Consumer Protection & Education (7)
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FTC Web Site: E-Commerce and The Internet
Education is a key tool to prevent consumer injury. In this section of our website, you’ll find publications with advice on avoiding scams and rip-offs, as well as tips on other consumer topics. Content Detail
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Are You about to Make an Important Purchse? Check out this Consumer Complaint Database First.
Consumer complaints are listed here after the company responds or after they have had the complaint for 15 calendar days, whichever comes first. Content Detail
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Advance-fee Loan Scams
Advance-fee loan sharks are preying on unwary consumers, taking their money for the promise of a loan or credit, and leaving them in hot water. The scam artists often impersonate legitimate lenders to entice consumers into falling for their bogus offer. Content Detail
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Consumer Complaints
How and when to file a complaint with the Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs; includes complaint form. Content Detail
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Predatory Lending
Predatory lending is the practice of lenders targeting vulnerable individuals and convincing them to take loans with incredibly high interest rates and other abusive terms. Sometimes, the victims of predatory lending may have less than perfect credit, so they can?t get a standard loan. In other cases, they may actually be able to get a standard loan but are misled by the lender or broker into believing they can?t. They are often hardworking people with limited incomes. An extra expense or setback, such as an unexpected medical bill or a car accident, may leave them unable to pay their bills. With their back against the wall, they become perfect targets for predatory lenders. Some of the most common forms of predatory lending include payday loans, car title loans, and predatory mortgage lending. Content Detail
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Product Liability
Too often companies try to increase their profits at the expense of consumers. In the production of consumer products like cars, baby cribs, medications, and exercise equipment, manufacturers often "rush to market" for profits. Product safety is not always a priority. Manufacturers may choose cheaper, less safe designs for their products; may have inadequate quality control measures that allow defective products onto the market; or may fail to provide adequate instructions and warnings for the proper use of the product. Content Detail
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Steps YOU can take to protect yourself as a consumer!
10 steps you can take to avoid getting ripped off. Content Detail
Basics of the Law (6)
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Basic Law of Contracts in Georgia
This document discusses the basic law of contracts, answering the following questions: What is a contract? What are the requirements for a contract? What is the difference between a spoken contract and a written contract? How do you enforce a contract? How do you void a contract you entered because of fraud? The document is excerpted from An Introduction to Law in Georgia, Fourth Edition, published by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1998 (updated 2004). Read More
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Consumer Law: Legal Issues on the Internet
The Internet has become ubiquitous in American life. It raises number of consumer-protection issues that can be addressed here. Content Detail
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Regulating Product Safety in Georgia
This document contains information on product safety laws in Georgia, and answers the following questions: What two types of laws relate to product safety? What is product liability? What are some examples of federal laws concerned with public safety? What are some of the agencies that work to protect consumer safety and what areas do these agencies cover? What is Georgia's "lemon law"? The document is excerpted from An Introduction to Law in Georgia, Fourth Edition, published by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1998 (updated 2004). Read More
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Securities and Business Regulation Division
The Securities and Business Regulation Division of the Georgia Secretary of State's Office protects Georgians from investment, cemetery and pre-need funeral services/merchandise, charity and telemarketing fraud by registering and regulating: securities offerings, securities firms, securities salespeople, investment advisors, charities, charitable fundraisers, and cemeteries and pre-need funeral services/merchandise. Content Detail
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The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse (PRC) is a nonprofit consumer organization with a two-part mission -- consumer information and consumer advocacy. It was established in 1992 and is based in San Diego, California. It is primarily grant-supported and serves individuals nationwide. The PRC's goals are to: Raise consumers' awareness of how technology affects personal privacy. Empower consumers to take action to control their own personal information by providing practical tips on privacy protection. Respond to specific privacy-related complaints from consumers, intercede on their behalf, and, when appropriate, refer them to the proper organizations for further assistance. Document the nature of consumers' complaints and questions about privacy in reports, testimony, and speeches and make them available to policy makers, industry representatives, consumer advocates, and the media. Advocate for consumers' privacy rights in local, state, and federal public policy proceedings, including legislative testimony, regulatory agency hearings, task forces, and study commissions as well as conferences and workshops. Content Detail
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Basic Consumer Law in Georgia: Warranties
This document discusses warranties and basic consumer safety and protection laws and answers the following questions: What is a warranty? What is an implied warranty? What is a warranty of merchantability? What is a warranty of fitness? What is a warranty of title? How do you waive an implied warranty? What is an express warranty? What is the difference between a full warranty and a limited warranty? What to do if a warranty is broken? The document is excerpted from An Introduction to Law in Georgia, Fourth Edition, published by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, 1998 (updated 2004). Read More
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- Spanish / Español
