MARCH 4TH STARTS NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION WEEK

The following excerpt is from a USA.gov. e-mail:  

"National Consumer Protection Week

 

March 4-10th

You protect your family, pets, cars, homes… you name it. But it’s important that you remember to protect yourself, and one place where you need security is in the consumer marketplace. That’s why USA.govsupports National Consumer Protection Week, which runs from March 4th-10th. This special week is dedicated to encouraging consumers to take full advantage of their consumer rights and make better-informed purchasing decisions.

DID YOU KNOW?

• If you suspect you’re a victim of online fraud or a scam you can submit a report to the FBIthrough the Internet Crime Complaint Center? Here you can report an incident that happened to you, or someone else.
• There is a statute of limitations on old debts and a collector’s ability to sue you for them? This does not mean that you no longer owe the money, or that the collector can’t still get you to pay them. It means that you can’t be sued to cough up the dough after a certain amount of time has passed. The Federal Trade Commission can help you when it comes to understanding old debts.
• If you have a safety issue with a consumer product you can report it to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission? Besides alerting others to potentially dangerous products, you can search recalls and reports on other items you might already own or receive alerts about newly discovered hazardous items. You can also download the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s “Recalls.gov” application on your mobile phone—giving you the most up-to-date recall information wherever you are.
• Teens today are at risk in ways that no generation before them has had to consider? Teach your teenagers the dangers of inappropriate texting and explain to them how what they choose to post online can affect them now, and for the rest of their lives.
• The Consumer Action Handbook is your free guide to help you navigate an increasingly complex marketplace? Updated annually, it includes a sample complaint letter and the contact information for many large companies to help you get in touch with them and rectify your issue.

Have specific questions about consumer topics like credit, ID theft or scams? Get answers from USA.gov’s experts during the live Consumer Protection Q&A event for the public on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 from 2-3pm EST. You can post questions ahead of time or ask them during the live social media hour, which will take place on both USA.gov’s Twitter feed (@USAgov) and Facebook page (Facebook.com/USAgov).