Consumer Protection

Senator Buono believes every single New Jerseyan deserves a fair deal. That’s why she’s taking on those who mislead and defraud customers or make false claims about their products and services.

First as a member of the General Assembly and then as a State Senator, she’s been at the forefront of consumer protection her entire political career. Senator Buono led the fight to restrict credit card companies from soliciting students on campus – shielding them from the mounting debt that far too often plagues college students. She also worked to prohibit the practice of ”predatory lending” to protect homeowners from loans with hidden costs and excessive fees, eroding their financial security and putting their homes at risk.

Senator Buono also helped write the law creating New Jersey’s “Do-Not-Call-List” which, as one of the strongest in the nation, went far beyond simply stopping annoying interruptions during the dinner hour. The legislation set up a toll-free hotline allowing residents to join the list quickly and without hassle. Equally as important, it set heavy penalties for companies that failed to follow the law. Moreover, Buono shepherded legislation through the State Senate enabling the Department of Health and Senior Services to compile a prescription drug price registry – creating transparency and ensuring consumers pay the best price for their prescriptions.

Senator Barbara Buono sponsored the bill providing better protection to consumers under New Jersey’s “Lemon Law.” Car purchasers now have expanded protection from two years or 18,000 miles to two years or 24,000 miles – whichever comes first. The bill updated the near-two-decade law to also allow consumers quicker access to protection when a life-threatening defect is discovered in a vehicle.

Barbara Buono will continue pushing for enhanced and additional consumer protections from financial fraud or deception.