DCA offers free guides to help consumers and businesses understand the City's
laws for governing the marketplace. Consumer guides include advice for
conducting careful transactions, and help businesses know their
responsibilities.
You can download and print any guide by clicking on its title in the list
below. To get a free printed copy, call 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC).
SPECIAL FEATURE: To view DCA's 2007 annual report online,
click here. Slide shows
will appear on your screen in a new window. Enjoy!
Guides for Businesses
What Businesses Need to Know This is a detailed
description of the laws that govern businesses. There are special sections
on 15 business types, including electronics stores, laundries, and tobacco
retailers. Learn more Aprenda más 中文 Русский
Ten Things Every Business Should Know How well do
you know NYC business laws? Check this handy fold-out card with basic
information on business practices in English, Chinese, Russian, and
Spanish. English,
Chinese, and Spanish Русский
Ready New York for Business New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
offers practical and actionable advice to help businesses protect their
employees and enhance their ability to recover from financial loss
resulting from business interruption or damage to facilities and
inventory. Download this handy guide, available in English, Chinese,
Russian, and Spanish. Learn
more Русский Aprenda
más
Guides for Businesses and Consumers
New York City Consumer Protection Law in
Brief All NYC businesses should be familiar with the Consumer
Protection Law. This guide provides descriptions of the rules that apply
to all businesses, and those that apply to particular businesses. Learn
more
Buying and Selling Electronics This two-part
business/consumer guide focuses on electronics retailing. It includes the
rights and responsibilities of electronics dealers. Consumers receive
advice on how to get the best possible deal when buying electronic
equipment. Learn more
DTV Transition The digital television (DTV)
transition took effect midnight, June 12. Read
DCA's FAQs for consumers in English
or Español Read DCA's FAQs for businesses in English
or Español
New York City Public Safety Law It is illegal to
sell or offer to sell fake guns that look real. This palm card includes
important information for retailers and consumers. Learn more Aprenda
más
Small Claims Court Guide When a
transaction leads to financial losses of $5,000 or less, Small Claims
Court is the place to go for a legal settlement. This guide has the basic
facts on how to proceed in New York City. Learn
more
Administrative Hearing Guide When the
Department of Consumer Affairs has charged a business with a violation of
the law, an administrative hearing will be scheduled where all parties in
the case will be heard. This guide has basic information on these hearings
in New York City. Learn more
Guides for Consumers
False Advertising: How to Spot It and Read the Fine
Print The City keeps an eye out for ads that make false or
deceptive claims. This guide helps consumers spot some frequent tricks
used by some businesses to bend or break the rules. Learn more
Auto Rental and Repair Auto Rental and
Repair describes how consumers can use the law to help get a fair deal
when renting a car or contracting for a repair job. Learn more
Used Car Sales Used Car Sales has
information about consumer rights when buying a secondhand car. Learn
more
What You Need to Know About Employment
Agencies A guide to choosing and using employment agencies,
with a focus on fees and contracts. Information is provided in 8
languages: English, Spanish, Russian, Hindi, Haitian Creole, traditional
Chinese, Bengali, and Korean. Learn more
Funeral Planning: What to Do When a Loved One
Dies How to deal with the important details for planning a
funeral. The guide includes a checklist of typical charges
incurred in the process. Learn more
Generic Drugs: How to Save Money on Prescription
Drugs Low-cost generic versions of brand-name prescription
drugs can save you a lot of money. This guide shows you how. Learn
more
Home Improvement What you should know
before – and after – hiring a home improvement contractor. The guide
includes a detailed description of the City's Home Improvement Business
Law. Learn
more Get information about required Buildings permits in English or Spanish See a sample
contract
Internet Scams Protect yourself when
shopping online. This guide offers some of the most frequently used tricks
of internet scam artists. Learn more
Introduction to DCA DCA explains
itself. This brief rundown on the work of Consumer Affairs includes how we
license businesses and take complaints from consumers. Learn more Aprenda más
Notarios / Notary Publics A palm card
with information describing the differences between the legal authority of
notaries in the United States and notarios in some Latin American
countries. Information is provided in both English and Spanish. Aprenda
más
The Problem with Payday Loans A palm
card with the basic facts on how loans that seem to put you ahead actually
keep you paying. This card is also available in Spanish. Learn more Aprenda más
Refund Policies This guide provides the
details of the laws concerning terms for refund and exchange that all
vendors must follow. Learn more
Be a Savvy Senior Get tips on how to
avoid consumer-related scams that are often directed at seniors -
including Internet and telemarketing fraud, identity theft, lottery
sweepstakes, and reverse mortgage loans. Learn more
Shopping by Phone or Mail How can
consumers avoid long-distance ripoffs? This helpful guide lists the legal
protections consumers enjoy, and advice when responding to mail-order or
phone ads. Learn more
Smart Shopping Tips DCA offers helpful
tips to extend your shopping savvy into the new year. Know your rights
when it comes to return policies and gift cards, and learn how to protect
your identity and more. Learn
more
Supermarket Shopping This guide lists
ways to carefully shop and increase your buying power. Learn more
Towing Services Every car owner dreads
getting towed. This guide gives consumers the information they need to
protect their car – and their wallet – in case of a tow. Learn
more
New York City employees are not allowed to ask for
or accept anything of value, such as money, gifts, or tips for doing their
job. To report corruption, contact the NYC Department of Investigation by visiting DOI
online.
