14 - Sunday, March 4, 1990 - North Shore News

Heip’s at hand

HELP’S AT Hand, a weekly
feature by the North Shore Infor-
mation and Volunteer Centre, an-
swers questions about and
discusses such topics as govern-
ment policies and programs,
benefits, consumer and _ legal
tights, taxation and public ser-
vices.
gat

Question: My husband co-signed a

bright new things

fo color your

home, at pre-
season savings! _.--

foan with his brother over seven
years ago when we were still living
in Ontario. Shortly after that we
moved to Vancouver and my hus-
band started a new job.

I know my husband has never
made any payments on the Joan
and I have reason to believe that
his brother never has either.

In the last month, however, a
collection agency has contacted my

hushand's employer and threat-
ened to garnishee his wages to pay
the loan, Can they do this?

Answer: The collection agency
cannot garnishee your husband's
wages without a court order. The
court order is usually obtained
through small claims court or the
provincial court of British Colum-
bia, so the collection agency would
have to sue your husband and ob-

tain a judgment before they can
garnishee his wages.

It is, however, sometimes possi-
ble to garnishee a bank account
before receiving a court order.

Your husband should seek legal
advice before discussing this mat-
ter with the collection company.
One of the issues he might want to
discuss with a lawyer is the statute
of limitations for collection of
debt.

The law says that a creditor
must take legal action within six
years of the time that the debt is
incurred or the last payment is
made or the fast time the debt was
acknowledged. This is why it is

important that your husband does
not discuss this matter with the
collection agency, as this could be
seen to be an acknowledgement of
the debt.

By calling the Lawyer Referral
Service, 687-3221, you will be put
in touch with a lawyer who will
give you a 30-minute consultation
for $10.

toe

The North Shore Information
and Volunteer Centre, a United
Way agency, is located at 1060
Roosevelt Cres., North Vancouver,
B.C. V7P iM3, telephone 985-
7138.

come in for the sheer pleasure of seeing

the exciting things we bought at the winter markets.
They're arriving here every day: the most exciting,
trend-setting home furnishings in the wortd. Bright
new colors. Deliciously fuxurious textures and fabrics.
Brilliant finishes. Exciting designs. Some echo the
past lovingly, others reflect the pacesetting brilliance
of European design, and everything is inspiring. One
fook and it'll have you looking at your home in a new
light. . :
And as a special treat, we're offering special prices
on some of our newest items, for two weeks only.

s Bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms — virtually
everything is on sale ... at reduced prices.

4240 Manor Street

(/2 block west of Villa Sherato Hotel)
HOURS:

Monday to Saturday—9 to 5 p.m.
Sunday—Noon to 5 p.m.

1080 Mainland Street
Vancouver, BC.

Main Floor

The Yale Town Galleria Bldg.
685-8414

THOMASVILLE GALLERY
435-5566