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.
Olcott is a hamlet located in the Town of Newfane in Niagara County, New York, United States 14126. As of the 2000 census, this community population was 1,156. Most locals refer to it as Olcott Beach. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. Olcott is a lakeside community which is home to the deepest harbor on Lake Ontario west of Rochester, NY. The community is at the junction of East/West Lake Road and Lockport-Olcott Road. Krull Park in the northeast part of the village, is the largest county-operated park in Niagara County. Olcott-Newfane Airport (D80) is located south of the village, but is closed indefinitely except for ultralight aircraft.