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ips for consumersSetfer Business Bureau 854-8467

Planning For The Inevitable

Making advanced preparations for a funeral can be a painful, emotional experience. But, it is sensible and prudent as well. By making arrangements ahead of time, money can be saved and others spared the pain of making hasty purchase decisions in a time of crisis. Under such stress, consumers frequently don’t know what they are buying and rarely compare prices. , It is important to look upon funerals as any other consumer service. Prices of funerals vary and there are options available in the arrangements. Choosing among them carefully allows the peace of mind of knowing one’s wishes will be carried out and avoids unnecessary expense. THERE ARE THREE basic options for the disposition of the body. They are: Burial — This most common choice entails the widest range of possible expense. Cost will .vary depending upon the selection of casket, cemetery charges and o^her funeral expenses. Cremation — This has become an increasingly popular, simple and dignified alternative, usually less expensive than burial. Ashes may be scattered, stored in an urn or buried, with disposition handled by the crematory or next-of-kin. Bequeathal — Willing the body to a medical school can be an important service to humanity and the least expensive option. An alternative arrangement is New FM Radio Station Proposed For Court House

COURT HOUSE - A Delaware-based corporation has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission for a permit to construct a new FM broadcast station serving this area. According to the application of Canruss Inc., the transmitter for the proposed station would be about 3 miles north west of here near the intersection of the Dennisville Rd. and Swainton-Goshen Rd. The main studio would be at an address here yet to be determined. Stockholders in Canruss are Candida Diaz de McBride and Russell W. McBride, both of Wilmington. Other directors, none of whom are stockholders, include Frederick Altergott, John Hawkins, James Otto and Francesca McBride, all of Wilmington, and David Landis of jtethesda, Md.

needed, though, in case the circumstances at death make bequeathal impossible. REGARDLESS JDF the disposition choice, a memorial service is still possible and appropriate. Funeral directors have pointed out that such ceremonies help the survivors to reach an emotional acceptance of the death. When choosing among these options, consider these tips: •As with any consumer service, ask friends or neighbors to recommend a funeral director. Did the arrangements meet expectations? Was the bill in line with the original estimate? If in doubt about the reliability of a funeral director, contact the Better Business Bureau for \a report. •Call on several funeral directors and find out what they offer Be as specific as possible about the type of arrangements desired, whether simple, elaborate or somewhere in between. •Ask for an itemized price list of the services and merchandise you want. If a funeral home only offers ‘‘complete funerals,” ask for an itemized list of what is included. •Misunderstandings can be avoided if the purchaser is accompanied by a friend or relative when making funeral arrangements. An advisor who will ask questions and clarify details can lend support in getting only what is desired. •Ask about prices before disclosing the amount of insurance or death benefits due to the deceased’s family. -Don't let these benefits influence the funeral director’s prices. FOR ASSISTANCE in pre-planning a funeral, you may want to consider joining a nonprofit, nonsectarian memorial society. This is a voluntary group of consumers who have joined together to make advance arrangements for simple, dignified funerals. These societies are located in more than 170 cities in the United States and Canada including Cape May County After making funeral plans, take steps to assure they are carried out. Write down the funeral arrangements and include copies of any pre-payment contracts and information needed for next-of-kin to file for death benefits. Send a copy to the family attorney and the person who will be responsible for carrying out the arrangements. DON’T PUT funeral instructions in a will or a safe deposit box. A will is usually read after burial and a safe deposit box may be sealed until the probate process begins. Discussing and planning for a funeral may be an awkward or uncomfortable task, but it is essential to avoid uncertainty, disagreement and needless expense The Better BuatneBB Bureau of South Jersey is located in Colllngswood.

Flowery Giveaway STONE HARBOR - Beautiful spring flowers will again adorn the offices of Sturdy Savings and Loan Association during Easter week. And once again the flowers will be given away “It is our pleasure each year to give away the flowers,” John Armour, Sturdy President, said, * because we know they will make people happy. So many find their way into the homes of the elderly, hospitals and convalescent centers.’’ Beginning Monday, the hyacinths, tulips, daffodils, azaleas, lilies and other flowers were on display at Sturdy offices in Stone Harbor, Avalon, Denisville, and the. new Lower Township office in Breakwater Plaza. Coupons will be available to fill out for the Thursday drawing. Winners are notified by telephone.

Tenants’ Rebate Queried

The Tax Reform Program of 1976 established various state tax policies aimed at reducing reliance of the property tax in the overall state-local tax system. The Tenants' Property Tax Rebate Act was one of the elements designed to insure that renters would share some of the resulting property tax reductions, reports the New Jersey Taxpayers Association. The tenants' property tax rebate law became effective on August 17,1976. It required the owner of qualified real rental property to provide a property tax rebate or credit as a fixed percentage of rent for each year in which that owner received a property Uf? reduction. THE REBATE IS calculated by comparing the base year property taxes on a multi-unit rental property with current

year's taxes. The base year is 1976, or the first year thereafter that the property is i^pnted or leased. If the current year's taxes are lower than\the base year, 65 percent of such reduction must'be shared by the landlord with the tenants proportionately according to each one's rental payment. Municipal tax collectors have responsibility to notify each owner of qualified rental properties of the amount, where applicable, that owners are required to rebate or credit to their tenants. The program is probably the least understood by the state’s residents of any of the numerous laws which made up of the reform package. The New Jersey Division of Local Government Services responds to over 75 inquiries a month about the rebate process from local officials, from

tenants wanting to know if they are entitled to a rebate, and from landlords checking to find out if they are in compliance with the law.

THERE IS CURRENTLY no pimple way of determining how many tenants, ‘in what municipalities, in what years, received rebates, and the amount of such rebates. The law makes- no provisions for a statewide reporting system, therefore it is difficult to obtarri data to evaluate the program. The Report of the Legislature's Joint ;Tax Policy Committee in 1979, which reviewed the 1976 Tax Reform Program. contained a comment that the Tenant Rebate program "has not had much success and that other approaches may provide tenants with more direct benefits."

Your NEW Electric Bill Tells You More.

We’ve redesigned your entire bill to make it easier to understand, to more clearly explain your charges, and to put all the information you need right at your fingertips.

• Easier to Read

• No More Codes or

Technical Terms

* Consumer Rights and Special Services Listed • Average Daily Use Shown

• Clearer Information for Budget Customers

O Your Account

Number:

©Phone Numbers: For Customer Service, call (he business office phone number weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To report trouble with your service, call the emergency phone number any time,

day or night.

© NEW-Balance and Payments:

The amounts of your previous balance, payments, and remaining balance, if any. This sample is for a customer using the Budget Payment Plan. Q Meter Readings: Meter readings obtained on the dates shown. If we could not read your meter, the word •'cstimbted" will

appear.

Number of Days and Klowatt-

Hours Billed:

O NEWItemized Biffing: —Service Charge: This portion of your residential rate has always been in your bill and is being itemized for the first time. The Service Charge helps

USID )0 BAYS —Q—USO

SPECIAL MESSAGES

pay for the basic costs of serving you, regardless of your usage. —Chdrge for KilowattHours Used — t.evelized Energy Adjustment Charge — This Month's Bill NEW FORMAT Budget Information: Customers on the Budget Plan will find a breakdown of this morfth's energy cost, their previous balance, and their present balance for the current budget year (?) Special Messages: . This' section will carry special messages when necessary. It will also be used to notify you if your account is overdue anJ your scr vice Is fa danger of heing mispended You'll find information here and on the back of the bill on how you can present suspension of your glectric service. © NEW Average Daily Energy Use: ThH shows your ascrage daily kilowatt-hour use for this billing period. Tax Oita: We've relocated this information for your reference.

NEW ... On the Back of Your B»: We've added consumer rights and service information to the back of the bill. You'll find instructions for preventing suspension of your service, how to formally dispute a bHI, and your right to counsel and assistance. Also listed are reminders about special customer services, such as assistance to customers with electrically-powered life sustaining equipment.

*

Atlantic Electric

SERVING A MILLION PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY

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