Consumer Protection

Direct selling is meant to be convenient and hassle free. And more than anything, consumers have the right to receive quality service and products they’ll enjoy.

The Direct Selling Association has in place a strict Code of Ethics in which all members must abide by. The Code is designed to protect consumers and consultants from unethical business practices and consumer service.

Check out this section to learn more about what the direct selling industry has in place to protect you.

What to do if you’re not satisfied

If you’re not satisfied with your shopping experience, there are a couple things you can do.

If you have a complaint against a direct selling company that is a member of the Direct Selling Association (DSA) for any business practice you believe is unethical, illegal or a possible violation of the DSA Code of Ethics, you have the following options:

• First, contact the salesperson immediately and explain your concerns.
• If the salesperson cannot or will not correct the problem to your satisfaction, call or write the company and explain the situation and outline the steps you would like to see taken.
• If the company does not resolve your problem and it is a member of the Direct Selling Association, you may wish to file a complaint with the DSA Code Administrator.
• To file your complaint online, fill out the online Code of Ethics complaint form. Your information will be forwarded to the DSA Code Administrator who will investigate the situation and contact you directly. Click here to find out more about what to expect after filing a Code complaint.
• If you’d like to submit your complaint in writing, you may mail or fax it to the address below. Your complaint should include the following basic information:
  • The date and details of the incident
  • The parties involved
  • If possible, identify the Code violation you believe has occurred
  • Efforts you have made to resolve the matter
  • List the amount and cost of product, if relevant, include invoices or other supporting documents
  • Any responses the other parties have made to resolve the matter
  • The current status of the complaint
  • How you would like to see the complaint resolved or remediedSend your written complaint to:

    Code Administrator
    Direct Selling Association
    1667 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
    Washington, D.C. 20006
    FAX (202) 452-9010

    The Code Administrator is independent, not connected with any member company of the Direct Selling Association. The Administrator will do everything possible in accordance with the procedures of the Code of Ethics to resolve the problem to the satisfaction of all parties. A copy of the complete DSA Code of Ethics is available here or upon request to the Direct Selling Association. The Administrator is empowered to determine appropriate remedies and DSA member companies have agreed to be bound by the Administrator’s decisions.

    If you have a complaint against a direct selling company that is not a member of DSA, there are several organizations in which you can file a complaint. You can access a list of organization by clicking here.