Protect yourself from fraud in 2009

Fortified by the advice of many people locally, I look forward to the New Year - to facing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and to continuing to serve and represent our great area to the best of my ability.

As we embark on 2009 it’s important to be aware and educate ourselves about our rights and responsibilities in the marketplace. In these trying times, you can be sure there will be even more desperate criminals looking for new ways to scam. An alert consumer is a smart one.

The Consumer Protection Branch has again put together a dynamite calendar to help ensure you have a fraud-free 2009. Each month has tips and advice to help you protect your pocket-book. These calendars are popular, and fortunately since the calendars have been available, my office has received fewer calls from folks who feel they’ve been ripped off.

Christmas is over and I am sure many of you received a gift card from a loved one so that you can go to your favourite store and purchase something you really want. There’s no need to be in a hurry to spend that gift card as it cannot be terminated before you’ve used every last dollar. The exception is gift cards for specific goods and services like spa packages or lessons, which can have an expiry date or administrative fees.

If one of your resolutions is to shed those Christmas pounds, the calendar highlights the EatRight Ontario program. Get a jump on your health and nutrition by going to www.ontario.ca/EatRight.

When it comes to your wheels, even if you don’t know a lot about garages and repairs, a little advice will go a long way in ensuring you aren’t taken for a ride. It’s wise to ask people you know and trust to recommend a quality repair shop where the mechanic will show you his licence and never ask you to sign a blank work order. For major repairs, you should get three estimates from different shops – these estimates should be in writing and describe exactly which repairs are to be made, as well as the rates charged for the work.

Insuring your vehicle can be a tricky experience too if you’re dealing with the wrong people. Licensed insurance representatives don’t charge referral fees and they don’t ask you to transfer or wire money. To ensure you are dealing with a licensed insurance rep, visit www.fsco.gov.on.ca.

While the INTERAC network is among the safest payment networks in the world and millions of transactions are processed without incident every day, fraud can occur. Chip technology will soon be embedded into debit cards but that is expected to take a few years. Until then, be sure to shield your PIN with your hand or body during every transaction; check your banking statements on a regular basis and know where your card is at all times.

These are just the highlights – the calendar is chock full of many more helpful and interesting tidbits of information that will keep you protected and safe throughout 2009. If you’d like a calendar, please stop into my office in Simcoe or call and I will send on to you.

Here’s to a fraud-free 2009!

P.S. Join my family and I for my New Year’s levees -- January 4th in the basement of the Delhi Hungarian Hall, 1-3 p.m. January 11th in Caledonia at St. George Arms, 1-3 p.m.