What are some common examples of unfair trade practices?

Consumer protection laws are designed to keep merchants accountable and protect members of the public. Many individuals do not know where to turn when they believe they have been victims of unfair trade practices.

If you have suffered due to the unfair trade practices of a corporation or any other business, you should contact Mullen Holland & Cooper P.A. We can schedule a consultation to speak with you about the facts of your case.

Unfair trade practices surface in many different areas of law, including contracts, real estate, torts, and intellectual property. The knowledgeable attorneys at Mullen Holland & Cooper P.A. can offer you exceptional legal representation in legal matters involving unfair trade practices.

What Is an Unfair Trade Practice?

Unfair trade practices are acts that cause harm to consumers or users of products in the marketplace. The action must be related to commerce and inflict damage on a business or individual consumer. Many different economic sectors can be affected by unfair trade practices, including agriculture, shipping, and retail sales.

The Federal Trade Commission Act is the federal statute dealing with unfair commercial activity and unfair trade practices. The Federal Trade Commission counteracts unfair trade practices by drafting assessment reports for Congressional members to scrutinize. The commission also investigates individual businesses, regulates trade, and seeks financial justice for those who were injured by unfair trade practices.

To qualify as an unfair trade practice, the practice must cause injury to consumers, and consumers must be unable to avoid the trade practice. Also, the unfair trade practice is not associated with benefits to individual consumers or other businesses.

Common Unfair Trade Practices

Unfair trade practices constitute many different types of acts and behaviors. Some of the most common unfair trade practices include the following:

• Misstating or misconstruing the uses or characteristics of a service or consumer good
• Confusing consumers and potential consumers about the origin of the consumer good
• Engaging in a systematic routine of overcharging consumers for a service or good
• Providing a consumer an inferior product different from the consumer good that was advertised
• Changing or manipulating measuring tools on goods to make the product appear to be what it is not

You may be confused about which behaviors constitute unfair trade practices. Many people assume that businesses are trustworthy and honest. However, this is often not the case. Corporations, limited liability companies, and other business entities engage in dishonest and nefarious behavior throughout the United States.

If you need assistance understanding unfair trade practices and whether you may have a claim, you should consult an experienced and knowledgeable consumer rights attorney. Do not allow a business to deceive you and lie to you about the quality of its goods and services.

Contact a Lawyer for Help

Contact the consumer rights attorneys at Mullen Holland & Cooper P.A. today to schedule a free consultation. If you have been the victim of unfair trade practices, you need to act quickly so you can preserve as much evidence as you can of the injuries you suffered.

Oftentimes corporations and other large business entities will attempt to cover up their wrongdoing by using delaying tactics and allowing the statute of limitations period to expire. The statute of limitations in North Carolina is four years. This means you have only four years in which to file a lawsuit against the wrongdoer.

Call Mullen Holland & Cooper P.A. today to get help pursuing compensation from those who wronged you. Do not accept mistreatment from any business. Stand up for your rights as a consumer and contact Mullen Holland & Cooper P.A. today. Call 704-864-6751 now.