New York State - Division of Consumer Protection (2024)

FAQs

What is the New York State Consumer Protection Statute? ›

The New York City Consumer Protection Law forbids all "deceptive or unconscionable trade practices in the sale, lease, rental, or loan, or in the offering for sale, lease, rental, or loan of any consumer goods and services, or in the collection of consumer debts." Under the Consumer Protection Law (commonly referred to ...

File a complaint with government or consumer programs

File a complaint with your local consumer protection office. Notify the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in your area about your problem. The BBB tries to resolve complaints against companies. If you think you may have experienced a scam, report it to the FTC.

A store is legally required to post their refund policy. If the store does not post any return policy, the law requires the store to accept your return within 30 days of purchase. There is no requirement under NYS law for a store to offer a refund in the form of cash, credit, replacement merchandise or other means.

Call the toll-free Consumer Assistance Hotline at 800-697-1220 or file a complaint online at https://dos.ny.gov/file-consumer-complaint. Consumers can also request a consumer complaint form by calling the hotline.

3.3 Regulation 3 contains a general prohibition of unfair commercial practices. it materially distorts, or is likely to materially distort, the economic behaviour of the average consumer.

Unfair Acts or Practices

An act or practice is unfair when it (1) causes or is likely to cause substantial injury to consumers, (2) cannot be reasonably avoided by consumers, and (3) is not outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers or to competition. Congress codified the three-part unfairness test in 1994.

Failing to follow up with the customer, ignoring or dismissing the complaint, or acting as if it isn't worthy of addressing. Making excuses, deflecting, or laying the blame back on the customer, management, or another department.

Each time a store that has a valid waiver has an over-charge, it must refund the amount of the over-charge, plus any applicable sales tax. They must also fill out a form to report to the Bureau Weights & Measures and issue a "Super Refund”.

Do I have a right to a refund? ›

You don't have an automatic right to get your money back if you just change your mind about something you've bought and there's nothing wrong with it. It's the same no matter how expensive the item was - it's really down to the seller whether they offer you anything.

You get a refund if you overpaid your taxes the year before. This can happen if your employer withholds too much from your paychecks (based on the information you provided on your W-4).

The City's Consumer Protection Law prohibits unfair trade practices when dealing in consumer goods or services - such as false advertising, phony sales, and special offers with hidden conditions. The law also lays out proper behavior in the collection of consumer debts.

As the nation's consumer protection agency, the FTC takes reports about scammers that cheat people out of money and businesses that don't make good on their promises. We share these reports with our law enforcement partners and use them to investigate fraud and eliminate unfair business practices.

The written response must be made within 20 days of personal service, or within 30 days of the time when service by any other means is complete. If the defendant fails to respond he or she is in default and plaintiff may be able to obtain a default judgment against the defendant.

An Act to provide for protection of the interests of consumers and for the said purpose, to establish authorities for timely and effective administration and settlement of consumers' disputes and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Enacts the New York privacy act to require companies to disclose their methods of de-identifying personal information, to place special safeguards around data sharing and to allow consumers to obtain the names of all entities with whom their information is shared.

The FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection stops unfair, deceptive and fraudulent business practices by collecting reports from consumers and conducting investigations, suing companies and people that break the law, developing rules to maintain a fair marketplace, and educating consumers and businesses about their rights ...

The New York statute of limitations for consumer debt is three years. This means creditors or debt collectors have three years to try to collect on an unpaid debt or sue you for a debt.