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September 16, 198/
F
ayjc? 6, , Portland
r u i u a iiu v Observer,
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Consumer Credit GroupWarns
Cash/Credit Dangers Facing Travelers Advises: Don’t Leave Without Guidelines
The millions of Americans who won't leave home without at least one
credit card when traveling on summer vacations this year could lose money
on international exchange rates, become victims of credit theft, or fall be­
hind on credit card payments, according to Bancard Holders of America
(BHA), a national consumer group. To protect summer travelers, BHA has
developed a set of guidelines to help cardholders use their plastic more
wisely.
BHA's Director Elgie Holstein says the guidelines-published in a pam­
phlet the group released today —are needed because "most Americans
either don't know how to take full advantage of the many uses of their
cards or use them unwisely during the summer travel months.
Holstein
said consumers using the pamphlet can protect themselves from unneces
sary complications and expenses they may otherwise incur on their travels.
BHA is the only national consumer group dedicated exclusively to pro­
tecting the rights of the nation's seventy-five million credit card holders.
BHA's "Travel With Your Credit Card" pamphlet (available for $1.00
from BHA for postage and handling) contains a simple, eight-item "Pre-
Departure Checklist" to help travelers optimize credit use and avoid credit
problems during summer trips. The BHA guidelines include.
• Never sign a blank receipt of charges. Hotels often require blank re­
ceipts upon check-in. Be sure to either destroy or use that receipt when
checking out.
• Avoid credit holds by finding out which hotels place a hold on your
credit line and for how much. This block on your account can last for two
weeks, even after you have paid the bill.
• Check your card issuer's cash advance policy and Automatic Teller
Machine privileges in the countries you will be visiting. These policies and
privileges vary from one card issuer to another and from country to country.
• Remember your credit card is protected by the issuer. You are only
responsible for $50.00 charged on a stolen card no matter how large the
bill rung up by a thief.
• Compare your bill with your receipt after you return. Your card bill
may vary from the amount on your charge receipt, because the exchange
rate for converting foreign currency to U S. dollars on the day your charge
is processed may differ from the exchange rate on the day you made your
purchase. But if you notice a major discrepancy, check the bill with your
bank.
• Carry a copy of the numbers on your credit cards and the telephone
numbers of your credit card issuers so you can quickly report a lost or stolen
card while traveling. Keep these reference numbers in a safe place, sepa­
rate from your wallet.
• Treat your card as you would cash. Carry your credit cards in a safe
place so they won't be misplaced or misused.
• Prevent late payments on your credit card by getting a friend to mail in
your pre-prepared payment while you are out of the country: late payment
could damage your credit rating, and sending in a larger, earlier payment
may not eliminate your obligation to pay a minimum amount on the bill due
while you're away.
• Purchase your airline ticket by credit card rather than using cash or
personal check. This will make it easier to obtain replacement tickets (and
to obtain a credit for your loss) in case of loss or theft.
Consumers planning summer travel can order the new pamphlet for $1.00
to cover postage and handling by writing BHA at 333 Pennsylvania Avenue
S.E., Washington, DC 20003.
BHA also provides consumers with lists of banks that offer low-interest
credit cards and those with no annual fee. These lists can be obtained for
W »'
$1.50 each by writing BHA at the above address.
Learn to Care About Your H e a lth c a re
Andrea L. Facine was am ong the 609 applicants fo r -« 'e« 9 h t®r Pos‘t
tio ns in the Portland Fire Bureau w h o w ere tested Friday*att M at
on medical bills and make the right choices without jeopardizing quality
When a timely decision makes a difference in your health, don t be
afraid to question whether you're getting what you need and what you're
paying for. How can you be certain that the treatment you or a family
member has been prescribed will be covered by your current health care
plan?
A new public education program being launched nationwide over the
next three months by the Washington, D.C.-based Federation of Nurses
and Health Professionals (FNHP) is aimed at helping you understand your
rights, choices and responsibilities when faced with important health care
decisions.
"Learn to Care —A Consumer's Guide to Health Care offers free
materials on how to select the proper health care options to best suit your
individual family needs.
Three, 30-second full color public service advertisements encourage
consumers to write for free informational booklets.
• Patients' Rights —provides insight on how to identify, understand
and obtain the respectful and considerate health care that every patient
deserves.
• Health Care C hecklist —offers information to help in choosing
a health care plan in terms of costs, coverage, convenience, obligations,
deductibles and flexibility.
• Health Care Costs —explains ways to help individuals keep the lid
l" As health care oecomes increasingly complex and costly, consumers
need to be well informed to make the best possible decisions,
Dishman Center.
said FNHP
A pp ro xim a te ly 29 B
The George Carter/Piedmonl Loaves & Fishes Center is in need of
volunteers to drive , hou. of a n, day, Monday through Fnday. b ^ n r n m , a
11 a m. to deliver Meals-on Wheels for elderly homebound. Please call
285-5348 (between 9 a.m. and 2 p m .).
Auto Repair
4134 N.E. Killingsworth . Portland, OR 97211
2 8 1 -4 8 5 7
AFL-CIO.
,
. ~ „
Free copies of the booklets are available by writing to: Learn to Care,
FNHP/AFT, P.O. Box 1930, W ashington. DC 20013.
R
epair
ebuild
eplace
Licensed Shop
Road Service
Let's Get Winter-Right!!!
September
Events
Power can help you weatherize your home to save energy
and money this winter. In addition. Pacific
offers low-interest weatherization
financing for qualified home-
owners with electric
heating.
Call Pacific Power
at 282-4323 for
weatherization tips
that will
help you
»' a ’
get the
« *» ’
±
most out
of your
energy
dollar.
Welding
John’s Place
tive liturature.
FNHP represents a variety of health care workers across the country
and is a division of the 660,000-member American Federation of Teachers/
Now is the time to get serious about saving energy.
Don't let “old man winter” catch you unprepared. Pacific
^
Help! Help! Help!
ask to be informed and make intelligent choices.
"It's not a matter of challenging a professional's authority. It s taking
the opportunity to discuss and understand the consequences of important
health care decisions-decisions that affect you and your family.
"W e believe that patients deserve quality health care and that educa­
tion is a good way to insure that. No one can afford to take health care for
granted It's your decision and it's your money. More important, your
health depends upon it, " he added.
FNHP is using the three television spots along with three radio com­
mercials and a newspaper advertisement to alert consumers to this informa­
O ut In The C old
m
males to o k the test.
President Albert Shanker.
"Our members have very close contact with patients, and we are con­
cerned to see that people are not asking the kinds of questions they need to
K eep O ld Man W inter
W here H e B e lo n g s . .
^
Multnomah County Library
Films: Saturday, September 26,
2 p.m.
Call branch for titles.
Saturday, September 19, 2:30pm
ORIGAMI FOR BEGINNERS. Sarah
Kirchfeld instructs school-age chil­
dren in the Japanese art of paper
folding.
Wednesday,
September
23,
3:30 p.m.
THE THREE BILLY
GOATS GRUFF. Show by the New
Rag Bag Theater.
Saturday, September 26. AFRI­
CAN
AND
AFRO-AMERICAN
STORYTELLING
TRADITIONS.
Afternoon-long event.
Program
features Spencer Shaw, nationally
acclaimed storyteller.
Cooling System Flush & F ill* ................................ $21.95
*up to 2-gal. anti-freeze
Lube —Oil* & Filter C h a n g e ................................. $12.95
*up to 5-qts. oil
Open 7 Days For Your Convenience
L
Back to School
Specials
North Portland Branch, 512 N.
Killingsworth, 221-7702.
,i
GROCERIES BELOW
WHOLESALE
NAME BRANDS
Call 249-1940
CANNED
DELI
FROZEN, ETC
Hollyw ood D istrict
2 0 1 4 ME 42nd
Portland. OR
FREE FREE
FOOD STAMPS
WELCOME
M rin it ure
w ith
Pedicure
$25.00
THE BEE COMPANY
Reg $37 00
Exp 9 /3 0 /8 7
Groceries Below Wholesale
Perms & Curls
8 0 0 N Killingsworth
on Tues. & Wed. only
Ask for Barbara
15 min. of
Massage Therapy
with
1 hr Massage
|
1
I
1
$25.00
Req $30 00
Exp 9 /3 0 /8 7
J
|
I
Cellaphane
Colors
Serving Portland for
Over 3 0 Years
283-3171
OPEN
P A C IF IC P O W E R
Mon.-Sat. 9:30-6
Addin# quality lo your life.
VISIT OUR DELI
I
II
$45.00
Reg $60 00
Exp 9 /3 0 /8 7
$15.00
Reg $35 00
Exp 9 /3 0 /8 7
I
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