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Fs "A Family Tradition for 128 Years" Bank, post office seeking answers PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, August 15, 1995 - 13 CANADA WIDE CLEARANCE From Page 1 theft of statements did not appear to be the method used by thieves in the other two occur- rences in the area. Jack Owen said last week he was shocked when he received a call from VISA, asking him to verify a purchase of $1,350 made on the credit card that bears his wife's name. The couple rarely use the card, he said, noting that the last purchase made with the plastic was in the spring. "We hardly ever used the thing," he said. "We never used it in a bank machine, and the last purchase made on it was In April." The Owens gave out their number twice while on vacation in British Columbia this summer, both times to reputable establishments. But when they returned home in late July and went through their mail -- which had been taken from their rural mailbox daily by a neighbor -- they discov- ered that credit card statements for June and July were missing. "It just seems damn funny to me that we didn't get the statements in the mail," said Mr. Owen. The fortunate aspect of the incident is that Mr. Owen, like the other two local people who have been defrauded, is not on the hook for the purchas- es; the credit card com- pany picks up the loss. And he said that while fraud appears to be a risk for any card holder, they're essential in today's economy. "You've got to have one," he said. "You are, today, forced to have a credit card." Roads funding slashed From Page 1 with bills for big jobs for which funding has been frozen. "We didn't get caught to that extent," said Mr. Cuddie, noting that Scugog politicians have been tight-fisted with projects and funding for the past several years in an attempt to keep tax bills down. He added, though, that the full extent of the Tories cost-cutting measures has yet to be felt. "We don't know the full impact of all the cuts yet," he said. The other funding cut the township is aware of now is a $2,800 reduction in the grant for the handi-trans program for the disabled. Mr. Cuddie said that expenditure can be covered without an affect on users of the system. What's worrisome to municipal politicians and administration, though, is how the funding restraints will affect next year's budget. Mr. Cuddie said the Region will be under pressure as a result of welfare funding reductions, for example. The Region, of course, gathers it taxes from member municipalities. Also troubling is the possibility of tax hikes by the public and separate school boards, who are feeling the pinch and looking at means of avoiding a deficit for 1995. Added to that, there's the fact that municipalities today are operating on shoestring budgets, with lit- tle left over for contingencies. Unexpected costs -- such as the bill for the clean-up after July's big storm, or heaviar snowfall than anticipated -- could throw a municipal budget off badly, said the admin- istrator. Rates subject to change without notice SCUGOG FINANCIAL SERVICES A DIVISION OF CRESSBROOK FINANCIAL PLANNING LTD. 250 QUEEN STREET - PORT PERRY "Serving Scugog for Over 15 Years" PHONE 985-3832 $500, 00 0 Delvery Bonus on 1995 GMC Regular Cab Pups a far Ce & Pontiac ReHenporss (Veticle invoice Cres). OF: 1galekz le [ANER=10]0)l/oFz10)(=R (6; retail sales. retail SmartLease Elale NBL EIA @lolalifoll=lo N=] lease deliveries. "Serving Port Perry & Durham Region since 1976" BREE, PONTIAC BUICK LIMITED 10 Vanedward Drive, Port Perry 985-8474