“13 - Suny, October 3, 1993 - North Shore News Exercise caution when home- based _ offers sound too good to be true : HELP’S ‘AT Hand, by .”. North’. Shore Community De, Services (NSCS), is a: forum “for “discussing government ‘policies and programs, - benefits, consumer and legal ° “rights,: taxation and public “services. «...” “Answers are intended only as a ; neral :guide and should not be - applied:to individual cases without further consultation. “ Question: I have youag children - who are not yet'in sckool and I'd . like*to earn some extra money. I “have '-read'ads in the paper for: Jobs’ that’ can.do at home, and they sound ‘great. Do you thisk it is really possible to earn over $500 “sa week this way, as.some of the . ‘sads say? Answer: Work-at-home ~schemes. are. often. attractive to “people like yourself, elderly people’. -or-shut-ins because. under these ~ circumstances it is difficult to hold jobs outside of the home. :, «There aze probably some op- ee portunities to’ work’ at home that “. gan. be profitable and. rewarding; ; however, .:the .. Better / Business ’ Bureau (BBB) advises. that people ‘should exercise caution ‘with, these : Offers; especially. °, when : they » . promise very largé earnings..." ‘ ‘The’ BBB ‘states: that« all-earn: : money-a' at-home’ “schemes have ‘one’. in: : they require you: ‘0. buy. raething before you can begin -work. They ‘warn that’ you could end Up. losing: ‘money, ‘instead © of earning it.” “vcilable only at these locations: ._ PARK ROYAL . 875 Park Royal North the ‘ads ask . that’ you : send some money for further in- formation. What you usually receive is nothing more than a letter explaining the ‘‘wonderful”’ opportunities for making easy money. Often, you will be asked to send more money for the “starter kit.”’ : Or, in- another example, an ad’ said you could earn money by sewing at-home. The applicant ‘was ther asked to purchase in- structions,. materials and some- times even the sewing machine to make items such as aprons, rugs, or seat covers, The promoter promised to. buy back the products ata profit to the seamstress if her quality was “up to their standards.” Unfortunately what seems to happen is that people are then told that their products arc not up to standards and the promoter ref- uses to pay for them. . ‘The BBB offers the following advice to anyone considering a work-at-home. scheme. | Exercise caution if: ® money is Tequesied, Remember that you are sending money for an - unknown investment; ~ @. the promotional material you teceive says “there is an unlimited demand for: ‘the preduct.or service in which you will be getting in- ‘volved: That is likely an exaggera- tion; % the promoter agrees to buy back merchandise at higher prices than the retail selling price; @ there is no mention in the ad- vertisement of total costs involved; @a share of the market and a demand for your work is ‘“‘guar- anteed’’; @ and, as we said above, if enormous earnings are offered. If you have any doubts about an offer made to you, contact the BBS and inquire about it before you signup. . . Better Business Bureaus are hon-profit organizations operating throughout. Canada, who offer information on fair business prac- tices to both business people and the general public. Consumers can contact 2 BBB office on matters such as the purchase of a used car, registra- tion for correspondence courses, ‘or any business deal with a com- pany that they are not familiar with. The BBB can provide a factual report based on informa- tion in their files. They will tell you if there have “been complaints: against a com- pany and if so, how _they have been handled. To contact the BBB call 682- 2711 Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Outside of the ‘ Lower Mainland, you can call toll-free at 1-800-663-0364. Callers are reminded: that both phone lines are’ extremely busy, so : be prepared to keep dialing. . This column is prepared with financial ‘assistance. from’ the Notary Foundation.. For more. in- formation call NSCS at 985-7138: Professional Series Nikon's newest SLR provides the latest technical features -and 7 easy fo use program modes for complete versatility. Superior new autofocus module. @ Wide area or spot autofocus. © Advonced 3D matrix metering, @ 3D multisensor 5 segment TTL flash. @ 3.6 frames per second with focus tracking. © Flash sync. to 1/4000 Sec. with the new $B25 toto flash. - Body oniy 7 06888 ‘BONUS OFFER....For the duration of this ad, any Nikon’ SLR purchase will receive an additional | 2 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. “Prices effective thru | Sunday, Oct. 10th, 1993, while quantities last Visit our Park Royal and North Vancouver stores to see one of the. largest selections of Nikon autofocus lenses on the North shore. Our Neighbourhoods The District of North Varicouver Council and many a residents have expressed a desire for improved dialogue on ° municipal policies and plans and greater involvement i in decision making at the neighbourhood level. .. The time is right for community disctission and this is your ae invitation to participate in creating a neighbourhood vision. ‘And, here’s how. - Neighbourhood Forums We're coming to your neighbourhood to hear from you about your neighbourhood, . Join the workshop i in your area to discuss neighbourhood "planning and design, organization and alternatives, and how neighbourhoods communicate with each other. and with the municipality and other agencies. How can we work better together? At 7 p.m. on: - - October: 5~ North Lonsdale area, Atrium District Hall October 6 ~ at Lynn Valley recCentre October 7 - at Ron Andrews recCentre | October 13 — at Handsworth School October 14 ~ at Seycove School Kitchen Table Discussion Guides. What makes your neighboitrhood work? Bring the discussion right into your home, on your time, with your neighbours. Pick ‘up a Kitchen Table Discussion Guide at recCentres . and libraries and go for it. : Sign up or find out more For more information on the District of North Vancouver Neighbourhood Initiative, call 987-7131. @ sti 6 , ghte f, L ition oe yee preva inttion tpg.