Legal Definitions - Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law

The Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, also known as the Little FTC Act, is a state law that protects consumers from deceptive trade practices and false advertising. It was proposed by the Federal Trade Commission in 1967 and adopted by many states.

The law gives the state attorney general the power to regulate unfair and deceptive trade practices. This means that if a company is found to be engaging in deceptive practices, the attorney general can take legal action against them.

Consumers also have the right to sue companies directly if they have been harmed by deceptive practices. For example, if a company falsely advertises a product as being all-natural when it actually contains harmful chemicals, a consumer can sue the company for damages.

Another example of a deceptive practice is when a company uses bait-and-switch tactics to lure customers in with a low price, only to switch to a higher price once the customer is committed. This is illegal under the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law.

In summary, the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law is designed to protect consumers from deceptive practices by giving the state attorney general the power to regulate companies and allowing consumers to take legal action against offenders.