Consumer protection refers to the laws designed to aid retail consumers of goods and services that have been improperly manufactured, delivered, performed, handled, or described. Such laws provide the retail consumer with additional protections and remedies not generally provided to merchants and others who engage in business transactions, on the premise that the consumers do not enjoy a sufficient bargaining position with respect to the businessmen with whom they deal and therefore should not be strictly limited by the legal rules that govern recovery for damages among businessmen. The overarching goal is to protect individuals and the interest of the public in general from unfair and misleading activity in business and commerce (such as false advertising and deceptive trade practices) and scams perpetrated by criminals (such as identity theft and pyramid schemes) that harm a substantial number of consumers.
Oglesby (zip code 61348) is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,647 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area. Oglesby is located near the confluence of the Illinois River and the north-flowing Vermilion River. It was originally called "Portland", due to the cement mined and manufactured in the area that was similar to Portland Cement from England. It was renamed in honor of Richard Oglesby, a former Governor of Illinois. The surface ground layers around Oglesby has excellent exposed limestone and coal, as well as riverine transport. It soon became an important center for cement manufacture. The term "Portland cement" refers to the cement developed in England; that made in early Oglesby was almost identical. Illinois Valley Community College and Oglesby Washington Public School are located in Oglesby.