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.
Niangua is a city in Webster County, Missouri, United States. The population was 445 at the 2000 census. It lies three miles from Interstate 44 and five miles north of Marshfield. Niangua is part of the Springfield, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. United States Congressman Roy Blunt was born in Niangua. Evangelist and gospel singer, Scott Fraker is a graduate of Niangua High School.