factories in the area. The contamination has resulted in more than 63 people reporting to the hospital, and is being investigated...
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