CONSUMER. BEAT Consumer Complaints: Put t Un tWriting Sometirnes there's no way around it -,you've compari- son shopped, checked for quality, asked ail the ques- tions and stili end up feeling you've been "taken"., When you are misled by a salesperson or advertise- ment you have every right to take action. But the Min- istry of Consumer-and Com- mercial Relations suggests that consumers think care- fully before registering 'a Complaining is a business- lik'e. way of getting your 'problems sorted out. Con- sumers Who use complaints as an excuse to let off steain or get revenge are asking for problems. First, you' should try to get satisfaction from the or- ganization or company that sold you the produdt or ser- vice. They may suggest that you deal directly with the manufacturer. * When you make a' -com- plaint, writing a letter is often. the best way of pre- senting your probiem. Write. clearly; if possible, type thie letter. .And get t/o- copies - keep one for yourself and send the other to the nearest Consumer Services Bureau. If you haven't received a satisfactory response within three weeks, you can contact' the bureau, which will ai- ready be aware of, your problein.. If you are dealii'ng with a local merchant, you May find that a personai discuis- Sion with the ýmanager will' clear upthe situation quick- ly. Otherwise, You'll find that a letter is better and prevents the telephon e "brush-off'~ Direct your complaint to the, appropriate department of the firin involved; if pos- sible, try to Write to aspecif- ic person in charge. You can get this information froin directories in the publicli- brary, or' b r contacting the company in advance. When you put:your com- plaint' in writing, be sure to folloW this checklist: 0 Start your letter wîth a return address. e*State your -complaint and inidicate whether it, con- cerns money,.a'product, a service or other function. * Give the details of the faulty article such as date, place of purchase and model numnber, or describe the in- adequate service. including dates, places and naines involved. e End the letter by asking for an answer to yourprob- lem, e Sign the- letter clearly, and print or type your name below the signature. in Ontario, your rights as a consumer are protect'ed under'The Business Practices Act. Phone or visit your nearest Consumer .: Services Bureau for iiore informa- tion. Or get a copy of Bal- ance in the rnarkeiplace - the consuiner's guide to The Bà siness Practices Act by writing the Consumer Infor-, mation Centre, 3555 Yonge Street, Toronto M7A 2H6. WHITBY-FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1979, PAGE. 21 Campa*gnends today..,. United Way reaches 99 The. Oshawa Wbltby United Way campaign is almoot over the top wlth 99 per -cent of, its, goal of -1,150,000 reached., Total ralsed t6date.18 $1,141,057. Witb only $9,00 stiil to go, Joe Pegg, Campaign Manger, bas set today as the conclusion date for the Unlted'way canvass - and he urges ail canvassers to, wrap Up theïr activity today. Peggreported that to date 17 United Way sectol's bave acbieved or bettered their campaign goal. He singled ou t the public service em- ployees who have achleved 108 per cent of théir objec- tive for 'excellent, perfor- malice. They include the federal employees, the city of Oshawa, Province, of On- tario and,.Town of Whltby einployees who have .shown a strong.increase'in giving over last yêar.1 30E PEGG Campaign Chairman GM award W'iers General Motors 0f Canada bas announeed employee awards of $50,000 under the GM Suggestion Plan. Four. Oshawa Car Assembly Plant employees bave -won in- dividual Maximum Awards of 810,000 " one for bis flfth trme and another for bis fourth time. Two other. car plant emplqyees will share a Maximum Award. Sixteen-year employee, Jim Adams of the Plant 1 specification group won bis' fourtbl- $10,000 awatd Iforý Suggestion elimination of a -lowerattacbing screw in the body ýIock pillar finisbing, panel whicb is held in place by a il plate on the floor. Mr. Adams lives in Oshawa. Fifteen-year employee, Dave Gilober of the Élant 2 specification group won his fourth $10,000 award for bis idea to eliminate sparying adhsiv onthe dash sound, barrier prior to installation bcuethe'barrieris held properly by the dash panel - Mr. Glober started working for GM in 1964. He resides in .Port Hope., < Bob Smxitb, final car con- ditioning, ,suggested elliination..0f an, ,un- -necessary clamnp from, the cannister -end of- emissioni control boses. The .18-year employee lives in Port Hope. Bob Dingman, Plant' 2 specification group, suggested elimination , f four cmatetfront and wheelhouse- sound'barrier retainers, because 'the- barriers are held in place by the seatback. ýThe Oshawa resident bas been with GM since 1962. Eie Cole and' Victor Kononow, Plant 2 specifications, will share a Maximùum -,Award -for eliminating .unneedsary purchase of, a part previously - deleted from .a certain assembly procedure. Mr. Cole has been witb GM since 11963 and lives in Whit- by. 'Mr. ýKononow bas been- .With GM since 1955. He lives in Ajax. , Yorslfand-,Guelp h S To picture yourseff at the Unversity of Gepsend in this coupon for our free 8page colour brochure. Name SENO TO: ILIAISON SECTION Address IOFFICE 0F THE REGISTRAR School SUNI VERSITY 0F GUELPH IGUELPH, ONTARIO N1G MW1 Cty/Prov. L~ ~~~uwst -of --G3Ih - - - - -j - ~m1 I I I I I I I I - -- - - - - - a