Every spring brings World Consumer Rights Day (March 15, to be exact), a good prompt for remembering how our system works. Let’s face it: Everyone is a consumer of something. Consumers — defined as individuals or groups purchasing something to use themselves, rather than big businesses buying things for resale — deserve the right to be protected and aware of their rights.
In a free market economy, like in the US, each transaction is legally defined as a freely entered contract from one party to exchange a good or service based upon information provided by another party providing that good or service.
Assuming the consumer receives the guaranteed good or service in a timely, honest, and agreed upon way, all is well. But what happens when the other party doesn’t hold up their end of the bargain? The wronged party deserves an avenue for justice and to know their rights as a consumer.
For consumers, national law provides the following rights — to safety, to be informed, to choose, to be heard, and to receive compensation or redressal for a grievance.
To that end, buying goods isn’t always as straightforward as shopping for clothes, going to the grocery store, or heading to the salon. It encompasses everything from insurance coverage to intangible online purchases such as software or subscriptions.
In a world full of defective goods, dishonest advertising, and unethical pricing and service tactics, it is more important than ever for consumers to understand their rights — no matter where they’re swiping or tapping their credit card.
The conversation’s relevance can be witnessed locally in western North Carolina, with many insurance policyholders who were impacted by Hurricane Helene being denied coverage and policyholders nationwide facing threats of substantially hiked up premiums to pay for the amount of cashed in claims.
This local insurance example amid natural disaster, along with other recent national situations, like insurance companies in California revoking coverage amid the rampant and destructive wildfires, showcase how vital it is for you as a consumer to be equipped to fight for your rights — especially when it comes to recognizing and addressing unfair and illegal practices.
One example, which we all deal with daily, is receiving unsolicited telemarketing calls and texts. Besides being annoying, these calls could be illegal. But consumers do not have to sit by. They have recourse, such as through the “Do-Not-Call” registry and civil lawsuits. Indeed, consumers should not sit by.
After all, the consumer is always right.