Your Consumer Rights
Know Your Rights
Federal and state laws provide extensive protections for consumers. Understanding your rights helps you identify violations, demand fair treatment, and take action when businesses break the law. This guide covers the most important consumer protection laws and what they mean for you.
Core Consumer Rights
Debt Collection Rights
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits harassment, false statements, and unfair practices by debt collectors. You have the right to dispute debts, demand verification, and stop contact.
Learn your rights →
Credit Reporting Rights
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) gives you the right to access your credit report, dispute errors, and limit who can see your credit information. Inaccuracies must be investigated and corrected.
Learn your rights →
Refunds & Returns
While no federal law requires refunds, state laws and store policies govern return rights. You have specific protections for defective products, deceptive advertising, and certain transaction types.
Learn your rights →
Warranty Protection
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act requires clear warranty terms and gives you the right to sue for breach of warranty. Many states have additional "lemon laws" for defective vehicles.
Learn your rights →
Do Not Call Registry
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and FTC regulations restrict telemarketing calls. Register your number to stop most sales calls and report violators.
Learn your rights →
Privacy Rights
Multiple laws protect your personal information including COPPA (children), FCRA (credit), HIPAA (health), and state laws like California's CCPA. You have rights to access, delete, and control your data.
Learn your rights →
Federal Consumer Protection Laws
FTC Act (Federal Trade Commission Act)
What it does: Prohibits "unfair or deceptive acts or practices" in commerce. This is the broadest consumer protection law.
Your rights:
- Protection from false advertising
- Protection from bait-and-switch tactics
- Right to honest business dealings
- Protection from unfair contract terms
How to enforce: File complaint with FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
What it does: Regulates third-party debt collectors (not original creditors).
Your rights:
- No harassment, abuse, or threats
- No false statements about debt amount or consequences
- No contact at inconvenient times (before 8am or after 9pm)
- No contact at work if you ask them to stop
- Right to dispute debt and demand verification
- Right to request they stop contacting you
How to enforce: File complaint with CFPB, sue in court within 1 year
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
What it does: Regulates credit bureaus, creditors, and anyone using credit reports.
Your rights:
- Free credit report from each bureau annually at AnnualCreditReport.com
- Right to dispute inaccurate information
- Credit bureaus must investigate disputes within 30 days
- Negative information removed after 7 years (bankruptcies after 10)
- Right to know who accessed your credit report
- Right to opt out of pre-screened credit offers
How to enforce: Dispute directly with credit bureaus, file CFPB complaint, sue within 2 years
Truth in Lending Act (TILA)
What it does: Requires clear disclosure of credit terms and costs.
Your rights:
- Lenders must disclose APR, finance charges, and total costs
- 3-day right to cancel certain loans (home equity, refinancing)
- Protection from predatory lending practices
- Right to sue for TILA violations
Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA)
What it does: Protects consumers using electronic payments (debit cards, ATMs, ACH).
Your rights:
- Liability limited to $50 if you report unauthorized transactions within 2 days
- $500 limit if reported within 60 days
- Right to stop pre-authorized payments
- Right to receipts for electronic transactions
- Errors must be investigated and resolved within 45 days
Know When Your Rights Are Violated
Common Consumer Rights Violations:
- Debt collector calls you repeatedly throughout the day (FDCPA violation)
- Credit report shows debt you paid off years ago (FCRA violation)
- Business refuses to honor written warranty (Magnuson-Moss violation)
- Telemarketers call after you've registered on Do Not Call list (TCPA violation)
- Advertisement promises one thing, store delivers another (FTC Act violation)
- Company charges your card without authorization (EFTA violation)
- Business won't let you cancel subscription despite policy (state law violation)
- Store refuses legally-required refund for defective product (state law violation)
How to Enforce Your Rights
1. Document Everything
- Save all receipts, contracts, emails, texts
- Keep detailed notes of phone conversations (date, time, person, what was said)
- Save voicemails from debt collectors
- Screenshot websites and advertisements
- Request everything in writing
2. Know the Law
- Research which laws apply to your situation
- Understand your specific rights under those laws
- Know the statute of limitations for filing complaints/lawsuits
- Check if your state has additional protections beyond federal law
3. Attempt Resolution
- Contact business directly first
- Send written complaint citing specific law violated
- Request specific remedy (refund, correction, damages)
- Give reasonable deadline for response
- Keep copies of all correspondence
4. File Official Complaints
- State Attorney General (find yours)
- Federal Trade Commission (reportfraud.ftc.gov)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB complaint)
- Better Business Bureau
- Relevant regulatory agencies (FCC for telecom, etc.)
5. Consider Legal Action
- Small claims court for amounts under your state's limit
- Consult consumer rights attorney (many offer free consultations)
- Some laws allow attorney's fees if you win
- Class action if many people affected
- Arbitration if required by contract (but may have right to opt out)
6. Share Your Experience
- Post review on BBB, Google, Yelp (stick to facts)
- Warn others about scams and violations
- Your complaint helps regulators identify patterns
- Collective action protects future consumers
State-Specific Rights
Many states have consumer protection laws stronger than federal law:
- California: CCPA/CPRA privacy rights, strong lemon law, robust unfair competition law
- New York: Strong debt collection and credit repair regulations
- Massachusetts: Chapter 93A allows triple damages for unfair/deceptive practices
- Texas: Deceptive Trade Practices Act with broad consumer protections
- Illinois: Biometric privacy law (BIPA), strong consumer fraud protections
Check with your state Attorney General for state-specific rights and protections.