Fort Myers Consumer Protection Lawyer
Capitalism and democracy act as two opposing forces in modern America, and are possibly more at odds with one another now more than any time since the early 20th century. In many regards, large companies have been given virtually free reign to do as they please. After the 2010 Supreme Court Ruling of Citizens United, corporations were given the rights to unlimited spending on political issues, which acts as a feedback loop by creating more lenient laws and handouts to large corporations, according to Huffington Post. Yet, human citizens, also referred to as consumers in many circumstances, have rights too. Consumers are protected under dozens of laws and by multiple government agencies, including the Consumer Protection Safety Commission, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the Federal Trade Commission. An experienced Fort Myers consumer protection lawyer with The Pendas Law Firm can help navigate these laws and assist with your case.
What are Consumer Protection Laws?
Consumer protection laws regulate business practices in order to protect consumers. For example, under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act it is illegal for a debt collecting agency to repeatedly call a debtor in a way that disrupts their life or could be construed as harassing. If businesses were allowed to do whatever they wanted, Americans would find themselves living in an unsafe, and extremely unpleasant world, where corporations did whatever they wanted. Unfortunately, despite the many consumer protection laws that have been created, many businesses continue to engage in practices that cause physical, financial, and psychological harm to thousands of consumers throughout Florida and millions across the U.S.
Examples of Some of the Most Important Consumer Protection Laws
- Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA);
- Lemon laws under the NHTSA;
- Federal Food and Drug Act (FFDA);
- Fair Credit Reporting Act;
- Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act;
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; and
- National Do Not Call Registry (DNCR).
Unlawful Schemes and Practices That Harm Consumers
Just because a company did not mean to cause harm does not dismiss them from liability when they cause damage. One of the most rampant types of consumer harm is caused during mass data breaches. Companies are responsible for safeguarding consumers’ private information. However, bank account information, passwords, health information, and credit card numbers are stolen by the hundreds of millions every year when companies fail in their duty to protect this info, as reported by CBS News. Mislabeling food items, such as claiming that the product is organic, is another common type of unlawful practice that more and more companies are engaging in. Other common reasons for filing a consumer lawsuit include the following:
- False advertising or misleading marketing;
- Robocalls;
- Spam emails;
- Defective products;
- Deceptive trade practices;
- Securities fraud;
- Environmental damage; and
- Many others.
Call a Fort Myers Consumer Protection Lawyer Today
In order to file a consumer lawsuit against any party, you must be able to show that you suffered some type of harm or damage. Harm can be in the physical form, such as being injured by a defective product; it can be psychological, such as being traumatized by the harassment of a debt collector; or it can be financial, such as purchasing a product that was mislabeled. Call the Fort Myers consumer protection attorneys with The Pendas Law Firm today at 1-844-200-0000 to schedule a free consultation.
