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.
Old Chatham is a hamlet in the northeast quadrant of the township of Chatham, located in Columbia County, New York. It is one of the earliest settlements in the township and was originally named Chatham. The center of Old Chatham is marked by a few businesses around the intersection of the Albany Turnpike and County Rt. 13. There is the United States Post Office for area code 12136, the Old Chatham Country Store (which includes a cafe/restaurant), and Jackson's Old Chatham House (another restaurant). Also in Old Chatham is the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company and the Shaker Museum.