National Consumer Protection Week 2007
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February 4 – 10, 2007, is the ninth annual National Consumer Protection Week (Federal Trade Commission presss release, Feb. 5, 2007). This year’s theme is “A Time to Read Up and Reach Out.” Like shlep, the FTC encourages consumers “to arm themselves with knowledge. By gathering information – and sharing it with their friends and families – consumers can become more confident, savvy, and safe in the marketplace.”
“[C]onsumer information can help people recognize a rip-off, smell a scam, or find a fraud. ” It can help you avoid a consumer problem or find a solution to a consumer complaint on your own (by going to the seller or to the appropriate consumer adovcacy agency or group). Here are some useful sources:
- At the NCPW 2007 website, you’ll find an extensive, annotated list of Consumer Info links and a short Business Info list.
- At the federal government’s Consumer Action Website information can be found by topic, and you can order a copy of the free Consumer Action Handbook 2007
- “Heloise” has put together a package of 15 consumer information brochures and booklets, and has an online order form.
Here’s some info for the consumer of law-related weblogs: Diane Levin of the Online Guide to Mediation hosts Blawg Review 94 this week. Her theme is win-win negotiation, and the comprehensive posting is structured around the “seven elements critical for negotiation success: interests, options, alternatives, objective criteria, relationships, communication, and commitment.” Thanks to Diane for pointing her readers to this weblog today, and on numerous other occasions.
