NEWARK
– Attorney General Zulima V. Farber
and Consumer Affairs Director Kimberly
Ricketts are marking the eighth annual
National Consumer Protection Week, February
5 – 11, by inviting all New Jersey
residents to take a 10-question quiz to
test their consumer knowledge. National
Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) empowers
consumers by highlighting consumer protection
and education efforts in communities across
the nation.
The quiz is below
and can also be found at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov.
“Knowledge
is power. That is why we have made it
a priority to give New Jersey residents
the information they need to detect and
avoid fraud in the marketplace,”
Attorney General Farber said. “We
hope that consumers of all ages will take
our quiz in order to learn more about
the laws that have been enacted to protect
them.”
According to the Federal Trade Commission,
nearly 25 million adults – 11.2
percent of the adult population –
experience consumer fraud each year. To
increase consumer education, the theme
of this year’s NCPW is "Consumer
Protection: It's the Name of the Game."
NCPW organizers and local consumer protection
officials are promoting www.consumer.gov/ncpw,
a site where consumers can test their
marketplace savvy on a variety of issues,
and learn how to spot, stop and avoid
fraud and deception.
The “Consumer Challenge” quiz
is based on the New Jersey Division of
Consumer Affairs’ long-standing
consumer education initiative, Consumer
Bowl, which brings high school students
together from across the state in a quiz
show-style competition created in 1997
to teach young adults about consumer issues.
The Consumer Challenge quiz includes a
sampling of questions of the type that
are posed to students during the Consumer
Bowl competitions.
"According
to Teenage Research Unlimited, the U.
S. population includes 33 million teens
aged 12 to 19, who spent $169 billion
in 2004," said Consumer Affairs Director
Ricketts. "In fact, the 15 to 23
age group is one of the largest demographic
groups of consumers in the marketplace
today, second only to senior citizens.
These young people need to know how to
spend their money wisely and not be victimized
by fraud. Through outreach efforts like
NCPW and Consumer Bowl, we will teach
them how to be smart consumers."
The New Jersey High School Consumer Bowl
is similar to old game shows such as "It's
Academic" and the "College Bowl."
The competition matches teams of high
school students against each other, first
in county events, then in regional competitions
and ultimately in the state finals held
in Trenton. The finals will be held in
May.
New Jersey Consumer Challenge Quiz –
Questions and Answers:
1.
If a consumer fails to pay personal debts,
a creditor is allowed to do all of the
following except:
A. Discuss the consumer’s debts
with his/her employer.
B. Bring suit against the consumer.
C. Tell a credit bureau that the account
is delinquent.
D. Turn the account over to a professional
debt collector.
2.
You may incur significant penalties if
you break a car lease. Where is a detailed
explanation of early termination fees
required to be written?
A. On the lease.
B. On the purchase option.
C. On the disclosure form.
3.
What professional board regulates athletic
trainers and midwives?
4.
When you purchase household furniture
and sign a contract or sales order to
have your furniture delivered, the contract
form must contain what sentence?
A. The retail establishment determines
the delivery date of household furniture
on or before a period not to exceed 30
days.
B. The merchandise you have ordered is
promised for delivery to you on or before,
(the date filled in), and agreed upon
by both the buyer and seller.
C. Upon receipt of merchandise by the
consumer, the seller is no longer obligated
to the sales contract or responsible for
the content of its merchandise.
5.
Name two areas where telemarketing laws
generally do not apply.
6.
Your Social Security number is a nine-digit
number that is unique to you. What do
the first three numbers represent?
7.
An exercise establishment or facility
such as a gymnastic school or dance studio
is considered a health club. Yes or No?
8.
Are plumbers, electrical contractors,
architects required to register as home
improvement contractors? Yes or No
9.
The term ‘home improvement’
extends to the conversion of existing
commercial structures into non-commercial
properties. True or False?
10.
The Office of Weights and Measures registers
timing devices. Name one.
Answers:
1.
A.
2. C.
3. The New Jersey State Board of Medical
Examiners.
4. B.
5. Calls from pollsters, charities, and
political organizations.
6. The first three numbers correspond
with the region where the Social Security
number is issued.
7. NO.
8. NO. (They are not required to register
if they are acting within the scope of
their professions and licensed as such.)
9. True.
10. Tire air pumps, car wash vacuums and
laundromat dryers.
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