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.
Allenhurst is a Borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 718. Allenhurst was incorporated as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 26, 1897, from portions of Ocean Township. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Deal Lake to the west, the borough is within close proximity to New York City and is a stop on the New Jersey Transit North Jersey Coast Line. There are many historic homes in Allenhurst built during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the Victorian, Tudor, and Colonial styles. Local ordinances have ensured the preservation of historical architecture by enforcing strict guidelines for the renovation of older homes. In 2006, Allenhurst ranked 131 in Forbes magazine's list of the most expensive ZIP codes in the United States. The borough is situated in the center of a string of wealthy communities between Long Branch and Asbury Park.