The purpose of the Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act is to help consumers who have been deceived. It does this by specifying the number of acts that are deceptive by law, and it provides financial incentive to a consumer who has been damaged by a deceptive trade practice. These financial incentives come in the form of reimbursement for double or triple the damages and the recovery of attorney fees. For instance, if you have suffered five-hundred dollars damage, you might be unwilling to file a suit incurring the cost of filing, attorney fees and time. However, under this protection act, you could recover two to three times your actual damages, plus your attorney fees and court costs. The purpose of these harsh penalties is to discourage sellers from committing unfair or deceptive acts in the future. Deceptive trade practices for automobiles include manufacturers hiding dangerous defects, failing to state that a service is not readily available, odometer tampering, or failing to reveal that a dealer is charging excessive preparation costs. The law allows the seller a last chance to make good. If a consumer sues, he or she must make a written demand for relief, and show proof of 'damage' beforehand. Loss of money, property, or an injury can prove this. For more information on protection against deceptive trade practices, consult a qualified attorney.
