Unfair and predatory business practices that prey on consumers are widespread throughout the country and Maine is no exception.

In today’s marketplace, bad actors harm consumers while making an unfair profit. People with low income and people of color have been most impacted by consumer rights abuses.  Consumer laws have a significant impact on peoples’ lives.  Maine Equal Justice advocates for laws that ensure fairness in the marketplace and protections for consumers. We stand against and oppose dishonest and harmful practices in the financial marketplace.

Several state and federal laws protect people from unfair practices and abuses.  Among the most important are the state and federal Fair Debt Collection Practices and Fair Credit Reporting Acts, the federal Truth in Lending Act, the state’s landlord-tenant statute and Unfair Trade Practices Act, laws protecting homeowners in foreclosure and the Maine’s Human Rights Act. 

The state Attorney General, Consumer Protection unit in the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, private practitioners, and civil legal services organizations work to enforce these laws.  

“We only got $15,000 back of the $35,000 down payment…. We are a low-income family. I am disabled. The settlement I received from my car accident is the last substantial sum of money I expect to receive. This has had a devastating financial impact on me and my family.”

– Mainer forced to leave her home who lost the bulk of her settlement from a disabling car accident to a predatory land-installment-contract lender