Consumer Protection/Low Income Consumer Justice

The National Consumer Law Center
www.nclc.org 
NCLC is America’s foremost advocate for low-income consumer justice and its leading expert on low-income consumer issues. 

The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) is the nation’s consumer law expert, helping consumers, their advocates, and public policy makers use powerful and complex consumer laws on behalf of low-income and elderly Americans seeking economic justice. 

We address the financial and legal problems faced daily by low-income families - repossessions, debt collection abuses, electronic benefits transfers, home improvement frauds, usury, bankruptcy, utility terminations, school loans, payday loans, sustainable home ownership, inadequate fuel assistance benefits, and more. In doing so we help vulnerable consumers resolve financial crises, gain control over their budgets and achieve economic independence. 

NCLC Supports Consumer Lawyers 
NCLC uses the courts to promote marketplace justice by providing expert issue identification, case assistance, legal research, and advocacy workshops for legal services and private attorneys, lay advocates, and community-based organizations representing low-income clients. 

NCLC Works for Consumer Protections 
Only as legal protections are included in the consumer statutes that govern us can we hope to ensure justice in the marketplace. Our in-depth knowledge of low-income consumer issues and federal and state consumer protection laws puts NCLC at the tables where far-reaching policies are debated and enforced. Legislators, policymakers, and administrators rely on NCLC’s legal and policy analysts for their expert testimony, empirical research, and analysis to help predict and shape the effect of proposed statutes and policies on low-income consumers.

NCLC Protects Vulnerable Consumers 
To most effectively address the unique challenges faced by different segments of the low-income population, NCLC conducts targeted consumer rights initiatives. In addition to disadvantaged consumers everywhere, we devote special attention to the problems of immigrants, vulnerable elders, homeowners, former welfare recipients, and victims of domestic violence. 

NCLC Impacts Marketplace Protections 
Issues on which NCLC has had a significant impact include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, federal Truth in Lending law, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the Home Ownership Equity Protection Act of 1994, development of state unfair and deceptive acts and practices legislation, consumer protections in the foreclosure process, and numerous federal and state statutes, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Home Mortgage Abuse Act, and Uniform Commercial Code. 
A top priority for NCLC is providing support on issues involving consumer fraud, debt collection, consumer finance, energy assistance programs, predatory lending, and sustainable home ownership programs. 
NCLC staff helped design and evaluate affordable, low-income energy programs in several states, including some that had previously turned their backs on low-income needs. We have developed readable, usable consumer education manuals for telecommunications counselors faced with consumer abuses caused by rapid changes in the industry.
NCLC does not have the resources for advising consumers directly and refers consumers to their county bar associations or legal aid programs for local legal referrals. The web site of the National Association of Consumer Advocates, www.naca.net has additional listings of local legal referrals. 

Newsletters 
Outlook, NCLC’s newsletter, highlights the Center’s recent activities and is available free of charge on our website or by request (617/542-8010). 
NCLC Reports is one of our most popular publications and is available by subscription (617/542-8010).

Senior Activities 

Service Requests
The Center responds to requests for assistance from legal advocates representing older Americans. Responses can range from brief telephone advice to detailed written responses, critiques of court papers and other extended assistance. Phone 9:00am - 5:00pm EST/EDT, Monday through Friday.

Publications
The Center produces a thirteen volume Consumer Credit and Sales Legal Practice Series, each volume of which is supplemented or revised yearly. A newsletter, NCLC Reports, comes out 24 times a year. 
The Center also publishes columns and articles in Clearinghouse Review; issues Energy Update, a newsletter on low income energy and utility developments; and produces other publications, including Surviving Debt: A Guide for Consumers.

NCLC publishes several brochures each year for seniors and their advocates and advisors NCLC has also developed a series of legal practice packages designed to help elder advocates learn how to bring cases using consumer law, such as cases to protect nursing facility residents, and to help elders facing medical debt. Printed brochures may be ordered by programs serving the elderly. 

Other publications that might be of interest to elder advocates include Stop Predatory Lending: A Guide for Legal Advocates and Return to Sender: Getting a Refund or Replacement for Your Lemon Car.

Training
The Center will also provide local training in consumer and energy law, as resources permit. The Center has trained thousands of community advocates and legal services program staff members and private attorneys.

Legal Representation
Co-counseling with local lawyers, the Center will provide representation in litigation and in administrative and legislative matters at the federal level, and in some state proceedings when these involve high impact issues concerning older consumers. 

Research and Special Projects
The Center performs research and undertakes special projects on issues of concern to older Americans. 

Expert Testimony 
Center staff experts will provide testimony on consumer and energy issues of special concern to older Americans in court cases and administrative proceedings. 

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