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Show High school graduates needed: The most promising entry-level job opportunities are as bookkeepers, electronics elec-tronics mechanics, keypunch operators, insurance agents, secretaries, or bank tellers, according to a Labor Department Job Service survey. OF JOBS requiring some post high school education, the greatest number of openings were for accountants, computer programmers, electronics engineers, nurses and guidance counselors. Lost electronic banking cards: You have two days to notify card issuers in writing after your card is lost or stolen, or your liability will increase from $50 to $500, the Federal Reserve Board has ruled. The notice is effective when received by the issuers, not when mailed. FREE CREDIT shopping guide: Just as the savvy car buyer checks out several dealers before buying, he should also check out competing lenders. To help with this process, the Federal Trade Commission has prepared a handy pocket guide with tips on borrowing and interest tables. The FTC suggests, for example, that you shop for loan rates by phone and then use the tables in the guide to compute total costs. To obtain your free credit guide, write the Public Reference Branch, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D.C., 20580. ANOTHER valuable resource for those who want to be certain they're being given a fair shake in credit considerations con-siderations is the Consumer Handbook to Credit Protection Protec-tion Laws. Write Publications Services, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., 20551. Single copy free. Korean War veterans' insurance: If you are one of the 300,000 veterans considering what to do about your Veteran Special Life Insurance Policy (VSLI), renew it. THOUGH THE face value is small, its cost is lower than comparable policies. In supplementing it with other policies (or insuring afresh), you may wish to order The Consumers Union Report on Life Insurance. This excellent publication can be ordered by sending $3 plus 50 cents postage and handling to Consumer Report Books, Orange, N.Y. 10962. A fund exempt from state and local taxes: For a minimum investment of $1,000 you can invest in Fidelity Government Securities Fund, which invests only In those government securities that are tax-exempt in all 50 states (though subject to federal income taxes) such as U.S. Treasury bills and bonds. There is no sales charge. For a prospectus, call 800-225-6190. SACCHARIN still available: Though evidence of carcinogenic car-cinogenic (cancer-causing) effects from Saccharine (at least in animals) continues to increase, the substance will continue to be available in diet sodas, other diet foods, and as a table top sweetener. It will be another 15-18 months before the FDA could take some regulatory action. In the meantime, Congress will consider possible changes in our food safety laws. RUNS FOR runners: To enrich your running program, consider entering some of the upcoming race events in Utah, such as the Midnight Moonlight Run in Sandy, June 8, the City Creek Road Race, June 23, or the challenging Deseret News Marathon, July 24. If out of, shape, the Half-marathon, Sept. 3, sponsored by Salt Lake County Recreation, could be a feasible goal. For more information on running events in Utah, call Kaye Nelson of the Beehive Track Club, 582-5227 or Richard Johnson of the Salt Lake Track Club, 968-7955. If you want to run out of state, The Runner's Guide to the USA is available in paperback at $6.95 from Summit Books (Simon & Schuster, N.Y.). Order through your local bookstore. DANGER-STORED Gas: With an uncertain gas future, many motorists are storing spare gas in their cars and homes. The explosive power of a gallon of gas under certain conditions can be enormous, warns the national Fire Prevention Association. Utah law limits gas stored in residential areas to five gallons, and some local ordinances require a metal container con-tainer with a one-gallon maximum. Such gas should be kept in the garage or carport, away from the living area. STORING GAS in a car (other than in the gas tank) is like riding with dynamite that can explode any time, warns the U.S. Transportation Department. An empty gas can may be a wise precaution, however. Low-fare flights to Europe: If you're considering a flight overseas and don't mind some inconvenience, and a little research, read 'Those Cheap Flights to Europe," Consumer Reports, May, p. 280 ff. Excellent advice. LAS VEGAS fun packages: The Utah State Department of Business Regulation warns consumers to be wary of vacation certificates (3 days, 2 nights) with gaming packages, including free slot machine play, free gaming on the tables, free meals, etc. These certificates are sold by mail, and the "subcontractors "subcon-tractors of subcontractors" are difficult to locate in the event of problems. While some are ligitimate, others should be carefully checked out. The Columbia Research Corp. is one which is still sending mailers from Illinois, although a cease and desist order was issued against them by the Utah Trade Commission. VACATION close to home: With a precarious gas situation si-tuation facing vacationers, the Utah Travel Council is encouraging Utahns to rediscover Utah, with its rich selection of state and national parks and recreation sites. Reservations are generally on a first-come, first-serve basis, though advance reservations should be made where possible. Contact the Utah Travel Council, National Park Service, Ser-vice, or other appropriate agencies for further information. informa-tion. CHARTER FLIGHTS: The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) adopted May 1 a rule to offer consumers greater protection when they buy a ticket on a charter flight. Charter participants can cancel or get a refund if : The city, departure or return date is altered (unless the change results merely from a permissible flight delay); a hotel, other than the one named in the contract, is used; the tour price increased ten percent or more, whether all at once or by several smaller increases. No increase will be allowed after the tenth day before departure. A CHARTER operator must notify the participant of any major change within seven days and in any event before departure. The participant then has seven days to cancel, and must get a full refund seven days after that. The rule also prohibits collection of money from prospective pros-pective travelers until they have signed operator-participant contracts. GASOLINE ripoffs: Service station operators in some parts of the country are taking advantage nf confusion over gas prices. To avoid being char 0,oristj' not pumped into your tank, make certain num ,or8i are cleared between sales. It's also helpful 8au tank capacity. v : m kn you. Station owners are required to post mai!m missible prices at each pump. If you suspect per-exceeding per-exceeding price limits, you can report itbv I a"" is Energy Department, toll-free at (800) 424-9244 lhe COMPARE - THEN repair: The recent Denary Transportation survey of 62 auto repair shoni lTWl" conclusion that 53 cents of every dollar sn, , 10 ll work is wasted on needless jobs. Cars were dtp aul and then taken to randomly-selected repair shops'16'1 It was found that independent repair shops hart ,1 highest rate of unnecessary repairs - over twice th for service stations. e rale WHILE SOME industry spokesmen argue over ,1 findings, some rules of thumb for avoiding urmeces repairs include getting more than one estimate andu repair firms with proven reputations of honestv ami 8 tisfactory service. a' Business ombudsman appointed- Reid Rnh presently a consultant in the Office of B,,, ' Development, has been appointed by Gov Maih ' ambudsman and answer man "to stren8ihnas capability to help business obtain faster solu,t" T government-related problems." s t0 SO IF YOU are a small businessman having difficult coping with regulations or locating the proper asenrl i? assistance, call Mr. Robison at the Office of IS Development. e!s Mileage figures for 1979 models: For 15,000 miles in new car this year, you can anticipate fuel costs of fisn! $2,312, depending on the car. INFORMATION on fuel economy performance for 1971 model cars and light trucks can be obtained free bv writing Consumer Information Center DeDt Siv Pueblo, Colo. 81009. P K' For further information on any of the items in Con sumer Update, contact the appropriate organization Do not call the newspaper. |
