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THE WEEKEND OUTLOOK Friday January Page Feature Distress and Information Centre a vital service Reaching out for help The volunteers have been trained to listen Everyone thinks they know how to listen but you would be amazed at how much you miss from a conversation said Mrs credit quiz can help c credit quiz can help consumers cope By LISA The Herald The past holiday season is now another warm memory for many people but for the dejected and lonesome the annual season of joy can be a time of torment relieved only by the patient listening of a volunteer at the North Distress and In formation Centre At this time of year the media tells us everything is wonderful but thats just not true for everyone said Judith executive director of the centre Not everyone has a family or friends to spend time with over the holidays and even those that do sometimes can t afford to travel to see them Then there are people who have recently separated from spouses and lonely senior citizens These people don t fit the stones on television where all confrontations are resolved and families come together said Mrs This time of year people like to be involved with family she said If they can t they feel lone ly left out of the celebrations and need someone to talk to Consequently the number of calls received by the distress- tre rose significantly during the season Added to the of the holiday season people have lost jobs due to the economy and are threatened by increasing costs said Mrs Trained volunters are at the centre usually 24 hours a day Quick After Christmas many people worry about paying off credit charges they accumulated over the holiday season Studies show most of us don know much about credit To shed a little light on the sub ject experts at Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Com mercial Relations have prepared a quick credit quiz Try it out by yourself with the family or din ing the office coffee break Answer True or to these questions 1 It a good idea to buy relatively small items on credit More expensive items like cars cost too much on credit T 2 You can check your personal credit rating by calling the Better Business Bureau T 3 If you can pay off your creditcard bills in full within a few months its a good idea to take out a loan from a financial institution to handle them T Credit bureaus keep files of personal Information on con sumers T Creditors will sometimes allow consumers who are having financial difficulties to defer payments T Banks can check consumers credit bureau records any time they wish It s all right to your credit card number the phone as long as you re really iure you want the item you rt ordering T 8 If you re refused credit by a company once may be granted credit by that firm at a later date T It normal to spend about per cent of your net earnings on credit payments T 10 Declaring consumer bankruptcy is an easy way to gel nd of all your debts T Answers 1 False It s not advisable to make credit payments on relatively inexpensive items The cost of credit may be quite high when compared with the price of the item Credit is best reserved for the major expenses the con finds it difficult or possible to save for such as houses or in many cases cars False The Better Business Bureau can help consumers check on the reputation of businesses Credit recording agencies hold records of con sumer transactions and ratings and anyone wishing to see their personal credit file is entitled to do so Look under credit bureaus the Yellow Pages then call and set up an appoint ment 3 True Interest rates on bank and credit union loans are usual ly lower than those for credit cards False Credit bureaus keep only hose records relevant to an individual s credit history 5 True Many financial institu tions and other creditors may be willing to renegotiate repayment of debts Conditions for such ar vary greatly with in dividual circumstances False Banks and other in are only entitled to check credit records if the person has been notified or applied for credit 7 False Consumers should on ly give a credit card number and expiration during a telephone call they have made themselves then deal only with reputable companies True The criteria used by credit agencies may be altered Also factors that worked against the credit seeker s ap plication may change in time also Consumers paying more than per cent of their gross household income on mon thly payments including all housing costs and loan and credit payments should carefully review their financial situations If serious money problems ap pear to be developing they should contact the nearest On Credit Counselling Service Really Wrong False rumors spread during the reces sion of the early 1980s led many consumers to believe that declar consumer bankruptcy could take away their debts and return their credit cards within a month Aside from being personally humiliating experts explain that declaring bankruptcy carries no guarantee consumers will be forgiven debts classed by courts as necessities of life These may include credit purchases of adding the volunteers listen with an impartial ear and don t judge people Often just having someone to talk to will be enough she said But there are instances when a volunteer just can t offer what a professional can So the volunteers have numbers and contacts of professionals in every area at their disposal to offer if the caller requests But she stresses the volunteers don tell callers with abuse or emotional problems they need counselling or push the idea We know we can t change someone else you can only change yourself The caller must decide for they want to change Volunteers are given six week training sessions which are taught by veteran volunteers twice a year The centre s strength relies on these volunteers about 50 in all who are busiest from December to March The winter months tend to be a down time of year said Mrs because the weather isn always great making it dif for people to get out As well bills from Christmas gifts start to arrive dnving home the fact there s no holidays or special events to look forward to until Easter But the volunteers are busy all year for not only do they provide an ear they give information on all elements of the Halton Hills community clothing food and furniture Those declaring bankruptcy can expect to lose many of their personal possessions and to wait a long time before they receive a new line of credit There may be alternatives to this drastic step In Ontario anyone seriously considering declaring bankrupt cy can receive free advice by Postal codes garbage pickup dates social services govern ment numbers and agency numbers are just some of the in formation we offer said Mrs North Halton is so small it can support all the agencies full time so we are involved with them all acting as sort of a dear house The centre also has numerous regular callers Lonely senior citizens and new people in the community rely on volunteers for companionship until they meet new friends and get involved in the community The distress and information centre is a service been aiding the community since 1973 when a group of dedicated people saw the need for a service for lonely discouraged and troubled people to call During the holiday season generosity abounds but we may forget that some people just don t have family and friends to share with or talk to about their pro blems For these people the tre can help put some of the warmth back into the holiday season The North Distress and Information Centre sponsored by the Regional government and the United Way is there for you and your needs If you need to talk are new to the community and need information or wish to volunteer your time or funds call this number 877 1211 All calls are confidential calling their local Credit Counselling Service The number is available by calling toll free To receive a free copy of the Consumer Ministrv brochure Credit and You write to Consumer Information Centre 555 St Toronto Ontario M7A2H6 New Years Eve tradition In what is rapidly becoming a popular local and celebrate the ringing In of the New Year Town Town of opened doors and of Halton Hills Mayor Rubs Miller did the honors of grounds of the Civic Centre located In ringing in the New Year on the Town BCll Herald Georgetown last Monday for residents to gather photo