CONSUMER RIGHTSCONSUMER RESPONSIBILITIES

SETTING GOALS

Tip of the DayQuestion: I'm receiving phone calls from a collector.

Can I stop the collection agency from contacting me by phone?

Answer: You can write a letter to the agency telling it not to contact you by phone, not to call at certain times or locations, or not to make any further contact at all. This last request does entitle the collector to contact you one more time to inform you of what, if any, action it intends to take to collect the debt, but not to threaten you. You should send such a letter by certified mail and request a return receipt. If the company has a fax number, send the letter by both fax and by mail. Understand, telling the collection agency not to contact you should stop the phone calls, but it won't stop the collection efforts.

Objectives Explain consumer rights and

responsibilities. Identify ways to be a responsible citizen in

families, career, and communities. (0.6.3) Analyze policies that support consumer

rights and responsibilities. (2.1.5) Explain guidelines for setting and reaching

goals.

Effective Consumers Set Goals Think Critically Do Their Research Manage Everyday

Finances Plan for Financial

Security

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Consumer Rights Right to Safety Right to be Informed Right to Choose Right to be Heard Right to Redress Right to Consumer

Education Right to Service

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Consumer Responsibilities To Use Products Safely To Use Information To Choose Carefully To Speak Up To Seek Redress To Learn To Reward Good Service

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Activity Scenario

John went shopping for a toy for his nephew Cody’s second birthday present. He chose a stuffed teddy bear that squeaked when a button in its belly was pressed. The teddy bear also had very realistic looking eyes glued on its face. The hangtag said the toy was “child-safe”. Cody loved the teddy and wanted to sleep with it that night. The next morning, Cody’s parents were horrified when they discovered that one of the teddy’s eyes was missing and the squeaker button had come off, leaving a sharp projection. They realized that Cody could have choked on the glass eye or been seriously hurt by the sharp projection. They immediately threw the toy away.

Answer the following questions in relation to the scenario

1. Which consumer rights were violated, if any? Explain.

2. Which consumer responsibilities were not fulfilled, if any? Explain.

3. What should the consumer do now regarding this situation?

Scenario Brett has a 1965 Mustang that he has reconditioned.

He is especially proud of the body work and the paint job, which he has done himself in his garage. One day in July, Brett began having trouble shifting gears. Since he could not find the trouble himself, he took the Mustang to a mechanic he saw advertised in the yellow pages of the phone book. When he picked up the car he noticed a large dent in the fender that had not been there previously. He complained but everyone at the garage denied that it had happened there. Brett estimated that the damage to the car was about $750.00.

Answer the following questions in relation to the scenario

1. Which consumer rights were violated, if any? Explain.

2. Which consumer responsibilities were not fulfilled, if any? Explain.

3. What should the consumer do now regarding this situation?

Federal Consumer

Protection LawsPage 30

ActivityWhich agency would be involved in the following

situations?1. Investigating Mad Cow Disease.2. Teddy Bears were tested and found to have eyes

that can easily detach.3. Clementine oranges have been banned for import

into the US from Spain.4. Consumers discover that the contents of boxes of

cereal do not weigh as much as is stated on the box.5. Children’s blocks are discovered to be painted with

lead-based paint.

Setting Realistic Goals Goals are targets for what you want to

accomplishShort -TermLong -Term

SMART Goals Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time-related

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