Fair Competition Counseling and Investigation of Complaints

 

To prevent business practices that are anticompetitive or deceptive or unfair to consumers; to enhance informed consumer choice and public understanding of the competitive process; and to accomplish these missions without unduly burdening legitimate business activity.

Deleted 04/02/2020 (Archived.) 36.001 Agency: Federal Trade Commission Advisory Services and Counseling;
Investigation of Complaints. Investigations initiated (formal): Fiscal year 2007 516; 2008 est. 429; and 2009 est. 472; Investigations completed or closed: Fiscal year 2007 614; 2008 est. 309; and 2009 est. 340; Orders to cease and desist issued: Fiscal year 2007 31; 2008 est. 20; and 2009 est. 23; Trade regulation rules and guides promulgated or amended: Fiscal year 2007 6; 2008 est. 5; and 2009 est. 5. Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. 41-58, as amended; Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 12-27, as amended; Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, 15 U.S.C. 18a, as amended; Energy Policy and Conservation Act, 42 U.S.C. 6201-6422, as amended; Lanham Trade-Mark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051-1127, as amended; Packers and Stockyards Act, 7 U.S.C. 181-229, as amended; Muhammed Ali Boxing Reform Act, 15 U.S.C. 6301-6313; Fairness to Contact Lens Consumers Act, 15 U.S.C. 7601-7610; Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law No. 109-58, 119 Stat. 594; Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Public Law No. 110-140; 121 Stat. 1492; Webb-Pomerene Act, 15 U.S.C. 61-66, as amended; Deepwater Port Act of 1974, 33 U.S.C. 1501-1524; Defense Production Act of 1950, 50 U.S.C. App. 2061-2169, as amended; Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978, 43 USC 1337; Conservation Service Reform Act of 1986, codified in scattered sections of 42 U.S.C. 8201 et seq.; Deep Seabed Minerals Act, 30 U.S.C. 1401-1473, as amended; National Cooperative Research and Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301-4306; International Antitrust Enforcement Assistance Act of 1994, 15 U.S.C. 46, 57b-1, 1311, 1312, 6201, 6201 note, 6202-6212; Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act of 1995, codified in scattered sections of the U.S. Code, particularly 49 U.S.C. Sections 10101-11917; Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, Public Law No. 108-173, 117 Stat. 2066, codified in relevant part at 42 U.S.C. 1395w-101 note (Section 110), 21 U.S.C. 355 note (Sections 1111-1118), 21 U.S.C. 355(j)5 (Section 1102)); Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004, amending the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Public Law No. 108-199, codified in relevant part at 16 U.S.C. 1862; Standards Development Organization Act of 2004, 15 U.S.C. 4301-4306; Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, Public Law No. 109-417, 120 Stat. 2831; Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, Public Law No. 109-435, 120 Stat. 3198; Wool Products Labeling Act, 15 U.S.C. 68-68j, as amended; Fur Products Labeling Act, 15 U.S.C. 69-69j; Textile Products Identification Act, 15 U.S.C. 70-70k, as amended; Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1966, 15 U.S.C. 1331-1340, as amended; Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, 15 U.S.C. 1451-1461; Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. 1601-1667f, as amended; Fair Credit Billing Act, 15 U.S.C. 1666-1666j; Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681-1681u, as amended; Fair Credit and Charge Card Disclosure Act, codified in scattered sections of US Code, particularly 15 U.S.C. 1637 (c)-(g); Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. 1691-1691f; Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 1692-1692o, as amended; Electronic Fund Transfer Act, 15 U.S.C. 1693-1693f; Consumer Leasing Act, 15 U.S.C. 1667-1667f, as amended; Magnuson Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Improvements Act, 15 U.S.C. 2301-2312; Hobby Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. 2101-2106; Petroleum Marketing Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 2801-2841; Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, 39 U.S.C. 3009(a); Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986, 15 U.S.C. 4401-4408; Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, 12 U.S.C. 1831t, as amended; Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act, 16 U.S.C. 1385, as amended; Energy Policy Act of 1992, codified in scattered sections of the US Code, particularly 42 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.; Telephone Disclosure and Dispute Resolution Act of 1992, codified in relevant part at 15 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.; Telemarketing and Consumer Fraud and Abuse Prevention Act, 15 U.S.C. 6101-6108; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, Public Law. No. 103-322, Section 320993, 108 Stat. 1796; Telecommunication Act of 1996, Public Law No. 104-104, Section 701(b)(1), 110 Stat. 56; Home Equity Loan Consumer Protection Act, codified in scattered sections of the U.S. Code, particularly 15 U.S.C.1637 and 1647; HomeOwnership and Equity Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. 1639; Credit Repair Organization Act, 15 U.S.C. 1679-1679j; The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. 6501-6506; Identity Theft Assumption and Deterrence Act of 1998, 18 U.S.C. 1028 note; Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 15 U.S.C. 6801-6809 and 6821-6827, as amended; College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act of 2000, 20 U.S.C. 1092d; Crimes Against Charitable Americans Act of 2001, section 1011 of the USA Patriot Act, Public Law No. 107-56, codified in relevant part at 15 U.S.C. 6201, 6106; Do-Not-Call Implementation Act, 15 U.S.C. 6101 note; Do-Not-Call Registry Act of 2003, 15 U.S.C. 6102 note; Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, codified as amendments to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681-1681x; Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003, 15 U.S.C. 7701-7713; Sports Agent Responsibility and Trust Act, 15 U.S.C. 7801-7807; Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, Public Law No. 109-8, 119 Stat. 23; U.S. Safe Web Act, Public Law No. 109-455, codified to the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.; Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, 31 U.S.C. 5361 et seq.; Sober Truth on Preventing Underage Drinking Act, Public Law No. 109-422, 120 Stat. 2890. Assistance is available to the general public. General public. Complaints must contain facsimiles of questioned advertising, labeling or other practice, or a summary of any oral misrepresentation involved, together with name and address of the alleged offender. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Send complaint to FTC. Questionable local practices should be referred to State or local authorities. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. To prevent consumer fraud and deception, anticompetitive mergers, and unfair and other anticompetitive business practices in the marketplace. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Not applicable. Persons are encouraged to communicate with the local FTC Regional Director: 10877 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90024. Telephone: (310) 824-4343; Use the same number for FTS; 901 Market Street, Suite 570, San Francisco, CA 94103. Telephone: (415) 848-5100; Use the same number for FTS; 225 Peachtree Street, NE., Suite 1500, Atlanta, GA 30303. Telephone: (404) 656-1390; Use the same number for FTS; 55 East Monroe Street, Suite 1860, Chicago, IL 60603-5713. Telephone: (312) 960-5634; Use the same number for FTS; One Bowling Green, Suite 318, New York, NY 10004. Telephone: (212) 607-2829; Use the same number for FTS; Eaton Center, Suite 200, 1111 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44114-2507. Telephone: (216) 263-3455; Use the same number for FTS; 1999 Bryan Street, Suite 2150, Dallas, TX 75201. Telephone: (214) 979-9350; Use the same number for FTS; 915 Second Avenue, Suite 2896, Seattle, WA 98174. Telephone: (206) 220-6350; Use the same number for FTS. Consumer Protection Matters: Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Telephone: (202) 326-3240. Restraint of Trade Matters: Director, Bureau of Competition, Telephone: (202) 326-3175. Both are in the Federal Trade Commission Building, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. http://www.ftc.gov/. 29-0100-0-1-376. (Salaries and Expenses) FY 07 $220,230,800; FY 08 est $243,864,000; and FY 09 est $256,200,000. Not applicable. A list of publications is available by writing the Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Publications are available in local Depository Libraries or by using our Web Site Address: http://www.ftc.gov/. 10.155, Marketing Agreements and Orders; 10.800, Livestock, Meat and Poultry Market Supervision; 39.009, Federal Consumer Information Center; 58.001, Securities--Investigation of Complaints and SEC Information; 59.009, Procurement Assistance to Small Businesses.