Consumer Advocacy

I always like to dream up practical ways we can better the world we live in. In a previous post, I spoke about some changes to employment law that I think would be highly effective.

Today, I want to talk about consumer protection. Whether you are doing business with a large corporation, a franchise or a small business, we deserve to have protection with the purchases we make. We have to be able to trust in the system that the merchant is following all applicable laws and remain ethical.

Sure, we have the Better Business Bureau, but they are optional and are not a federal agency, so nothing they can do can be forced.

What I propose is this: each county has it's own Consumer Advocacy Network, sort of like the Labor Advocacy Networks I proposed in that other post. This would be run by the county and on behalf of the people. It would be paid in part by the taxation on businesses who operate within the county.

Like the Labor Advocacy Networks, these offices would exist to: provide free consumer protection information, handle complaints of misdeeds, whether civil or criminal, audit and evaluate businesses in the county and perform sanctions, when necessary.

In addition to this: Each business would be required by state law to post their grade in a conspicuous place that can be viewed by consumers, including on their website for e-commerce situations. Customers will see a grade A-F, which is evaluated quarterly, and can request a full consumer report, which must be provided at no-charge by the merchant.

Factors would exist that effect the grade: Failure to respond to consumer claims, refusal to participate in investigations, misrepresenting prices, etc.

When a claim is filed by a consumer to the advocacy network, the board will review each case and determine if a state, local or federal law was violated. The network would have the right to subpoena documents and summon witnesses as well. Of course, the business can appeal and defend themselves as well.

Each case that is forced to be resolved by the network will have an impact on a merchant's grade. Any such merchant that operates in poor faith and has an F grade for longer than a certain amount of time will be forced to conclude business operations in the county.

This way it instill a sense of power and fairness into the people, who can't afford lawyers to tackle large corporations. By holding them accountable to the public, by a public entity (not a private one, like the BBB), it can also instill a sense of responsibility and transparency within the businesses that operate.

What do you think? Would this work?

Much love,
ArchAngel O:)