Information About the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission or FTC is the consumer protection agency of the United States, which was established by the Federal Trade Commission Act in 1914. FTC has a Bureau of Consumer Protection, a Bureau of Economics as well as a Bureau of Competition. The FTC functions for helping the consumer towards prevention of deceptive, fraudulent and unfair business practices taking place in the market. The commission provides consumers information on unfair and illegal business practices so that the consumers will be able to stop, spot and avoid them.

Information on Consumer Concerns

Visit www.ftc.gov, to obtain free information on consumer issues and file complaints. After visiting the website, you will have a good understanding on how the FTC boosts consumer confidence with the enforcement of federal laws that provide protection to consumers, and also the way FTC provides consumers free information enabling them to exercise their rights and avoid deception and fraud.

Reasons for Contacting the FTC

If you have received several job applications for a single position and want to get rid of the candidates who have poor credit histories, there is a way where you can know which employee will be suitable for you. Consumer reports are considered when hiring new employees and considering employees for promotion, retention and reassignment.

Searching the consumer report will provide you information on credit as well as personal characteristics, general reputation, character and lifestyle. The FCRA will cover the consumer report if it has been put in order by a consumer reporting agency (CRA).

You have to know the right and legal usage of consumer reports for employment reasons; you are required to abide by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The FCRA is aimed towards the protection of the privacy of consumer report information and also to make sure that the information provided is guaranteed.

It is normal that employers will be performing background checks on new employees and also get consumer reports when they are employed. Some employers may be asking for the new employee’s or the applicant’s credit payment records, while other employers may ask for criminal histories and driving records. This is done for safety purposes.

You will be offered a consumer report on a person only if you are able to certify that you will not misuse any information provided in the report and abide by the FCRA. You may be required to notify an applicant or a new employee beforehand that you may get credit reports on them and seek their written consent. If you think that the information in the report can encourage your decision to deny promotion, you will have to notify the candidate that reports may be obtained and get their permission.

The investigative consumer reports are also ordered by employers when the circumstances are too sensitive. These are reports are based on the interviews with the  neighbors, friends, as well as associates of an employee or applicant.

The FTC provides practical information on several consumer topics such as computers and Internet, automobiles, credit and loans, telemarketing and telephone services, energy and environment, health, education and job placements, as well as business opportunities and investments.