Consumer Rights

Yes, you can dispute inaccurate information on your credit report under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and the credit bureau must investigate and correct or delete unverifiable or incorrect information within 30 days.

Certain entities can access your credit report without your permission under federal law — including creditors reviewing existing accounts, debt collectors, insurers for underwriting, and government agencies for child support enforcement or fraud investigations.

Most negative information can stay on your credit report for 7 years; bankruptcies can remain for up to 10 years.

Yes, you have a legal right to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion).

Yes, a credit reporting agency can be held liable for reporting incorrect information if it fails to follow reasonable procedures to ensure accuracy under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

No, a debt collector generally cannot call you at work if your employer prohibits such calls, and they cannot contact your family members about your debt except to locate you — and only once, unless they believe the information is wrong or outdated.

A debt collector must, within five days of first contact, send you a written notice with the amount owed, creditor's name, and your right to dispute the debt.

No, federal law prohibits companies from using deceptive advertising to trick consumers into buying products.

An unfair or deceptive act under the FTC Act is any practice that misleads consumers or causes substantial injury they cannot reasonably avoid, and that isn’t outweighed by benefits to consumers or competition.

No, federal law prohibits companies from charging hidden fees that were not clearly disclosed upfront. Both the Truth in Lending Act and the FTC Act require transparency and ban deceptive pricing practices.

Yes, the federal government can ban a dangerous consumer product through the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which has authority under the Consumer Product Safety Act to issue bans when a product presents an unreasonable risk of injury or death.

If a company knows its product is dangerous but fails to report it to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), it may face civil penalties up to $15.8 million per violation, criminal fines, imprisonment, and mandatory product recalls.

The CPSC is not automatically required to recall children's products that pose choking hazards, but it has broad authority to order recalls when a product presents a substantial product hazard, including choking risks.

No, a manufacturer cannot void your warranty solely because you used a third-party repair service — federal law prohibits this under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

Yes, federal law requires lenders to disclose the true cost of a loan—including the annual percentage rate (APR), finance charges, and payment schedule—before you sign.

When you buy a consumer product in the U.S., federal law requires that written warranties be clear, complete, and easy to understand—and if a product fails, the seller or manufacturer must fix, replace, or refund it without charge.

No, a 'sold as is' label does not eliminate all seller liability—federal law prohibits disclaiming implied warranties on consumer products if a written warranty is offered.

Yes, you can cancel a door-to-door sale within three business days under federal law. This right is enforced by the FTC and applies to purchases of $25 or more made at your home or workplace.

The FTC can issue cease-and-desist orders, seek civil penalties, obtain injunctions, and require consumer redress for unfair or deceptive acts or practices.

No, a credit card company generally cannot raise your interest rate without advance written notice — federal law requires at least 45 days’ notice before most rate increases.

Yes, the FTC has authority to seek monetary relief for consumers harmed by fraud under certain conditions, but that authority was significantly limited by the Supreme Court's 2021 decision in AMG Capital Management v. FTC.

Yes, you can cancel a fraudulent credit card transaction under federal law — the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA), part of the Truth in Lending Act, gives you the right to dispute and have charges removed if they result from fraud.

Yes, you can sue a debt collector who threatens illegal actions — the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits such threats and allows you to recover damages, including up to $1,000 in statutory damages per violation.

If a debt collector violates the FDCPA, you may recover actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000 per lawsuit (not per violation), and attorney’s fees and court costs.

Yes, you may file a federal class action lawsuit for widespread deceptive practices if the conduct violates laws like the FTC Act or Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and meets Rule 23 requirements.