European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 5, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes april 1985 consumer watch credit rating acs can help you with those debts by Mary Neth consumer editor when the Bills begin to come in fas Ter than they can be what should you do if you know you have above All dont take an Ostrich Point of those creditors Arent going to go away and a bad debt rating can affect a military in some times it can end first should be to seek army Community services acs consumer affairs offices Are the youll find them in every army these offices Are set up to give personal financial they can help you Deal with they can help you show your superiors that you Are working a responsible plan to end your debt they can direct you to needed Legal help if such is the air Force gives similar help through its family support Center personal financial management pro at a recent meeting of v corps consumer affairs officers headed by Paula Headquarters v ways to make the program More widely known were discussed and the consumer affairs officers exchanged local the army consumer affairs program is backed by an executive order and a department of defense increasing numbers of bad checks and loan As Well As other financially related difficulties which can even include child and spouse abuse have made the program of growing import the program itself is based on education trying to warn people about the dangers of debt before they Are in too it also includes helping people set up Bud gets and in figuring out How to liquidate debts they classes Are being held on a number of subjects banking and credit Union services these classes provide an overview of the services provided by Finan Cial budget development and record keeping included Are to plan for expenses based on income and need to plan for emergency expenses the importance of Good personal and financial records and methods of keeping these debt liquidation the responsibilities and Legal aspects of having gone into debt How to reduce debts and become financially solvent the consequences of bad credit ratings details of the soldiers and sailors Relief act ways to work with companies to reduce instalment pay Mcfatt credit card credit use and abuse of credit Flie right to obtain credit regardless of Tor National origin the pm credit system Cost of instalment buying Cost of and consumer rights and obligations of the military and family members under the consumer Protection Law to Access of reviewing can celing contracts and returning goods information about products and services How to improve the Way things Are Resolution of insurance classes on the different types of insurance Protection programs and their personal financial readiness the military pay pay entitlements and How to read leave and earnings statements Check Book management financial counselling resources and procedures soldiers financial responsibility to their family members and Peers financial planning for family separation financial planning for military moves andean overview of the army sure pay people who have had problems with their Check cashing privileges have been placed on the bad Check list will be Given special classes or the course will focus on Check Book management budgeting and managing personal for those who have gotten into financial acs offers a debt liquidation acs consumer advisors help clients figure out their assets and liabilities if get them into a debt liquidation they Are helped in developing a repayment plan and in contacting the creditors Are notified by mail that the clients Are enrolled in the program and Given a description of the the clients Are assisted until the debts Are cleared up or the Counselor is assured that the client is Able to manage other consume important areas also Are included in the acs for information is Given on comparison on returning defective Merchan Dise and on warranties and at the v corps Counselor exchanged experiences in working with one Counselor noted that she found explaining interest rates Fairlyn product she said that her clients More quickly understood when it was explained in a Lump sum increase in another Counselor said that despite constant warn Ings Given dealing with Doort door military families still Are buying from even with solicitation permits salesmen Are not Al Lowed to sell in military housing the permits Only allow them to sell when invited by a customer who an of these sales people sell at higher prices than would be found in downtown stores and charge inflated interest she a Book for child safety each year hundreds of thousands of children Are reported missing in the United states and around the some arc victims of custody while others run away or arc some Are found dead and cant be still others Are never and Many of their cases remain the problem of missing and exploited children has received a lot of attention since the missing children act was signed into Law in now the depart ment of Justice has developed the child safety program handbook to help citizen groups and Community organizations do something about the the Book includes safety rules to teach your children and for you to follow As it also gives guidelines to help you set up a child safety Day in your you can get your copy of it by sending 50 cents to the con Sumer information Here Are some things to teach your children for their safety a stranger is anyone they dont a bad stranger asks children to go with offers Candy or or asks them to take his they should say they do not have to obey strangers and should Tell you about strangers they you have to Send someone who is unfamiliar to pick your children up at set up a code word so they can recognize the otherwise they should never go with an adult who says he or she is supposed to pick them be sure your kids know that they should never Tell anyone Over the phone that they Are Home they should never answer the door when they Are Home alone and should Call the police if someone tries to get into the if you take the proper your children wont become lost or separated from it could and your children should know what to do in an make sure they know their full address including the City and and phone number including the area teach them How to reach the operator and How to Call Long there is a possibility that your children May become separated from you while shopping or in a crowded Tell them logo to the nearest clerk and ask for they should never go to the parking lot without take photographs of your children every it is also a Good idea to keep a copy of their dental this information will help the authorities in their search should your child Ever be apples at cafes a a fes Europe is now offering its customers Apple Home computers and accessories at five the Apple Ilc Holiday sys tem at and the Apple ii pro Are now available in Germany at Stuttgart and and in England at according to Richard merchandising Divi Sion director at Safe Europe the two Home computer units Are the most popular systems Avail Able from computer literate Apple versed in the firms will be at the five stores to assist Hamilton added that full warranty service on the computers will also be available at All sales Hamil ton said Safe Europe will continue to offer commo Dore Model c64 and Model plus four Home computers and accessories at the five locations As Well As at other selected retail