What Are Consumer Rights?

Consumer rights are as listed below.

1)- The right to have basic needs met.

2)- The right to safety and security.

3)- The right to choose.

4)- The right to be informed. 

5)- The right to be represented. 

6)- The right to be compensated.

7)- The right to education.

8)- The consumer's right to personal health and the right to a healthy environment.

EXPLANATION OF CONSUMER RIGHTS

Consumer rights are very important. If the citizens of a country are conscious consumers, they will defend their homeland with the same consciousness.

1)- THE RIGHT TO HAVE BASIC NEEDS MET:

The Right to Have Basic Needs Met refers to rights stemming from being human and necessary for the maintenance of life. Rights such as shelter, heating, communication, and transportation are the most basic needs. Every consumer is entitled to have these minimum basic needs met. Every consumer can demand that these basic needs be satisfied.

It is a fundamental human right for an individual to have the means to meet the minimum needs required to sustain their life. This right was first widely recognized at the international level with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

“This principle, which aims for states to work effectively to ensure that at least the minimum requirements of a person are met, based on the standard of living in a way that befits a human being, was reiterated in the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection to reinforce it, and has been taken into account in the preparation of and amendments to the Law on the Protection of the Consumer.”

This principle imposes a responsibility on the state to create an effective policy regarding the protection of consumers. In other words, the state cannot remain passive due to this principle. It must make the necessary regulations and practices for the protection and establishment of consumer rights and show a clear effort to ensure that protection is realized effectively. As can be seen, in terms of this principle, all citizens are consumers. An individual's life will gain meaning to the extent that their basic needs are met. 

According to the Hierarchy of Needs proposed by Abraham Maslow, physical and vital requirements and desires are at the bottom of the Pyramid of Needs. One cannot move to the upper levels without meeting the requirements at the lower levels of the pyramid. Nutrition, clothing, shelter, and access to basic health services sufficient to ensure the continuity of life are the needs at the lowest level in this theory.

Basic needs are not static and are constantly changing. In 1946, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, the right to access nutrition, clothing, housing, and basic health services were counted as basic needs. However, today, heating, lighting, finding drinking water, transportation, and communication are considered the most basic rights of the consumer. In parallel with economic development, basic rights will continue to expand constantly in favor of the consumer in terms of both quantity and quality.

This principle, which imposes obligations on states regarding the protection of consumers, should be considered primarily along with the article regarding 'the protection of consumer health and safety' in the interpretation of regulations and practices related to consumer protection. For example, it is contrary to this principle regarding the meeting of consumers' basic needs for organizations that provide basic needs such as lighting, water, and heating to cut off the service before resorting to legal means in case the service provided is not paid for.

2)- THE CONSUMER'S RIGHT TO SAFETY AND SECURITY:

The right to safety and security is the right to have our life and health protected in the services or products we receive.

Goods and services offered to consumers must be reliable and of high quality to a degree that does not endanger their lives and health. Regarding this right, the determination, implementation, and supervision of the standards for all kinds of goods and services are of great importance.

Producers must offer products or services that do not endanger the health of their customers. Potential risks that may arise must be reported to the user.

These needs either arise spontaneously or we are somehow convinced by companies that we need certain products and services. Since we try to meet our personal needs or the needs of our families by purchasing products and services, we are all actually consumers. 

This incredible consumption can sometimes bring problems with it. These problems stem from a number of factors that we encounter regarding the products and services we purchase as consumers and that increase our dissatisfaction with them. For example, factors that a consumer may encounter, such as defects in products, damages, unfulfilled elements regarding warranty, service, or after-sales services, and deceptive or misleading practices regarding advertisements or promotions offered to the consumer by companies, draw attention to the fact that the consumer needs to be protected.

Consumers need to know their rights in order to meet all their basic needs from nutrition to shelter. It is every consumer's right to access the products and services they need safely.  

Meeting basic needs involves the use of scarce resources such as land, labor, capital, foreign currency, and skills. Knowing how to use these and what their rights are while using them is very important for every consumer. For example, if the basic need is food, being able to access clean and reliable food easily and without risk; if it is health, being able to go to doctors and hospitals easily; if it is education, receiving adequate service from educational institutions; or if it is shelter, living in a peaceful environment according to the requirements of the day is necessary for everyone.

Furthermore, it is the most natural right of the consumer to want the products and services necessary to sustain their life (adequate food, water, clothing, shelter, health, education, public services, etc.) to be affordable and of high quality. 

Consumers purchase products and services to meet their own needs or the needs of their family members. When products and services are purchased, used, and disposed of after use, they must not be of a nature that will harm the consumer's health and safety. Consumers have the right to demand safe products that will not harm their health and to expect this from the authorities.

The demand for the right to safety is one of the fundamental rights that people need to be protected from certain physical, social, or emotional harms [35]. Rules regarding product safety are much more developed in some countries than in others, and these rules have their own unique challenges for those who produce products. 

The importance of the issue of safety has increased for products that have emerged with the development of technology. For example, phones that catch fire while charging or televisions that explode.

Consumer Rights and their Usage constitute a serious risk factor for the consumer. Technological developments have led to the entry of new products into the market and to fundamental changes in existing products such as internet-connected technological products and home appliances. Although these technological developments provide positive benefits to customers, they have also brought new risks within the scope of consumer protection. The growth of international supply chains and e-commerce has created a global market for consumer products, expanding the scope of safety required.

Safety is actually very important not only for technological products but also for products such as clothing, food, and medicine. For example, the inspection by authorities of harmful dyes used in products such as clothing or shoes, or additives used in food, will ensure that the consumer can also safely purchase and use such products. In addition, it is necessary to supervise the inclusion of accurate information on labels and user manuals. 

It is very important that produced products are subjected to the necessary safety tests before being offered to the market.  

The demand for the right to safety is one of the fundamental rights that people need to be protected from certain physical, social, or emotional harms. (Leyla Leblebici Koçer)

3)- THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE,

The right to choose is the right that allows consumers to choose the products or services they want to use whenever they want, with their free will. There should not be only one type of a product on the market. Alternatives for every product must be provided.

This right offers consumers the opportunity to choose freely among products of the same type available on the market but with different alternatives.

4)- THE RIGHT TO BE INFORMED,

The Right to be Informed is the right of consumers to obtain information about the products or services they purchase accurately and clearly. It is also defined as the right to information. In particular, most of the problems that arise between the consumer and the seller in the market stem from the lack of information provided by the seller. Consumers must receive information correctly in order to make the right choice.

For example; a consumer has the right to be clearly informed about all the ingredients a meal contains, the materials a toy is produced from, and the consequences that will arise after a surgery.

Seeking an answer to the question “What are Consumer Rights?” is also an example of the right to be informed.

In particular, you should write a detailed information text about the products you will sell on your e-commerce site. You should take photos of your products clearly and understandably. Since your customers cannot physically touch these products, you should act sensitively on such issues. Thus, you can both ensure that your customers trust you more and save on shipping costs by reducing your return rates thanks to the detailed information you provide.

5)- THE RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED,

The right to be represented can also be called the right to organize and make one's voice heard. With the right to be represented, consumers can unite to defend all the rights they possess. They are free to make their voices heard by explaining the problems they experience. Consumers can be represented in public institutions and can voluntarily participate in consumer rights protection organizations.

There are many associations and non-governmental organizations in our country aimed at protecting consumer rights. Thus, consumers can unite in finding solutions to the problems they encounter in the market and correcting the wrongs that have been done.

6)- THE RIGHT TO BE COMPENSATED,

The Right to be Compensated is the right of consumers to have the damage they have suffered in the products or services they have purchased covered financially.

Sometimes you may experience problems with the service or product you have purchased. You can request compensation by contacting the person who sold you this product or service regarding these problems you are experiencing.

For example, a flight ticket you have purchased may have been postponed or canceled for a reason not caused by you. In such cases, airlines are required to cover your loss and provide a new flight ticket. 

If your loss is not covered by the seller, you can apply to the Consumer Issues Arbitration Committee. If your problem is still not resolved, you can apply to the “Consumer Courts.”

7)- THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION.

The right to education is the right of consumers to receive training to become conscious. Education is at the beginning of important issues in the field of consumption, as it is in every subject. Every consumer has the right to be educated in order to defend their rights and become a conscious consumer.

Being a conscious consumer is one of the most important factors that individuals must possess in order to make the right decision when they want to access a product or service.

In our country, training on being a conscious consumer is provided by schools. Various organizations also provide training on this subject. It is extremely important that you read about the rights you possess and make use of various resources to become a conscious consumer.

8)- THE CONSUMER'S RIGHT TO PERSONAL HEALTH AND THE RIGHT TO A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.

“He had been working with a pickaxe and shovel in the garden of a villa until noon. He got very hungry towards noon. One day, he went to a tradesman's restaurant during the lunch break and ordered rice and dried beans. The rice had stones in it. Because he was very hungry, he ate a little quickly, and the rice was not cooked well. He was eating it while clenching his teeth. Suddenly, a hard stone, rather large for rice pilaf, came into his mouth. (…) two of his teeth broke.

Since the salad was also very stale, (…)’s intestines were upset. The yogurt given was also very sour and was spoiled yogurt. (…) got sick. He went to the doctor and was out of work for 3 days. He was very upset and made it his goal to get his rights from the tradesman's restaurant.”

(…)’s tooth broke, he lay sick for three days and was out of work. His goal is to get the damage he suffered from the restaurant owner.

The seller cannot give the consumer defective goods that will impair their health. These goods cannot be stored in a spoiled manner or contrary to health rules. It is a legal obligation for food and beverages and other goods to be packaged in accordance with health standards.

The consumer's right to health and safety also includes the protection of consumers from dangers to their individual safety. For protection to be realized, first of all, the phenomenon of legal security must be realized in the state and society. If there is no legal security in a society, health and safety are difficult to protect in that society.  

The protection of health and safety through consumer organization is extremely important. The concept of safety here also includes life safety.

Now let's come to the tradesman's restaurant. First of all, the rice and salad given to the customer by the tradesman's restaurant owner are in the nature of defective goods. In addition, the service provided to him at the restaurant is also in the nature of defective service. The consumer can request compensation for the damages they have suffered due to defective goods and services by applying to legal channels. 

Health covers the entire public as a basic social state policy. But unfortunately, this is not the case in real life. First of all, privatization in health services should be abolished. 

Article 172 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey states, "The state takes measures to protect and inform consumers, and encourages initiatives by consumers to protect themselves." 

The scope of the right to health also includes the obligation to meet basic needs. Benefiting from food, clothing, shelter, health, and cleaning rights sufficient to sustain one's life is also within this scope. In other words, the state cannot leave its citizens hungry and destitute. But unfortunately, in capitalism, there is such a right in name, but it is insufficient and superficial in practice.

The right to have a healthy environment is the right to have a livable environment with healthy conditions. The implementation of all rights can only be possible in a healthy environment. 

Our world has limited resources. Although some of these resources can regenerate, this process takes a long time. Consumption is also increasing depending on population growth. Unconsciously consumed resources cause global warming to increase.

WHY ARE CONSUMER RIGHTS IMPORTANT?

Like “What are Consumer Rights?”, the question “Why are Consumer Rights Important?” is another important question that users are curious about.

Everyone is a consumer from birth. Knowing consumer rights is important for us in some respects. We can list the following items as examples of these. 

• It enables you to become conscious about whether the products you consume contain substances that are harmful to your health. 

• At the same time, it helps you make a more conscious choice in the services or products you will purchase.

Note: THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY UTILIZING THE REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMISSION ON CONSUMER HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMENT.