Deceptive Business Practices

Michigan's consumer protection act makes unfair, unconscionable or deceptive practices in trade or commerce unlawful, and lists them. Among them:

• §MCL 445.903

• Representing that a part, replacement or repair is needed when it is not.
• Representing used, reconditioned or deteriorated goods as new.
• Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised.
• False or misleading statements about the reasons for, existence of, or size of a price reduction.
• Representing something as free without clearly disclosing, with equal prominence, the conditions attached.
• Failing to reveal a material fact that tends to mislead, which the consumer could not reasonably know.
• Gross discrepancies between what the seller said and the written agreement.
• Charging a price grossly in excess of what similar property or services sell for.
• Failing to promptly return a deposit or down payment when a transaction is canceled as allowed.

• §MCL 445.903

The action has to be brought within 6 years after the practice, or 1 year after the last payment in the transaction, whichever ends later. A consumer who is sued over the transaction may raise any claim under the act as a defense or counterclaim.

• §MCL 445.911

Class actions under the act follow separate rules in the same section and are not covered here.

• §MCL 445.911