Consumer Law at Your Fingertips

charity solicitations

Sellers Making Charity Claims

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) regulates unfair and deceptive business practices. DATCP may regulate sellers who claim to be charities, or claim to be making charity contributions.

• Wisconsin Statutes section 100.18 prohibits fraudulent representations by sellers. Violators may be prosecuted, and there is a private remedy for consumers. For more information, see Consumer Law topic, Advertising & Sales Claims.

• DATCP may adopt rules, under Wisconsin Statutes section 100.20, to prohibit unfair business practices. Current DATCP rules prohibit deceptive sales claims by:
  
  
  • Telemarketers. For more information, see Consumer Law topic, Telemarketing.
  • Mail and e-mail solicitors. For more information, see Consumer Law topic, Mail & E-Mail Solicitations.
  • Itinerant sellers. For more information, see Consumer Law topic, Itinerant Sales.

• DATCP may issue orders, under Wisconsin Statutes section 100.20, to stop unfair practices by individual businesses.

Businesses violating DATCP rules and orders under Wisconsin Statutes section 100.20 may be prosecuted. There is also a private remedy for consumers. For more information, see Consumer Law topic, Unfair Business Practices.