California Consumer Protection Attorneys

Consumer protection laws are designed to ensure fair competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors. 

Specific consumer protection laws can deal with issues such as:

• credit repair
• debt repair
• product safety
• service and sales contracts
• bill collector regulation
• pricing
• utility turnoffs
• unfair lending practices.

Federal Consumer Protection Laws

Consumer protection laws at the federal level include:

• The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
• The Fair Credit Reporting Act
• The Truth-in-Lending Act
• The Fair Credit Billing Act
• The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act

Consumer protection laws are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. Each agency has various departments dealing with different aspects of consumer protection.  For example, the Federal Trade Commission has the following different divisions:

• The Division of Advertising Practices - protects consumers from deceptive and unsubstantiated advertising.

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• The Division of Enforcement - enforces consumer protection laws, rules and guidelines in these and other ways: investigating and prosecuting civil actions to stop fraudulent, unfair or deceptive marketing and advertising practices.

• The Division of Financial Practices - enforces consumer credit statutes, including: the Consumer Leasing Act, Credit Practices Rule, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Billing Act, Electronic Fund Transfer Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, Holder-In-Due-Course Rule, and Truth in Lending Act.

• The Division of Marketing Practices - enforces federal consumer protection laws to protect consumers from fraudulent marketing practices.

• The Division of Planning & Information - collects and analyzes data to target law enforcement and education efforts and measure the impact of activities related to the FTC's mission to protect consumers.

• The International Division of Consumer Protection - promoting consumer confidence in international marketplaces.

• The Office of Consumer and Business Education - plans and implements public education campaigns for consumers and industry about fraud, deception, and unfair practices.

California Consumer Protection Law

There are also California laws for consumer protection.  These include:

• The Lemon Law
• Laws prohibiting unfair debt collection
• Laws prohibiting auto dealer fraud
• Laws prohibiting unfair and deceptive business practices

For example, the Lemon Law covers the following new and used vehicles that are under manufacturer warranty:

• Automobiles
• Trucks
• Boats
• Motorcycles
• Jet skis
• Trailers
• Demonstrator vehicles
• Motor homes

This consumer protection law covers any defect that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle to the buyer.

California has very strong consumer protection laws, and agencies committed to enforcing these consumer protection legal rules.

The California Department of Consumer Affairs regulates about 2.3 million professionals in over 230 different professions, through its forty regulatory entities, to ensure consumer protection.

Contact an Experienced Consumer Protection Attorney

If you believe your consumer protection rights have been violated, contact one of our experienced consumer protection lawyers for a consultation today.