Reclaim Your Rights as a Consumer

March is Consumer Protection Awareness Month. Celebrate by familiarizing yourself with your rights as a consumer and what to do if you think you’ve fallen victim to a scam. Plus, we provide you with complimentary resources that’ll boost your knowledge on this important subject. 

Product and service standards

You expect a product or service to meet your expectations. When it doesn’t, it can feel like your hard-earned money is going down the drain. Thankfully, the U.S. and the state of Ohio have consumer protection laws in place. These, in combination with your consumer rights, help combat abusive business practices.

Quality

When determining if a product is of satisfactory quality, factors such as the price of the item and any other readily available, relevant information is considered. As well, an item must be of satisfactory quality for a ‘reasonable’ person. 

Purpose

You should be able to use a product for its intended purpose. For example, an umbrella should protect you from the rain. 

Description

A product must match the description provided to you at the time of purchase. For example, if you purchase a phone case that claims it’s compatible with your device and it’s not, you may be able to claim your consumer rights. 

Scams

Sometimes, a defective or missing product or service isn’t the result of an honest mistake, but a scam. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) publishes scam alerts throughout the year to help you spot red flags while shopping. But if you do purchase a product or service that turns out to be fake, there are steps you can take to remedy the situation. 

• File a report with the FTC online. 
• Contact the Ohio Attorney General. You can submit a consumer complaint form online.
• Call your financial institution.  

Resources

General Electric Credit Union (GECU) wants to help with Improving the Quality of Your Financial Life by protecting you from scams and going to bat for you if you fall victim to one. Use the following free resources to gain an edge against fraud: 

• Webinars. Our complimentary, on-demand webinars are available to watch at your convenience from the comfort of your home! Identity Theft Protection, Tips to Avoid Holiday Scams, and Avoiding Fraud and Scams are just a few options packed full of need-to-know information!
• Security center. Learn more about the features we provide to help you monitor and protect your account, including Online Banking, our mobile app, travel notification forms, and more. 
• Team GECU. We’re always here to help. If you suspect fraud, take action to safeguard your accounts. Give us a call or message us via Secure Chat, available through Online Banking and the mobile app.

 
Our Money Minutes blog also hosts a variety of security topics, including: 

• 9 Pesky Fraud Schemes and How to Avoid Them
• Coronavirus Scams: What to Know and How to Protect Yourself
• 5 Security Tips for Holiday Online Shopping