Your customers are your business’s top priority. But do your practices back that up? When it comes to things like customers’ rights, there’s no room for errors. Understand consumer protection laws to stay compliant.
Consumer protection laws
There are a number of consumer laws aimed at protecting customers from unfair practices. Consumer acts prevent businesses from:
- 保留重要信息
- Marking up prices significantly
- Invading consumers’ privacy
- Discriminating against consumers
- Deceiving consumers
继续阅读以了解您可能会遇到的一些。
Price gouging laws
How familiar are you with the art ofprice gouging? Price gouging is when a business significantly and excessively marks up their products or services. Generally, a seller does this when demand skyrockets (e.g., during an emergency or disaster situation).
Price gouging laws protect consumers from having to pay unreasonable prices for basic necessities (e.g., water and food) during emergencies or market downturns.
一些州监控企业的价格欺诈。而且，各州鼓励消费者向总检察长办公室报告价格的怀疑。
There is no federal law against price gouging. However, the majority of states have explicit price gouging laws that ban sellers from increasing prices by a certain percentage during a state of emergency. Some states’ price gouging laws (e.g., Michigan) apply all of the time.
If there’s a price gouging law in place in your state, it defines price gouging, when the law is activated, the products or services it applies to, and what lookback period to compare price increases to.
Fair Credit Reporting Act
TheFair Credit Reporting Act(FCRA) protects consumers’ credit information in terms of privacy. Under the FCRA, you can’t just go digging around when conducting a credit check on a customer.
You must follow the FCRA so you know what kind of information you can collect. And, you likely need to get the customer’s written permission before starting the credit check.
《公平信用报告法》还要求您向消费者介绍您使用的任何信息。
The FCRA also protects your rights as a business owner. You are entitled to one free credit report every 12 months under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
贷款行为中的真相
The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) requires lenders and creditors to tell borrowers certain information about the loan or credit they’re about to take out.
If you extend credit to your customers, you must adhere to TILA regulations. You cannot withhold important information from prospective borrowers.
So, what do you need to tell your customers? If you lend or extend credit to a customer, TILA requires you to tell them the total amount, annual percentage rate (APR), fees and penalties, and repayment plan and amount.
消费者产品安全法案
If you own a product-based business, the last thing you want is for one of your products to malfunction when a customer is using it. Or worse … consumer injuries as a result of using your products.
The Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) aims to reduce injuries related to product usage. It requires businesses to provide clear and sufficient warnings or instructions on products to prevent or reduce injuries. Depending on the product, the act may regulate the warnings or instructions you include.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act
TheEqual Credit Opportunity Act(ECOA) protects consumers from credit discrimination due to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, or age.
如果您向客户提供信贷，则只能基于收入，费用，债务和信用记录等因素的基本条款。
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This is not intended as legal advice; for more information, please点击这里。