Kansas City Consumer Protection Lawyers

Protecting Missouri Residents from Defective Products & Devices

Consumer protection is a form of government regulation designed to protect the customer from unfair, deceptive, or fraudulent practices in the marketplace. Examples of consumer protection regulations include the National Do Not Call Registry, the right to a free credit report, labels on medicine and home products, and stickers on appliances that show energy usage. These laws keep unscrupulous businesses from mistreating or taking advantage of consumers.

Several branches of the United States government have been set up with customer protection in mind. One such branch is the Federal Trade Commission, which focuses on advertising practices, consumer and business education, financial practices, marketing practices, planning and information, and privacy and identity protection. Another branch is the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which monitors product safety and protects the public from unreasonable risks, particularly those that could prove to be fatal.

The Lemon Law & Consumer Protection

A great example of consumer protection is the Lemon Law. Even though the law varies from state to state, the basic principle is the same. If a consumer buys a new car that does not conform to its warranties and reports the issue within the allotted time span, the manufacturer or dealer is required by law to repair or replace the automobile at no cost to the consumer. The lemon law helps to protect customers who might otherwise be stuck with a broken automobile or a very expensive repair bill.