The 10th Annual ElderFair Health and Wellness Expo for seniors and caregivers will be held on Tuesday, April 21st, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Healey School, 5 Meacham Street , Somerville , MA. The event will feature an exciting array of activities including health screenings, blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, and physical activity demonstrations. Meet special guest Senator Pat Jehlen and Boston radio personality and Somerville Cable TV host Jimmy Del Ponte will serve as master of ceremonies for the event.
Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services holds ElderFair each year in honor of Older Americans. The daylong event features a free lunch, entertainment, door prizes from local businesses, and a raffle to benefit Meals-On-Wheels.
To reserve a lunch, call SCES at 617-628-2601 extension 618, and leave your name (please spell it), address, phone number and a choice of sandwich: Lobster Salad, Turkey or Vegetarian. Limited transportation is available. Let us know if you need a ride. Deadline to call is April 10th.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Friday, December 5, 2008
Tips From The Consumer Rights Unit
Be A Smart Consumer This Holiday Season
Avoid Seasonal Solicitations - Beware of those attractive low introductory rates you receive before the holidays. The fine print in credit card contracts is filled with traps to catch the unwary. An introductory 0% interest rate can quickly leap to over 20% with just one slightly late payment. If you are going to use a credit card, shop around for one with a long-term low interest rate (APR), and read on to find out what you're in for.
Don't Let Your Guard Down - Once you choose a card, your credit card company can still change the rules if it wants to – including the interest rate. Read your mail - a nondescript mailing may include a change in terms relating to your interest rates, fees or due dates. The company can even change your interest rate on debt you've already accumulated.
Rent-to-Own = Concealed Costs
Deceptive Deals - Rent-to-own contracts for appliance and other major purchases are deceptive and costly. You could pay two and one-half times more for a product by renting it than you would if you simply bought it at a retail store. In fact, the rent-to own outlets don't even tell you how much of your monthly payment is interest - so beware.
Don't Miss a Payment - If you do miss a payment to the rent-to-own store, the item is likely to be repossessed, leaving you with nothing for the payments you have made up to that point.
The Comeback of Layaway Plans
Paying Patiently - Layaway plans are a good way to give your credit card a rest. The good news is that stores usually do not charge interest or large fees for this service.
Know the Details - Before making a purchase on the layaway plan, find out what the layaway fees are and what happens if you miss or are late with a payment. Do you lose all of your past payments if you miss one? Is there a cancellation fee if you change your mind?
Debit Cards - The Pros and Cons
It's Your Money - With a debit card, you are spending money in your own bank account, unlike a credit card where you are borrowing money that you have to pay back later, along with interest and fees.
There's Less Protection - You have much less protection if a debit card is lost or stolen. Also, with a credit card, you have protections if you get in a dispute with a merchant.
Abusive Overdraft Fees - If you use a debit card to make purchases, make sure you don't spend more than you have in your account. Your purchases may be approved, but the bank can hit you with an overdraft fee of as much as $39 for EACH over-limit purchase, no matter how small. Many banks will automatically enroll you in an overdraft "protection" program where they'll approve your purchases at a store -- or a withdrawal at an ATM -- and then sock you with a hefty fee each time you make a purchase.
Sources: Americans For Fairness In Lending (AFFIL) , Greater Boston Legal Services
Avoid Seasonal Solicitations - Beware of those attractive low introductory rates you receive before the holidays. The fine print in credit card contracts is filled with traps to catch the unwary. An introductory 0% interest rate can quickly leap to over 20% with just one slightly late payment. If you are going to use a credit card, shop around for one with a long-term low interest rate (APR), and read on to find out what you're in for.
Don't Let Your Guard Down - Once you choose a card, your credit card company can still change the rules if it wants to – including the interest rate. Read your mail - a nondescript mailing may include a change in terms relating to your interest rates, fees or due dates. The company can even change your interest rate on debt you've already accumulated.
Rent-to-Own = Concealed Costs
Deceptive Deals - Rent-to-own contracts for appliance and other major purchases are deceptive and costly. You could pay two and one-half times more for a product by renting it than you would if you simply bought it at a retail store. In fact, the rent-to own outlets don't even tell you how much of your monthly payment is interest - so beware.
Don't Miss a Payment - If you do miss a payment to the rent-to-own store, the item is likely to be repossessed, leaving you with nothing for the payments you have made up to that point.
The Comeback of Layaway Plans
Paying Patiently - Layaway plans are a good way to give your credit card a rest. The good news is that stores usually do not charge interest or large fees for this service.
Know the Details - Before making a purchase on the layaway plan, find out what the layaway fees are and what happens if you miss or are late with a payment. Do you lose all of your past payments if you miss one? Is there a cancellation fee if you change your mind?
Debit Cards - The Pros and Cons
It's Your Money - With a debit card, you are spending money in your own bank account, unlike a credit card where you are borrowing money that you have to pay back later, along with interest and fees.
There's Less Protection - You have much less protection if a debit card is lost or stolen. Also, with a credit card, you have protections if you get in a dispute with a merchant.
Abusive Overdraft Fees - If you use a debit card to make purchases, make sure you don't spend more than you have in your account. Your purchases may be approved, but the bank can hit you with an overdraft fee of as much as $39 for EACH over-limit purchase, no matter how small. Many banks will automatically enroll you in an overdraft "protection" program where they'll approve your purchases at a store -- or a withdrawal at an ATM -- and then sock you with a hefty fee each time you make a purchase.
Sources: Americans For Fairness In Lending (AFFIL) , Greater Boston Legal Services
Friday, November 21, 2008
Change in Income Limits for Fuel Assistance
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), commonly called “Fuel Assistance” has announced a change to its guidelines. The income limit for fuel assistance was just raised to 60% of state median income, or $27,876 for one person and $36,454 for a couple. This means that to be eligible for fuel assistance, your household's gross income must be less than or equal to 60% of the estimated state median income for your household size. To find out if you qualify, you can take the Eligibility Check.
You should be aware that the new fuel assistance brochures which you might have received from SCES or another resource have the outdated figures in them because they were printed before the new guidelines were established.
The standards are higher than in the recent brochure.
For more detailed information (in English, Spanish and Portuguese), please visit: http://www.massresources.org/ or call 1-800-632-8175.
You should be aware that the new fuel assistance brochures which you might have received from SCES or another resource have the outdated figures in them because they were printed before the new guidelines were established.
The standards are higher than in the recent brochure.
For more detailed information (in English, Spanish and Portuguese), please visit: http://www.massresources.org/ or call 1-800-632-8175.
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