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THE HERALD OUTLOOK Saturday September Page Consumer Warning Be aware of unscrupulous frozen food sellers People trying to put the freeze on grocery bills should be wary of unscrupulous frozen food sellers says Marilyn of the Ministry of Consumer and Com mercial Relations Seniors the consumers most in dined to prefer the convenience of at home shopping are considered at greater nsk from dishonest door vendors High food prices have led many to seek ways to stretch the pur chasing power of their dollars One way of reducing costs is the frozen- food plan which became popular in the early 1980s Many con continue to participate in such plans and are pleased with the results Unfortunately unethical pro are still in operation across the province In a recent case says Gurevsky two salesman used high pressure sales tactics to convince a Mississauga woman to buy 240 worth of meat despite ihe fact she told them she rarely ate it They told her they couldn accept a che que then persuaded her to let them take her to the bank where she made a cash withdrawal A few hours later they returned and sold the same woman 687 worth of meat and other frozen foods A year old freezer com plete with dents dirt and rust was included in the deal They were convicted of engaging in unfair business practices One of the offenders had been found guilty of similar charges just four months earlier When a frozen food salesperson appears on the doorstep con can best protect their in by asking themselves the same questions they would in store Do I need and want this service now The question may appear too obvious to mention but high pressure tactics used by some sellers can make it difficult to say no Look at your reasons to buy If you find trips to the grocery store inconvenient or too great a temptation to impulse buy a con tract with a frozen food dealer may be appropriate When arranged with a reputable firm freezer plans offer more ad vantages than just home delivery Meat poultry and fish are often prepackaged in individual ings which can be a real benefit for many seniors and is frequently difficult to find in the grocery store But the novelty can quickly wear off if the variety of products included in the package isn wide enough to give you a change of menu Hospital Auxiliary plans events By HI- OSS Summer is over The first meeting of the season of the Georgetown Hospital Auxiliary was held Sept 12 under co president Sophie Henley We hope to see you at our Nearly New Sale on October This will be held in the Courtyard from a to 12 In case of rain we will hold the sale indoors at the location further information ill Vi Haines it or Nellie at An early notice about the Christmas Dance this will be held on December 7 at the Holy Cross Church Hall More information this in future but do make a note of thedatt Volunteers tin out in the gift shop wirds phologr habits portenng patients Wt iv tun volunteers ilso ispett is fund voluntetr llospit lift hlllt for hi support hospit Call lreiu or West for further in Formation Flounder fillets Florentine may taste terrific for a while says but if it the only fish supplied in a six month plan you may not be so keen on it by the end Is the vendor honest A reputable frozen food company will describe the goods exactly provide local references and offer information about its office tion and how long it has been in business When asked to do so honest ven dors will also be glad to return at another time to complete the sale leaving a copy of the proposed con tract with you to consider This gives the consumer time to have contracts over reviewed by a lawyer or business advisor and make a few calls to com petitors to compare prices or to other clients to check references The key to satisfaction is to find out who you re dealing with and read the contract carefully says Gurevsky Ontario s Consumer Ministry en courages people to make sure they know all the facts before they sign on the dotted line But if you enter into an agreement and then decide it s not for you all is not lost It possible you can benefit from a cooling off period provided by the Consumer Protection Act You have two working days don t count Sundays or statutory holidays from the date the con tract was signed to cancel it says Gurevsky You don t have to give a reason Send a letter by registered mail or hand deliver it to the seller stating that you are cancelling the contract as is your right under the Consumer Protection Act The let ter should include your name and address a description of the pro duct the date purchased and the price Brochures on the Consumer Pro tection Act Business Practices Act and many related issues are available free from the Consumer Information Centre at 555 Yonge St Toronto Ontario M7A 2H6 Tel or toll free 1 268 1142 Ontario residents with an 807 area code may call the line collect The TDD line for the hearing impaired is NutriSystem added flavour to my life and helped me lose 100 lbs used to crave food all time and my 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