台灣消費者保護協會
使命
「台灣消費者保護協會」以提升消費者權益、地位和消費認知意識為使命，而實踐方法主要透過市場調查、巡迴教育講座、立法建議與跨境友伴結盟。
成立緣由與目標
「社團法人台灣消費者保護協會」（以下簡稱「台灣消保協會」）是一個非營利、非政府的民間公益社團組織。成立於1994年10月2日，「台灣消保協會」會址設於高雄，成立宗旨主要是要保障消費者權益、提升消費者地位和推廣消費者認知智識教育。本來成立當初的名稱是「中華民國消費者保護協會」，因為名稱有所重複，所以於2003年3月1日經內政部核准更名為「台灣消費者保護協會」，自此，「台灣消保協會」為消費者權益運動展開新的里程，而且榮獲行政院所頒佈兩家的「全國性優良消費者保護團體」之一，依照「消費者保護法」，可以代為提起團體訴訟 (20個人或以上），能為更多、更廣的消費者提供服務。
發展歷程、成效與願景
「台灣消保協會」既然是一個非營利、非政府的市民社會組織，因此，過去這二十幾年來在保護消費者權利領域默默耕耘，致力建構一個平等互惠的消費環境，為消費者權利把關，也為消費受害者伸張正義，儼然成為弱勢消費族群最有利條件的代言人。此外，「台灣消保協會」更積極參與政府有關消費法規的修訂，為了就是要營造一個更廣、更安全的消費整體環境；由於成績卓越，在兩年一次的評比中，二十年來已連續十次獲得行政院「優良消費者保護團體」的最高榮譽，這不僅對「台灣消保協會」一步一腳印的努力是一種肯定，這也意味「台灣消保協會」更將責無旁貸地肩負起保護弱勢消費族群的艱巨使命。
功能與服務範圍
代消費者「團體訴訟」是「台灣消保協會」的其中一項重要的服務功能和成就，主要是因為本協會是全國僅兩家被行政院評定為「優良消費者保護團體」的其中之一，因此，依憑此殊榮才有被賦予權限能為消費者權益進行團訟。之前，由本會受理的著名團訟案子有：「大統偽摻油品案」、四大廠黑心油案（正義、強冠、頂新與北海）、三大補習班違反服務契約案（學承電腦、威爾斯美語和微爾線上教學）和邱素貞瑜伽教室案。這些在在顯現本會對消費者權益、健康和社會正義的鍥而不捨、奮力守護的精神。此外，「台灣消保協會」戮力提供消費者權益維護的諸多服務功能:
＊諮詢：我們提供消費者一般諮詢管道，透過「網站線上問答」、「電子郵件詢問」、「電話詢問」、「一般信件諮詢」及「現場詢問」來解決消費者的問題。
＊法律諮詢與申訴：我們幫助消費處理「申訴」程序，而且安排每週由具 公益精神的義務律師提供消費者免費法律諮詢。
＊權益保護：我們提供「新聞稿」、「記者會」和「團體訴訟」的機制去保障廣大消費者的權益。
＊教育推廣：我們提供一些重要教育管道提升消費者的認知意識，主要的管道有電視、網路、報紙、雙月刊和其它名人講座課程。
＊宣導活動：我們透過大型活動和政府各部會的專案來宣導消費資訊和消費者的權益訊息。
＊市場調查：我們提出民生公安、食安的市場調查以確保消費者的健康與衛生。
＊環境保護：我們透過實驗室農藥檢驗、實境農場調查和「台灣消保協會」有機市場平台服務來達到保護消費者健康和環境永續的目的。
＊其他服務：我們也受聘各縣市作「調解」、「審議」、「諮詢」、「評審委員」、各類「定型化契約」的訂定與修訂、公聽會參與、e化網站經營或消費保護的臉書專頁。
領導階層與組織成員
「台灣消保協會」設有理事長一人，理監事共二十人。在2019年，協會繼續邀請無數具正義感的社會活躍份子和超過六十位各界學有專精的菁英來為消費者權益服務，這使得服務的陣容和範圍更加寬廣。在實行例行的行政流程和日行的使命計畫主要有八位全職執行人員和數十位志工。底下是主要的人員：
理事長 楊月雲
秘書長 陳意青
副秘書長 許淑清
執行長 徐邦瀚
聯絡我們
會址: 高雄市前鎮區保泰路355號6F-2
電話: (07) 970-0726 傳真: (07) 970-0675
(網址) http: www.cpat.org.tw
Email: cpat3706222@seed.net.tw
Consumer Protection Association in Taiwan (CPAT)
Mission Statement
CPAT is dedicated to advancing the consumer interest, status, and awareness of consumers through marketing survey, lecture tours, advocacy, and cross-regional partnerships.
Origins and Objectives
Officially founded on October 2, 1994 and based in Kaohsiung City, Consumer Protection Association in Taiwan (CPAT) is a non-profit, non-governmental civil organization. Its objectives are toprotect consumer rights and interests, to enhance consumer status, and to promote “consumer awareness” education. The original designation, when first founded, was Consumer Protection Association in Republic of China. However, it was later changed to the current CPAT in March 2003 due to the same name being simultaneously in use by two different associations. Since then, the CPAT, a substitute name ratified by the Ministry of the Interior, has set for a new milestone for a consumer rights movement.
Through dedicated efforts, the CPAT has become one of the two nationally-acclaimed consumer advocacy associations accorded a rating of excellence by Taiwan’s Executive Yuan. In accordance with the Consumer Protection Act, the CPAT is eligible to take on assignments of groups of 20 or more consumers and may bring litigation in court, providing more consumer services in scope as well as in depth.
Development and Achievements
CPAT is an independent non-profit, non-governmental, civil association. For more than two decades, CPAT has committed, without fanfare, to developing an environment where consumer rights and interests can be upheld and practices of fair trading can be scrutinized. As a matter of course, CPAT has become a spokesperson for upholding justice for consumers who are powerless, and, very often, victimized in the trading process. In order to maintain a wider and safer consuming environment, CPAT has actively participated in government-related activities including the enacting and revision of laws and regulations on consumer rights and interests. In recognition of its achievements and credits, has been accorded (a ten-time award winner consecutively) a rating of “EXCELLENCE” for the past two decades. The rating has proved a positive affirmation of CPAT’s work, motivating the CPAT to shoulder more responsibilities for the protection of consumers, weak or vulnerable, as a “mission impossible.”
Functions and Services of CPAT
Group-assigned litigations have become one of the main achievements of CPAT. Since CPAT is one of the two nationally-recognized consumer advocacy associations that have a rating of excellence conferred by the Executive Yuan, it is eligible to take on assignments of group litigation cases. Previous notable cases in terms of time sequence include litigation taken against President Corp (adulterated cooking oil), four companies Cheng-yi, Chiang-kuan, Ting-sin, and Pei-hai (ill-intentioned adulterated cooking oil), three cram schools (Hsue-chen, Welsh English School and Tutor Well School), and against Su-cheng Chiu Yoga Studio). These litigation cases showcase the CPAT’s relentless commitment to uphold and safeguard the consumer interest, health, and social justice. Besides group-assigned litigations for consumers, CPAT carries on a variety of pivotal services:
* Counseling: we provide consumers with counseling through various communication channels such as Website’s Q & A, Email inquiry, phone inquiry, letter inquiry, and the face-on-face, on-site counseling
* Legal consultation and complaints-filing: we help consumers with complaints-filing processes, and volunteer lawyers with a spirit of public good provide weekly face-to-face free legal consultations
* The consumer interest safeguards: for higher profile cases, we organize such mechanisms as press releases, press conference, and group-assigned litigations to safeguard the consumer interest of a considerable scope
*Education:we raise the consumer awareness through education through various media such as television, networks, newspapers, the CPAT-issued bimonthly periodicals, and formal lecturing courses
*Promotional opportunities and activities: we disseminate consumer information or education by hostinghighly-publicized festive events or joining and publicizing government-initiated special case events
*Fact sheets and investigation: we raise public safety issues and initiate food safety investigations for the consumer health and sanitation
*Go organic and eco-friendly environment:we conduct pesticides tests and field tests for eco-friendly environment, promoting “Go Organic” market platforms
*
Others: we are available across Taiwan to provide the services of mediation, deliberation, consultation, commissioner-serving, drafting or revising standard contracts, participating in public hearings, and disseminating on social network platforms cases of malpractices for consumer protection
Organization, Leadership, and Staff
Since early 2019, sponsored by the Board of Directors and Supervisors as well as many activists in social justice, CPAT has continued to dedicate itself to upholding and enhancing consumer rights and interests on a variety of issues. Currently, the Board is composed of 20 directors and supervisors, and has, within its association, a group of more than 60 professionals from different fields to serve as commissioners. For running a day-to-day administration routine and other mission-related programs, CPAT now has a staff of 8, in addition to dozens of committed volunteers. The key members are:
President Grace Yang
The Board of Directors
Secretary General Yi Ching Chen
Deputy Secretary Shu-chin Hsu
Executive Director Bang-han Hsu
Contact Us
Address: 6F-2, No. 355, Bao-Tai Rd., Chien-Cheng District, Kaohsiung City 806, Taiwan
Tel.: (07) 970-0726
Fax: (07) 970-0675
Website: www.cpat.org.tw
Email: cpat3706222@seed.net.tw