How are Texas consumers protected by state and federal laws?
A number of state and federal statutes are designed to protect consumers of goods and services. The Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) is a Texas statute that is enacted to prevent “deceptive” actions and misrepresentations about goods and services. In certain circumstances, litigants can recover their attorney’s fees and double their amount of damages. The home solicitation statutes also provide consumer protection. For example, persons who buy items through home solicitation have a limited right to cancel their orders. Texas has also enacted an unfair debt collection statute. The statute outlines guidelines and limits for persons attempting to collect debts, and is designed to prevent harassment. A number of federal statutes are also designed to protect consumers. The Truth in Lending Law requires disclosure of certain material facts when a purchaser borrows money to buy items. The Magnuson Moss Warranty Act is a federal statute designed to preclude misrepresentations about a produ
