Overview

The mission of Illinois PIRG's Consumer Protection Program is to protect consumers from fraud, privacy violations and unfair fees.

The marketplace for goods and services doesn't always adequately protect consumers from unsafe, shoddy or over-priced products. Sometimes consumers face few if any real choices; sometimes consumers aren't given all the information needed to make an informed choice. Sometimes consumers are misled by unfair or deceptive practices. Some products or services don't do the job.

When such market failure occurs, consumers need the ability to protect themselves.  An informed consumer is a smart consumer. That's why Illinois PIRG helps people find the information they need to make good decisions about products and services.

But sometimes, being an informed consumer isn't enough. So when utilities hike rates or credit card companies violate privacy rights, Illinois PIRG is there too, serving as an advocate for Illinoisans.

An Advocate In The Capitol

Banks, insurance companies, and other powerful special interests have well-connected lobbyist to win business-friendly public policies in Springfield and Washington, D.C. Special-interest lobbyists work to limit consumer protection laws. This limits opportunity for consumers to seek redress, and results in hidden fees and charges. Special interests also seek to weaken federal laws and preempt the right of states to protect their consumers better.

Illinois PIRG acts as a counterweight to the power of these special interests, ensuring that the consumer's voice is heard in public debates, and advocating reforms on a wide range of issues.