The Consumers' Council would like to announce the beginning of regular office hours in the Council on Aging offices on the third floor of the Senior Center at 806 Massachusetts Avenue. A Consumers' Council staff person will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on the first and third Wednesday of each month beginning May 15. It is recommended that you call the Council on Aging at 349-6220 to schedule an appointment with a consumer staff person.

Several short consumer education videos are available for viewing at the Senior Center. Most of them contain advice and information to protect seniors from scams such as charitable giving scams, telemarketing fraud, investment scams, or door to door and home improvement rip-offs. An information video about mutual fund investments and a locally produced video about you consumer rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act are also available for viewing.

In recognition of Older Americans' Month, the Consumers' Council will conduct a public workshop on "Your Rights as a Retail Shopper." The workshop will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Thursday May 9. Do you know if you can return an item for cash or only a store credit? Do you have to wait for a new item to be repaired under its warranty if it was defective when you bought it? How much information must you give a store when you are paying with a credit card or with a personal check? What about rainchecks, false advertising, lack of price tags on goods, etc? These are the questions we hope to address in the workshop. Please bring your own stories and questions to share.

The Cambridge Consumers' Council receives a grant from Somerville Cambridge Elder Services, under Title III-B of the Older American's Act, to target its services to Cambridge seniors. The Council is pleased to be located across the street from the Cambridge Senior Center so it can maximize its efforts on behalf of Cambridge seniors. If you have any questions about our services call 349-6150. A pamphlet called Consumer's Guide To Shopping Rights can be mailed to you upon request, or a copy picked up at the Senior Center.

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