Monday, August 21, 2006

Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta Media Release Back-to-School a Good Time to Master your Marketplace ABCs Edmonton, AB., August 15, 2006 – As the school year begins, the Better Business Bureau encourages parents to join with their kids and boost their learning skills. An informed consumer is a happy consumer. With the start of the school year, the Better Business Bureau is encouraging adults to master their Marketplace ABCs to ensure satisfactory shopping experiences year-round, said Chris Lawrence, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta. The BBB’s Marketplace ABCs include the following tips: Ask for All Details Relevant to the Sale. This is particularly important when shopping online. Before agreeing to purchase a product or service, you should know the physical location and phone number of the merchant, read the refund and return policy, have in writing any warranty or guaranty details, be familiar with delivery/shipping costs and time schedules, feel comfortable that the merchant is reliable and not the subject of consumer complaints, and be able to trust that any information you submit to complete the sale transaction (credit card number, etc.) will be treated with the proper care. Be your Own Best Protector. Be leery of high pressure too good to be true sales claims. Say no if you do not believe you have received satisfactory answers to your questions. Legitimate businesses will not insist on immediate sales and are happy to provide you with the information you need to make a wise purchasing decision. Read before you sign anything to make sure you understand it, and to make sure it matches what the salesperson told you. Get every sales promise in writing. Carefully Check out Businesses and Deals before signing anything, before paying any money up front, and before releasing any personal or financial information (this includes your Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, credit card, banking account number and other personal data). The Better Business Bureau has reports on more than two million businesses and charities. To access the BBB’s database of business reports, go to www.edmontonbbb.org or contact our consumer consultants at (780) 482-2341 or toll free at 1-800-232-7298. When in doubt, always check it out. And, trust your gut instincts. If you have unanswered questions before the sale, you’re likely to end up with an unanswered complaint after the sale, Chris Lawrence said. Consumers who need assistance resolving disputes with businesses can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. If the complaint cannot be resolved through conciliation, the BBB can offer mediation and arbitration services. - 30 - For media inquiries please contact: Chris Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta Phone: (780) 488-6632 Ext. 243 Toll Free: 1 (800) 232-7298 Email: chris@edmontonbbb.org 12:20:28 PM

Better Business Bureau® of Central and Northern Alberta Media Release Better Business Bureau & Investor’s Group™ Lunch & Learn Seminars   To assist businesses with their financial planning, the Better Business Bureau® of Central and Northern Alberta, in conjunction with their member company, Investors Group™ will be offering a series of Lunch & Learn Seminars. For convenience, these seminars will be held at north (September 20 – Chateau Louis) and south (September 19 – Delta South) locations in Edmonton, as well as in Red Deer (September 21 – Red Deer Lodge) location.   The first in the series will be:   “COMPENSATION AND BUSINESS SUCESSION PLANNING”   Strategies and Topics to Include: Compensation & Tax Planning, Effective Use of Holding Companies, Buy - Sell Agreements, Principles of Integration of Taxes, How to Increase RRSP Limits, Business Succession Planning plus many other Tax-Effective Strategies for Business Owners.   The speaker, for all three seminars, will be Caroline Daviduk, the Senior Financial Advisor, Investors Group™   Better Business Bureau members can reserve a seat at this informative seminar for $25.00 (plus 6% GST) and the public are also welcome for $35.00 (plus GST), which includes lunch at 11:30 a.m. with the seminar starting at 12:00 p.m.   About The Speaker   Caroline Daviduk, B.A. Adv., PFP, CIM, CFP is the Senior Financial Advisor, Investors Group™.   With over 18 years in the financial service industry, and several qualifications including the prestigious Certified Financial Planning  Designation, Caroline has gained extensive experience and expertise in working with business owners to achieve financial success. Together with her team, Caroline specializes in tax and investment planning. She is a leading authority on providing customized strategies to business owners incorporating business, financial, insurance, and tax elements to provide a comprehensive approach. About The Better Business Bureau The Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta was founded in 1957 and is a non-profit membership association of business and professional firms.  We are a public service agency devoted to the vitality of the free enterprise system and the concerns of the consuming public.  We are NOT a government agency. Our Vision is…To develop, encourage and promote an ethical marketplace and our Mission is…To promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education and service excellence. For more information about The Better Business Bureau of Central and Northern Alberta, visit our website at www.edmontonbbb.org. 11:34:43 AM