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Panel Friday 10 Consumer advocacy needs more government concern Ho lion bulling ton There has been considerable discussion recently on subject of consumer tion Here In Ontario the provincial government to adhere to the principle that the consumer should be the main policing force In the marketplace and that the consumer should be provided with the wherewithal 10 carry out that unction The govern ment role appears to consist of providing certain statutes and supplying information for the consumer particularly with respect to legal rights One area In which the Mini of consumer and Com merclol Relations has become Involved is in the Investigation of suspected fraudulent through the Business Practices Division There seems to have been a long standing campaign against auto transmission and repair The idea that the consumer should be the main policing agent in the marketplace only makes sense when allowance is made for a he realities of the place the Icullies inherent in a public Information distribution pro cess and the barriers which prevent consumers from exercising their legal rights Frequently these problems call for positive government response This the case not because the consumer cannot protect his or her own Inter but because the nature of the marketplace and our legal processes are such that It is often not worth his or her while to take action to assert a consumer right Lets take a look at the realities of the marketplace The original approach In con tract law to resolving dispute between two parties was the legal maxim cm est emptor Let the beware we rarely bear that raised to the level of a principle This is because In conditions Of the market pi ice have changed Years ago when this rule was originated the buyer and the seller were usually on an equal footing Nowadays the consumer is in a far weaker position vis a vis the seller the consumer has no ability to negotiate cither lo the price or to the quality of the goods being sold The fact that the seller Is several stages removed from the manufacturer means that the seller Is rarely Intimately with the peculiarities of the product or the particulars of the manufacturing process which en into its The nature of advertising and marketing practices an such that little valuable information is to the consumer With the great diversity of manufacturers and retailers the consumer stands little chance of becoming better informed and his or her individual protestations will have little Impact on the marketplace as a whole The other problem with the marketplace is that at the stage of buying a product or service the consumer receives very little information about his or her contractual rifhtsofvil ill is are nun form sales contracts warranties an tin in icn deciphered il because that r ion tract Ins Inn lntlustr with then not relief had from then lies eh informition programs lv timed under auspices of the Mm of Consumer Relations inlillcd or Consumer tin of Ontario wis In It indicate that most cannot name a single pro law The actual figure was 62 per cent On the oilier side of the ledger those who knew something of con protection not one of laws was well known by a large Tin per cent of the respondents of the survey could name the lion offered by the period That provision of the Consumer Protection Ait re the highest Let face ten per cent Is an imbarrassingl low figure Markelplace processes need to be made more understand able Many vendors use form contracts The government could require that these be written in plain English In addition the applicability of penalties could be extended lo breathes of specific of con protection Union Gas no longer selling appliances Joe of icing be open Manila v to a in Thursday til and Saturday t The charge in will he accompanied In each week Mr he additional store hours III provide villi lirllrr hi Consider credit card as time bomb Credit cards tan of marvelously vou want to give up altogether But remcnil tins credit curds ir rather the abuse of them is fnr largest single cause of persona in Canada and those an spiralling out of sight Also credit card inleresi rales always severe haw now risen to as much cent per month per cent annum on overdue That a high price pay for Arc you financially responsible when it Dollar offers financial advice by mem ben of The Institute of bartered Accountants of Ontario to buying on credit and managing a credit account If you arc not sure hen is how you can be First and most important never use a credit card lo buy any thing you can I afford to pay for at end of the month Convenience the only justification for having the you The Union Gas office in Georgetown will no longer sell any gas appliances once Its present stock Is sold regional manager Jock Hobos said last week Union Gas Is out of retail sales of gas appliances in all Its offices in order to on the sale of home healing and water heating equipment and conversion of many from oil togas Union Gas will continue to service gas appliances whether they were purchased from a dealer or from a Union Gas office Mr said Guarantees on appliances will continue to be honored While stock lasts ranges dryers and other white goods will be for sale at Union Gas offices but these items ore going quickly Mr said HORNBY AREA Scouts Guides CubsBrownlas BOTTLE DRIVE ON SAT NOV have at end of by AREA 1st Lino lis Churchill Dove to 5 Slderoad PLEASE STARTING SA VIAIG YOUR BOTTLES aid interest penalties If vou have to borrow to buy borrow from a bank you II pay much less in interest Neil plan your urtB This goes merely not buying on impulse It means drawing ut a realistic budget that allows for a certain amount of impulse spending You can reals it forever so plan for it Never over throw away a credit receipt or a monthly statement You know at all times exactly how much you owe Don wait for the monthly bill to remind you of that nigh dinner vou I even remem the next morning Every months do an analysis of your spending on credit Nothing fancy just bo much for clothes so much for entertainment and bo on You might be surprised to learn where your money went When it cornea to paying your credit bills consider paying on the last day before the payment is due This may seem like advice but why should you gain interest on your money especially if it is in a dally interest account for as long as you can without penalty Do you have a desk calendar or a calendar on the kitchen wall The day receive a credit bill make a note to pay it on the before it falls due and don forget Finally paying the bill at the bank is simply the safest route because your receipt date slumped and the payment goes directly to your account whereas mail can go astray The moot vital key i to know pro us plain I can put it bow much mt ney you owe at all If lose Mr is with track of that you re Sella Chartered trouble and that a about Accountants Toronto LIQUIDATION SALE Health Conditions cause closure of store EVERYTHING MUST GO Fall Fashions Price 11 Main St S Acton 8533600 3 DAYS ONLY OCT 11th to OCT 13th Georgetown Decorating Centres PAINT WALLPAPER SALE Famous SPRED SATIN your room oft beautiful finish Abraeia to apply with brush or rolltr C hoots from almost 3 doe orator colors SMOOTH SCRUBBABLE Semi Gloss Enamel for and bathroom walls callings and tilm 95 GALLON CLEARANCE Flat Latex Exterior House Paint Quick drying Restate peeling cracking water clean up 95 Compare to Gliddens BEST Latex SemiGloss Enamel dirt quickly Mutches Satin Easy soapy clean up Compare to While Quantities 95 Compare to SAVE 30 on WALLPAPER Selected Books Available till Sat Oct 11th Only Solo ends Saturday October GEORGETOWN DECORATING CENTRE DOWNTOWN GEORGETOWN 87741 93 HOLIDAY WEEKEND SPECIALS On special occasions like Christmas Easter Thanksgiving we like to have specials to offer to our customers as a way of showing our appreciation for their patronage ALL TREES SHRUBS OFF ALL CONCRETE FOUNTAINS PLANTERS TABLES AND BENCHES ALL EVERGREENS 20 OFF 20 OFF FREE 500 G BOTTLE OF PLANT AIDE WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANY EVEflQHEENS VALUED AT OR MORE ALL LAWN FERTILIZERS 20 OFF ALL GRASS SEED 10 OFF THERE S STILL TIME TO PUT DOWN GRASS SEED AT YOU WILL FIND THE FINEST PROVEN MIX- FOR SUN SHAPE SPECIAL BUYS PUMPKINS your choice 50 PEPPER SQUASH for 99 5 BUSHEL FREE COFFEE Como In to vigil and enjoy a hot cup of code while you around our gilt shop MEADOWLANDS NURSERY LIMITED MtSSlSSAUGA RD 8261502 OPEN DAYS A WEEK HOURS Mon to Frl am III dusk Saturday am till Sundays 30 5 I