Making Consumers Aware of consumer laws

A consumer is any person or an organization that has paid money for a good or service. As a result, he/she is entitled to certain rights and expects certain minimum standards from the good or service provider. There are a lot of hues and cry throughout the globe to protect the interest of the consumer.

There are set standards by the government for any and every product that is manufactured within as well as those imported from abroad. For example- toys manufactured in China flooding US markets have grabbed headlines. This is due to their non-compliance with US standards.

At the federal level, enforcement is done by the Department of Justice and the federal trade commission.

Some federal laws include:

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Truth in Lending Act, Fair Credit Billing Act, and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

Apart from federal-level efforts, each state has a department devoted to consumer affairs. One can cite the name of California for its strictest consumer protection laws. There are several forums and pressure groups that play an important role in providing consultancy and pressure groups on local governments.

Massachusetts Consumer Law is influenced too by federal regulations and local pressure groups. In case you have been a product liability injury victim and your consumer rights have been violated, feel free to contact any of the aforesaid authorities for redressal.

Didn’t you get the payment for working extra hours?

If you work an extra hour in excess of 40 hrs then you should get paid for it. But there are many employers who don’t want to make overtime payments to the employee to save employer funds. When you do have a right to get paid please do not deny. If you have any problem related to your overtime payment with your employer you may consider the following tips.

Overtime compensation law

Know and understand the overtime compensation law. According to FLSA, an employee is entitled to get the payment @ 1.5 times the normal rate when the employee works more than 40 hr per week. Well, only nonexempt employees will be eligible to get the payment of overtime compensation. If you are an administrative, executive, or computer employee, then you may be an exempt employee and you might not get the payment for overtime.

Keep all written documents with you when you go to court, like employment policies, and payroll records. Times sheets are very important in this case, try to keep a copy of it and it will help you a lot. However, employment law is changing constantly and it will be always a good idea to consult with a lawyer. If there is any confusion or question hiring an experienced labor attorney will be a good idea. If you have a case then instead of going to trial you can contact with the Department of Labor and also you can fill up a complaint form. The investigator will review your case and will talk to your employer to assist you.