CPSC to Make Consumer Complaints Open to Public
The federal government receives thousands of complaints from the public every year about dangerous products on the market. For the first time in history, those complaints are going to be made public, according to The Washington Post.
Starting in March 2011, the complaints will be available online at www.saferproducts.gov, courtesy of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). This program was passed into law in 2008, but has taken time to implement. Up until now, if consumers wanted to learn about safety complaints, they had to file requests with the CPSC.
Now, the complaints will be posted within 15 days after receipt. When a consumer files a complaint, the CPSC will notify the manufacturer within five days, who has 10 days to respond. The manufacturer’s response will be published with the complaint online.
The database will not include information about who complained, or any complaints about quality of the products – it will only include information about defects that could cause injury. The database will only include consumer products, which does not include food, drugs, or cars.
If you are considering purchasing a product, this database could be very helpful in alerting you to whether other consumers have experienced injuries while using it. However, some people in the business community are worried the database will contain fictitious complaints filed by competitors. Proponents of the database note that it will serve as an early warning system for consumers.
Have you been injured by a defective product? If so, you may have a case against the manufacturer. Contact the St. Louis defective product injury attorneys at Page Law, LLC for a free consultation by calling 314-241-2273.
