Businesses can sell using illegal methods {deceptive selling}|. Deceptive selling practices can violate law, and you can report them to Better Business Bureau, Chamber of Commerce, Federal Trade Commission, other state or federal agencies, news media, district attorney, or attorney general. When sellers violate state or federal rules, only state or federal agencies can prosecute.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) limits unfair competition methods and tries to stop unfair and deceptive practices, but only if they are ordinary business activities, not individual cases. FTC can issue an order {cease and desist order} to such companies. If companies persist, FTC can sue for each violation.
Deceptive selling practices {bait and switch}| can offer a product at low price and then attempt to sell a higher-priced item when consumer gets to store or salesperson comes to home. Sellers can disparage lower-priced goods, have few cheaper items, or refuse to sell lower-priced goods.
Deceptive selling practices {false advertising} can advertise falsely. Advertisements can say present price is less than normal price {deceptive pricing}. Advertisements can use fictitious former prices, which are either unreasonable or non-existent. Advertisements can claim price is wholesale price, though it is actually higher than normal wholesale. Advertisements can suggest that manufacturer's suggested retail price is normal selling price, though actually it is not.
Deceptive selling practices {misrepresentation} can claim product has features it does not have.
Deceptive selling practices {unsolicited merchandise}| can mail unordered goods to consumers and try to force them to pay for the goods or return the goods at their expense. Federal law allows consumers to dispose of these goods and prohibits senders from sending invoices to consumers. This law does not apply to agreements that regularly mail books, records, and so on, to subscribers. This law allows free samples. This law allows charitable organizations to send giveaways to solicit donations.
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Date Modified: 2022.0225