Welcome to the Model Consumer Law website. This website is maintained by U.S. PIRG (U.S. Public Interest Research Group). U.S. PIRG thanks the National Consumer Law Center for the funds to create and maintain the website. Additional funding was also received from Consumers Union, A.A.R.P., and Public Citizen.
This website contains a number of model consumer laws which may be used by anyone in whole or in part, verbatim or altered, as proposed legislation in the U.S. or elsewhere, or for any other purpose. No advance permission is required for use of any material on this website. The model laws reflect a consensus view of the contributing groups. Each of the groups does not necessarily support every provision in every model law.
Each model law page includes a summary and a frequently asked questions (FAQs) section. Each of the bills is explained briefly below. Click on the bill you are interested in below or in the list in the panel on the left side of this page.
Click here to e-mail us with any questions about the model laws. For questions or comments about the website, or to suggest additional content, please e-mail us at info@modelconsumerlaw.org.
MODEL LAWS
ID Theft Protection. Limits use of Social Security numbers, authorizes “freezes” on credit report dissemination, requires notification of security breaches, assures safe disposal of personal information.
Payroll Card Restrictions. Establishes rules governing payroll cards (debit cards used by employers to pay employees) including rights to withdraw, limitations on fees, disclosures, alerts, and soundness of participating banks.
Refund Anticipation Loans. Establishes rules for the use of Refund Anticipation Loans (loans obtained from tax preparers in anticipation of tax refunds). Limits interest rates and fees, requires disclosures, registration of lenders, and provides rules for debt collection.
Social Security Number Protection. Limits the availability of Social Security numbers by reducing the instances in which SSNs can be requested, collected, mailed, printed on wallet cards, used as passwords, and solicited over the Internet without encryption.