CONSUMER CHALLENGES AND RIGHTS 1

HOME ECONOMICS J. S. S THREE FIRST TERM

THEME: FAMILY LIVING AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT/CLOTHING AND TEXTILE

WEEK ONE

CONSUMER CHALLENGES AND RIGHTS 1

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE

Students should be able to;

1. Define consumer
2. State the rights of the consumer

CONTENT

Any individual who purchases products or services for his personal use and not for manufacturing or resale is called a consumer. A consumer is one who is the decision-maker whether or not to buy an item at the store or someone who is influenced by advertisement and marketing. Every time someone goes to a store and buys a shirt, toy, beverage or anything else, they make a decision as a consumer. Consumer refers to any person who purchases some goods for a consideration that has been either paid or promised to pay or partly paid and partly promised.

RIGHTS

• The Right to Satisfaction of Basic Needs Citizens must demand access to essential goods and services such as adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education, public utilities, water, and sanitation.
• The Right to Safety and protection from hazardous goods or services.
• The Right to be Informed and protected against fraudulent, deceitful or misleading information and to have access to accurate information and facts needed to make informed choices and decisions.
• The Right to Choose and have access to a variety of products and services at fair and competitive prices.
• The Right to be Heard and to express and represent consumer interests in the making of economic and political decisions.
• The Right to Redress and to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory services.
• The Right to Consumer Education and to become a skilled and informed consumer capable of functioning effectively in the marketplace.
• The Right to a Healthy Environment that will enhance the quality of life and provide protection from environmental problems for present and future generations.
• Right to Seek redresses

Means right to seek redresses against unfair trade practices or unscrupulous exploitation of consumers. It also includes the right to fair settlement of the genuine grievances of the consumer. Consumers must make complaint about their genuine grievances. Many times their complaint may be of small value but its impact on the society as a whole may be very large. They can also take the help of consumer organisations in seeking redressal of their grievances.

• Right to be heard

Means that consumer's interests will receive due consideration at appropriate forums. It also includes the right to be represented in various forums formed to consider the consumer's welfare.