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14 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, July 21, 1987 Graduations Howard & Gail Malcolm are pleased to announce the recent graduation of their son, Rob Malcolm, from the Ontario Agricultural College, University of Guelph with an Associate Diploma in Agriculture. Rob is presently working on the family Dairy farm at R.R. 4, Sunderland. On Friday, May 29, 1987, Al Bender, only son of Faye Bender, Oshawa, graduated from the Facul- ty of Education, Queen's Universi- ty, Kingston with a diploma in Technical Education. Al is presently employed with the Durham Board of Education. SUMMER Consumers warned to beware of vendors selling meat from trucks Consumers sold frozen meat out of the back of a car may be buying "a pig in a poke' instead of pork chops, says Roberta Allan. "What can anyone possibly know about the quality or dollar value of box loads of meat sitting in so- meone's trunk?' asks Allan, a con- sumer advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commer- cial Relations (MCCR). 'Has it stayed frozen? What grade or quali- ty is it? Where did it come? A lot of these sellers don't even give com- pany addresses." Traditionally the domain of brushes, cooking utensils, vacuums and knick-knacks, the door-to-door industry recently added portion- packed frozen meats to its growing list of wares. It wasn't long before consumers started reporting pro- blems with these sales to the ministry. People have been dissatisfied with the quality of the meats, some feel quantities were misrepresented and others realized too late the purchase was far from "the buy of the cen- tury," touted by the seller, Allan says. These back seat meals can cost $300 to $600. Full payment is generally due on the spot and delivery involves a few quick trips between the car trunk and the buyer's freezer. At that point, the sale is closed and customers rarely have a chance to get their money back, Allan says. Consumer protection legislation does allow some transactions in- volving more than $50 to be.cancell- you normally put a stop payment on a credit card charge." High pressure and questionable sales pitches were among the com- plaints commonly cited in recent let- ters to MCCR. 'The sellers often claim they can offer fabulous prices because large orders have been cancelled and the meat must be sold in a hurry. In some versions of this tale, the woeful salesperson will have to pay for the shipment it it's not sold. 'Unfortunately, some people find lines like that easier to swallow than the steaks they end up buying," Allan says. 'Without question you could get as good a deal or better from an established, reputable retailer with a permanent place of business. There's something reassuring about meat counters that can't drive off, never to be seen again." Few of the vendors involved in these sales carry any sort of permits or concrete identification. Unhappy customers with only post office boxes or phone numbers to go by may try for months to contact the companies involved. Letters and messages rarely get any response even when they're from ministry staff. Mediation services and advice are available from the ministry's Con- sumer Services Bureaurs located throughout the province. Com- plaints about door-to-door meat sales or any other consumer tran- é saction should be referred ta the nearest bureau. Allan points out the ministry must be able to locate the company and clearly establish its involvement in illegal sales practices before taking any action beyond attempting mediation. "We try to negotiate with the com- pany on your behalf, but it's quite possible your only recourse will be to small claims court," Allan ex- plains. "And even then, you'll have to have the company's proper address." Companies selling pre-packaged frozen meats should not be confus- ed with freezer order firms which sell large orders of food, generally through regular payment plans. Ac- cording to Allan, many of these "food freezers" companies are well established in Ontario and have been working with the ministry to rid their industry of unethical operators. The firms have helped enhance consumer protection by agreeing to use standard contracts, listing all pertinent information such as weights, cuts of meat, detailed costs, financing charges and other important items. For information about basic con- sumer. rights in the Ontario marketplace, contact the Consumer Information Centre at 555 Yonge -Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2Hé6 ---- 416-963-1111 or toll free at 1-800-268-1142. | ms & Leisure Sales (416) 986-4245 7A Highway to Nestleton. Log home across from Rec Centre. PATIO FURNITURE -- SPA & WHIRL BATHS WICKER FURNITURE -- POOL & SPA CHEMICALS Open Evenings and Weekends ed within two clear working days if they were signed in your home. But- this only applies when payment or delivery is to take place in the future. If the transaction was com- pleted on the spot, the "cooling off period' does not apply. 'A word of warning about paying with a credit card -- it is the same as cash or a cheque under consumer "law," Allan says. '"'People often think credit card purchases con- stitute future payment, allowing them to take advantage of the cool- ing off legislation. Not so. Nor can SALE on now at ... The Children' s Den 197 Queen Street - Port Perry PHONE 985-9982 CHILDREN'S FASHIONS Infants to Size 14 \ OPEN: Weekdays & Saturday 9 30 to 5:30; Friday © 8: 00 PM HOLD HHDHODHHLHLHLHLHHLH HHH HHOHD. PA Aa 44 0440444044444 A AAA A Ad wld Fd baits - JEWELLERY & TANNING INC. 263 Queen St., Port Perry 985-8555 JZ ENGAGEMENT / WEDDING RING SETS la | 20% OFF during the month of July Still-haven't got that tan yet? Our summer special of ... 10 TANS for $40.00 guarantees most people a golden glow. REPAIRS -- GIFTWARE -- CUSTOM DESIGNS LOVESEAT Purchase one of our Contemporary or Traditional Sofas in five great styles and you will receive the matching Loveseat at no extra charge. 10] 2: priced from only ... 699. to $899. Cormry. lassics SUMMER on sale now at All STOCK * now 40 - 50% OFF (* excluding new fall merchandise) All Sales Final - No Lay-aways. 14a -H=V:N'4 OSHAWA IRE EW ARTTR OATH ETT 237 Queen Street, buntry Jp Fort bey Ove lassics 985.8221