Consumer Advocates Who watches out for the consumer

Consumer Advocates “Who watches out for the consumer? ” Private, Government, Regulatory Agencies, Magazines, Associations, Leaders

Consumer rights and responsibilities l l l l I want to say… To be informed-compare, evaluate To choose carefully-shop around-quality, brands To use products safely-read labels, follow instrux To speak out and be heard - letter of complaint To seek remedy and have problems corrected – repair, reimburse, or replace To consumer education – read, compare, be aware of illegal practices, use consumer publications To learn consumer skills –conservation, consumerism

Who is a Consumer? You are!!! l l Who is a consumer advocate? A party who stands up for another party and defends them. Who is an advocate for you as a consumer? First and foremost…you are!!! Let’s review your rights…and responsibilities as a consumer.

What are rights and responsibilities of a consumer? l l l l To be informed To choose carefully To use products safely To speak out and be heard To seek remedy and have problems corrected To consumer education To learn consumer skills

How consumers make a difference l Social awareness due to consumer and media exposure – – l Boycotts- large # of consumers refuse to buy – – – l MADD- Mothers Against Drunk Driving “Erin Brockovich” –polluted ground water Dollars vote Prices go down – ex: gas prices Business may fail- ex: clothing made using child labor Conservation- reuse, recycle, reduce

Recycling? l l l l Aluminum cans, metals – new aluminum products, structural products Animal wastes- fertilizers Yard/kitchen wastes- compost for gardens Plastic bottles – carpet, auto parts, fiberfill Newspaper- newsprint, insulations, paperboard Construction waste, tires- pressboard, roads, playground mulch Furnishings & clothing- reused by another person (Goodwill, Salvation Army, Kidney Foundation) Glass- jars, bottles and construction materials

Federal Citizen Information Center l l l Purpose: to provide American citizens with a catalog of federal publications available May order info on-line Located in Pueblo, Colorado Phone # 1 -888 -8 PUEBLO http: //www. pueblo. gsa. gov/. United States General Services Administration

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) l l l Established 1972 Federal Agency Purpose: – – – Set standards for product safety Promoting safety from unreasonable risk of injury from products Testing products Initiate recalls of unsafe products from the marketplace Conducting research and education programs ? What are some recent research recalls? Go to www. cpsc. org and find out.

Underwriters Laboratories l l l Tests electrical and other consumer products Consumer Safety Can you think of places you have seen the UL label?

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) l l l Founded in 1914 Federal Agency Purpose: – – l To protect business and consumer from unfair competition (advertising, fraud, bait and switch, etc. ) To enforce antitrust laws (monopoly) To enforce truth in lending laws (credit) To enforce truth in labeling laws (consumerism) ? Have you ever been the victim of unfair competition?

Environmental Protection Agency EPA (epa. gov) l Federal Law – l Environmental Protection Act (1970) Purpose: – – Sets, monitors, and enforces environmental standards Researches the effects of pollution on AIR, WATER, LAND

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) l l 1934 – started as Bureau of Air Commerce Expanded in 1938 by Civil Aeronautics Board Became Federal Law in 1948 under Federal Aviation Act (due to mid-air collisions air traffic controllers became licensed and regulated) Purpose – – l l To set safety standards To license pilots To regulate and monitor aircraft safety Ensure safe navigation for pilots and aircraft Enforced through Department of Commerce (one of federal cabinet offices) ? What are some other cabinet offices?

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) l l l Established in 1934 Federal Agency Purpose– – To license radio and television stations To oversee interstate and international telephone and telegraph operations l Example: special telephone taxesadvertised prices change due to federal and local (911) taxes added

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) l l l Established in 1964 (Civil Rights Act) Federal Agency Purpose: – – Enforces laws prohibiting job discrimination on the basis of: Race, Color, Religion, Gender, National Origin, Age, or Handicap

Federal Reserve Board (FRB) l l l Established in 1913 aka “The Fed” Purpose: – – Set monetary and credit policies Regulate banks in the Federal Reserve System l – l l All national banks Control money supply, regulate interest rates, stabilize economy ? Do you know which branch of the Federal Reserve services the Charlotte area? Answer-Richmond

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) l l l Established 1906, expanded 1931 Federal Agency Purpose– – – l l Approve and issue licenses for manufacturing and distribution of new products in market Setting and maintaining the purity and safety standards for foods, drugs, health aids and cosmetics Inspecting product manufacturing facilities Ensure accurate labeling Removing unsafe products from the market ? What book that created uproar and led to founding of FDA? The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair – President Theodore Roosevelt

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) l l l Established 1887 Federal Agency Purpose: – – l l To set rates, routes and rules for interstate trucks, railroads and businesses To improve transportation safety through research, monitoring vehicles and manufacturers for safety issues (emissions, tires, weight, fuel consumption) ? Ever see weigh stations on the interstate? ? What vehicles must be checked for emissions?

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) l l l Established 1935 Federal Agency Purpose: – – – To protect employees against unfair labor practices To investigate unfair labor practices To regulate labor unions (collective bargaining by employees with management)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) l l Began in 1946 as Atomic Energy Commission Expanded in 1974 as NRC Federal Agency Purpose: – – l Set standards and regulate the operation of nuclear power plants Issue licenses for nuclear power plants Locally- Duke Power (Mc. Guire Nuclear Plant)

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) l l l Founded in 1970 Federal Agency Purpose: – – – To promote health and safety in the workplace To set standards of safety To investigate violations and assess penalties for violations

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) l l l Founded in 1934 Federal Agency Purpose: – – – l l To regulate stock exchanges To oversee investment companies and brokers To protect investors ? What stock exchanges can you name? Amex, NYSE, Nikkei, London, OTC, etc

United States Postal Service (USPS) l l l Established in 1775 by Ben Franklin Federal Agency Purpose: – – To distribute domestic and international parcels to the public To protect consumers against mail fraud and scams

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) l l l Federal Agency Established in 1862 by Abraham Lincoln Purpose: – – – Ensures product safety for meat, poultry, dairy and agricultural products-fruits, vegetables Research and regulate production & processing of fresh foods Stewardship of national forests and rangelands Research in human nutrition & new crop technologies Lead anti-hunger effort with “STAMP OUT HUNGER IN THE US”- Food stamps, WIC, school lunch programs

Attorney General (AG) l The attorney general – – – l l Protects citizens from fraud and criminal acts Stop actions of individuals or corporations by injunctions, cease and desist orders Files criminal actions/lawsuits against violators of legal statutes Government’s lawyer for the people AG for each state and the federal government

Office of the Attorney General www. usdoj. gov l l l Created by Judiciary Act of 1789 Evolved into the head of the Department of Justice and chief law enforcement officer of the Federal Government ? Who is the NC Attorney General? www. ncdoj. gov l ? Who is the US Attorney General? www. usdoj. gov

Public Utilities Commission l l l Regulates prices and production of natural gas and electricity a governing body that regulates the rates and services of a public utility. (natural gas, electricity) may be owned by the consumers that it serves OR may be a stockholder owned utility either publicly traded on a stock exchange (DUKE POWER)

Licensing l Why require licenses? – – – l Professional licensures: – – – l Nurses, doctors, medical personnel Realtors, insurance agents, stock brokers Plumbers, electricians, contractors Other licenses: – l Prove knowledge of subject area Prove identity Raise revenues ($) Hunting, drivers, pets, vehicle tags, open retail business, passports, marriage ? Can you think of others?

Weights and Measures l Standardized measurements – – l l Pounds, Ounces, Miles, Feet, Inches Grams, Liters, Kilometers, Meters Food products-prepackaged or fresh Vehicles-fuel pumps, air pumps, pressure, speed Hospitals-input, output, pharmacies, medicines ? Can you think of other places that standardized weights and measure are important?

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration l l l Division of Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulate highway safety standards Research fuel consumption (estimated mpgmiles per gallon) and ways to save fuel Investigate consumer complaints Research on ways to increase highway safety

Better Business Bureau (BBB) l l l Established in 1912 Non-governmental agency with both state and federal levels Purpose: – – To accept consumer complaints about business dealings To keep records available to public To inform the public about unfair trade practices and issues to remedy problems or fulfill promises for a product or service being questioned

Consumer Reports Magazine l l l Established as Consumer’s Union in 1954 Expert, independent, non-profit, nongovernmental periodical Purpose: – – – To research products for safety and quality To inform the public about safety and quality issues for products available to the public To provide access through the magazine and online to inform the public

Consumer Reports ® l l Consumer. Reports. org and Consumer Reports ® published by Consumers Union Mission: – – To work for a fair, just and safe marketplace for all consumers To empower all consumers to protect themselves by making good purchasing decisions

Consumer Federation of America (CFA) l l l Founded in 1968 Part of the “consumer movement” Purpose: – – l l To advance the consumer interests through research, education and advocacy To scrutinize business practices, products and services To raise awareness through the news media To defend the interests of the public at large Associated with Ralph Nader Headquartered in Washington, DC with state and local affiliates

Ralph Nader “Father of the Consumer Movement” l l Graduate of Princeton Law Became consumer advocate in 1963 due to concern for public welfare Wrote book- Unsafe at Any Speed in 1965 about the Chevrolet Corvair that led to the passage of national auto safety standards Used “crash dummies”

Consumer Movement Issues l “Nader’s Raiders” were instrumental in establishing: – – l Freedom of Information Act (1966) OSHA (1970) EPA (1970) CPSC (1972) Publicly and actively addressed environmental and health issues such as : – oil pipeline safety, baby foods, insecticides, mercury poisoning, pension reform, lead paint, coal mine safety, nuclear radiation, meat processing