State Consumer Protection Agencies

1. State Consumer Protection Agencies Objective: 2.01 Analyze government's role in consumer protection and how it affects consumers’ rights.

2. Public Utilities Commission Regulates rates utility companies can charge so there is not a monopoly; utility companies include gas, oil, water, electricity, and telephone. www.ncuc.commerce.state.nc.us

3. Weights and Measures Or Division of Standards Maintains scales, packages, gasoline pumps, and labels to guarantee true weights and measurements. www.agr.state.nc.us/standard

4. Licenses Gives a person the right to conduct business or practice the profession. www.nccommerce.com/en/BusinessServices/StartYourBusiness

5. Attorney General Protects state’s citizens from fraud and criminal acts. www.ncdoj.com NCDOJ Attorney General Roy Cooper

6. Private Consumer Detection Organizations Consumer Federation of America www.consumerfed.org Consumer Reports www.online.consumerreports.org Better Business Bureau http://welcome.bbb.org/

7. Consumer Federation of America CFA's professional staff gathers facts, analyzes issues, and disseminates information to the public, policymakers, and rest of the consumer movement. • Has four main roles: Advocate, Research Organization, Education Organization, and Service Organization.

8. Consumer Federation of America • As an advocacy group, it works to advance pro-consumer policy on a variety of issues before Congress, the White House, federal and state regulatory agencies, state legislatures, and the courts. Its staff works with public officials to promote beneficial policies, to oppose harmful policies, and to ensure a balanced debate on important issues in which consumers have a stake.

9. Consumer Federation of America • As a research organization, CFA investigates consumer issues, behavior, and attitudes using surveys, polling, focus groups, and literatures reviews. The findings of such projects are published in reports that assist consumer advocates and policymakers as well as individual consumers. This research also provides the basis for new consumer initiatives, public service advertising, and consumer information and education efforts.

10. Consumer Federation of America • As an education organization, CFA disseminates information on consumer issues to the public and the media, as well as to policymakers and other public interest advocates. Conferences, reports, books, brochures, news releases, a newsletter, and a website all contribute to CFA's education program.

11. Consumer Federation of America • As a service organization, CFA provides support to national, state, and local organizations committed to the goals of consumer advocacy, research, and education. Some of these organizations are consumer advocacy, education, or cooperative organizations that belong to the federation.

12. Consumer Reports • Consumer Reports scientifically tests and rates thousands of products every year. More than 100 experts work in 7 major areas -- appliances, cars, baby & kids, electronics, foods, health & family, and recreation & home improvement to empower consumers with information to make the best purchasing decision.

13. Better Business Bureau • Their vision is an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers can trust each other. Their mission is to be the leader in advancing marketplace trust.