Louisiana has consumer protections in place to prevent dishonest merchants from taking advantage of their customers. This check and balance system is known as deceptive trade practice laws.
Some merchants might attempt to cheat consumers by exaggerating the effects of a product or use deceptive sales practices to turn a profit.
Examples of deceptive trade practices
Have you ever seen products touting the “all natural ingredients” inside, only to later learn that some of those ingredients were anything but natural? That’s deceptive advertising.
Another common example of a fraudulent tactic is the shady used car salesman who rolls back the odometer a few thousand miles on a used car to make more on a sale.
The Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act
Louisiana adopted the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act to protect consumers. The Act does the following:
- Forbids tampering with automobile odometers
- Prohibits misleading or false advertising
Those who violate the Act can face both civil and criminal penalties. Legal action can be initiated by the Louisiana Attorney General or the consumer who suffered a loss as the result of the deceptive actions.
Federal resources available
Consumers are not limited to state remedies, however, as the federal government also offers resources, including like the Better Business Bureau online at bbb.org, fraud.org and consumeraction.gov.
If you have been victimized by a merchant or business owner due to the deceptive practices they employ, you don’t have to sit back and take it. You can use the state and federal resources that are available to you to seek justice in both civil and criminal courts. An attorney who practices business law is a good source of guidance and information.
Source: FindLaw, “Louisiana Deceptive Trade Practices Laws,” accessed Sep. 08, 2017