The Consumer Affairs Committee of the Antitrust and Consumer Law Section has engaged in numerous community outreach projects to provide consumer protection and education to the District’s consumers.

The section continues to engage in dialogue with government agencies to create alternative mechanisms for enforcement of consumer protection laws, and to provide timely consumer education materials.

Members of the Consumer Affairs Committee created and continue to coordinate a biweekly consumer column in The Common Denominator, a citywide community newspaper. Topics have included “Protecting Yourself When Using Layaway,” “Avoiding the Strings Attached to Holiday Gifts” (column about restrictive return policies and hidden fees), “The Truth About Cooling Off Periods,” “Online Buying: Consumer Protection Tips” (contributed by a member of the Computer and Telecommunications Law Section), “Questions and Answers About Consumer Protection in D.C.” (a three-part series), “Fraudulent Trade School Student Loan Practices,” and “Credit Repair Rip Offs.”

The section has produced a booklet, Tips on Buying Reliable Used Cars and Trucks for a Fair Price, which has been widely disseminated throughout the District of Columbia to public libraries, community centers, churches, community groups, and the general public at Youth Law Fairs. This publication joins two other section publications, How Can I Protect My Rights as a D.C. Consumer and What to Expect in Small Claims Court. Members of the public may obtain the publications by sending self-addressed stamped envelopes to the D.C. Bar Sections Office.

The section continues to provide attorneys for the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program’s monthly Advice and Referral Clinic at Bread for the City. Since 1999, the section has contributed a copy of The District of Columbia Practice Manual and its annual supplements for use at the clinic.