How to Report False Advertising
False advertising is any form of advertising that is misleading to the customer. The consumer feels that buying the product would result in them benefiting from the purchase. The advertising might be on television, radio, newspapers, magazines, billboards, or the internet. They might advertise that consumers could save money or that the product would perform a certain function.
There are many types of false advertising. The most ordinary kind is when a business raises the price of an item and then lowers it and claims that it is on sale. They give consumers the impression that they are really saving money.
Other companies might claim that customers will get a rebate back on their purchase. However, they do not tell the consumer that the price is after the rebate; therefore, customers are paying the full price. In addition, businesses are not known for getting rebates back to customers very quickly.
It is very frustrating when a customer sees an appealing advertisement on television; they are exciting and go purchase the product, then it does not do anything like what the advertisement says it would do. The consumer feels that they have been cheated out of a good purchase. Therefore, they want to do something about it so that the advertisers cannot scam anyone else.
When false advertising occurs, the US Federal Trade Commission has the authority to get involved and stop false advertising. When a consumer reports false advertising to the Federal Trade Commission, they need to make sure that they have a copy of the advertisement. The Commission will normally ask the advertiser to adjust their ad so that it is clearer and more precise. In some cases, they will ask the advertiser to stop running the ad.
When encountering false advertising, it is also a good idea to contact the Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau protects consumers from bad businesses. In fact, it was originally formed to warn people about false advertising. The Better Business Bureau will inform the public that a business has been accused of false advertising.
As a last resort, some people even sue for false advertising. When consumers sue, they need to make sure they have a copy of the advertisement, whether it is in the newspaper, a magazine, or television. It is also important that they do not use the product because it is important proof of the false advertisement. They might also need to take photographs of the product, especially if the product is large or bulky. In addition, customers should try to find other consumers who had the same problems with the product.
False advertising is annoying when the product does not deliver what it promised. Consumers can report the company for fraudulent business practices and help put a stop to their deceiving ways.
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