UNIT 4. How Laws Protect the Consumer

1. Сomplete the sentences, using the appropriate words:

а – discrimination; b – harmful; c – establishments; d – prohibit; e – access; f – remedies;

g – standards; h – enforce; i – marketplace; j – passed

1. Congress has... many consumer protection laws.

2. They …unfair or mis­leading trade practices.

3. Federal laws set …for the quality, safety, and reli­ability of many goods and services.

4. The Con­sumer Product Safety Act allows the government to ban, seize, or prevent the sale of … products.

5. The federal government has established many agencies that … consumer laws and help consumers.

6. Congress passes laws and agencies issue rules to improve the operation of the …

7. A new federal law, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), protects consumers against … on the basis of disability.

8. Consumers who are disabled must have equal …to goods and services.

9. The ADA covers all …that are generally open to the public.

10. State laws give the govern­ment power not only to stop unfair and deceptive practices but also to provide consumers with a variety of...

2. Are the statements true (+) or false (–)? Correct the false statements.

1. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the federal agency primarily concerned with unfair or deceptive trade practices.

2. Federal laws set standards for the quality, safety, and reli­ability of many goods and services. Failure to meet these standards can result in legal action against the buyer.

3. The Federal Trade Commission has the power to prohibit unfair or deceptive trade practices (such as false advertising) and can take legal action to stop such practices.

4. Consumers who are disabled may have equal access to goods and services.

5. State laws allow consumers to bring complaints into state court and before state agencies.

6. Consumers can join together to bringclass actions.

7. Remedies includecease and desist orders, which are voluntary agreements to end a practice that is claimed to be illegal.

8. Consent decrees are orders to refund or repay any money illegally obtained.

9. Restitution is a remedy by which an agency can require a business to stop a forbid­den practice.

10. Some countries have “truth–in–menus” laws under which if the menu reads “fresh swordfish,” the restaurant cannot serve swordfish that has been frozen.