The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, October 29, 1982, Page Page 9, Image 9
Friday, October 29, 1982 Daily Nebraskan Page 9 Consumer woes need fast action By Eric Peterson This is the final story in the Daily Nebraskan's series on student legal problems. Solving a consumer complaint may be no more compli cated than lenowing the right agency or person to go to, according to Shelley Stall, attorney and director of the ASUN Student Legal Services, Nebraska Union 237. She noted that around 16 percent of the cases her office works with are consumer problems. Stall says that objections to a sales contract are fre quent cases, particularly cases of product dissatisfaction when consumers want their money back. She has seen similar cases and complaints against particular companies brought to her office repeatedly. "We tend to get the same names again and again." Service or repair contract violations and inadequacies are often similar to product problems, she said. "Again, there are certain places, which don't have a good reputation," she said. One major source of help for all these complaints is the business arbitration or watchdog boards, she said. She noted the Better Business Bureau is the most well known group. Groups like the Better Business Bureau can warn you if you're buying something from a quest ionable company. "If you're going to be entering a contract where you're going to be spending a lot of money or time, check out the reputation of the company" Stall stressed. "The Better Business Bureau can tell you if a specific company oeuer dushigss uuicau wan icu yuu u a specmc company tul. Senators expenses repaid if voters pass amendment h&s a record of consumer problems." The best advice Stall has for consumers is to take action immediately. "If you're dissatisfied with a problem or service, don't wait." Consulting an attorney also should be done early. "The earlier we're involved, the more help we can be," she said. Government agencies can help with your consumer complaint, Stall said. Sometimes there is a single agency to deal with a certain kind of complaint. The Nebraska Department of Labor, for example, will deal with employ ment agencies that refuse to return unearned fees. And there is a state Department of Insurance that will work on insurance complaints, Stall said. "The real trick about government is to find your way through the bureaucracy to the people who can help you," she said. This may involve some waiting, Stall said. "It does take a lot of time, but then filing a lawsuit takes a lot of time." Stall said her office offers free help to UNL students in return for their Fund A student fee. The county attorney's office and the state attorney general's office also are available to advise students legally and steer them to further help. Stall said working with government offices has been surprisingly effective for her. "People complain a lot about how big the bureau cracy is, but really I find a lot of the offices very help ful." Shorts A movie presenting women in different areas of science, titled "Science: Women's Work" will be shown today at 1:45 p.m. in Brace Lab 211. The Non-Traditional Students Association will have its weekly meeting today from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Nebraska Union. The room number will be posted. jjs )c )c The International Folk Dancers will be teaching folk dancing today at 7:30 p.m. in Mabel Lee Hall 119. S? m Ann rrvrvTA aa s LDAl LL UL LKvLVLyVu J dance tc Ike music j WEDNESDAY Arthur Murray Dance Lessons Nov. 3 - Dec. 8 Call 475-4030 for more information 6600 West "O" dress codeno jeans Public Dancing Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday By Jim Anderson Proposed constitutional amendment number four on the Nov. 2 ballot would provide that Nebraska's state senators be reimbursed for expenses incurred during the performance of their legislative duties. Currently, as required by Article III, Section 7 of the Nebraska Constitution, state senators are reimbursed only for one round trip between their homes and the capital during legislative sessions. Between legislative sessions, however, senators are reimbursed for all regular expenses, includ ing travel, lodging and meals incurred in performing legislative duties while the Legislature is not in session. Assistant Clerk of the Legislature Rich ard Brown said that if voters approve the proposed amendment, the amount of money needed to fund expected reimburse ment requests would not be great enough to require any increases in state taxes. He said the funds, coming from state sales and income taxes, would be available through a change in allocations in the legislative budget. The new amendment would not affect legislators' current salaries. Sen. William Nichol of Scottsbluff, a supporter of the proposed amendment, said a change is needed in the present system of reimbursement, which he believes is inconsistent. "As it stands now," Nichol said, "we (state senators) do get expenses paid when the Legislature isn't in session, but only a round trip from home and back is paid for when it is. It should be all or nothing in my opinion." Nichol said the Legislature would be given control over the expenses of its members should the proposed amendment be added to the constitution. He said the amount would not be very great. "It would be peanuts as far as the state budget goes," he said. He estimated that the amount of requests for reimbursements on the part of senators would be around $100,000 the first year. In a prepared statement read by his ad ministrative aide, Sen. Loran Schmit of Bellwood, who opposes the amendment, said that if proper guidelines were included it could be one of the most fair methods of handling legislators' expenses. Schmit said, however, that there is such a wide diversity in the activities of senators that most would not report all of their ex penses for fear of being "crucified by the press." In a related story, Legislative Bill 206, passed into law March 16, 1981, over Gov. Charles Thone's veto, is presently the subject of a suit in Lancaster County District Court. LB 206, introduced by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, provides that each state senator be allowed "necessary ex penses incurred while performing in the official capacity as a member of the Legis lature." The bill was passed by senators and not approved by voters. As a result, there is some doubt as to its constitutional ity. Should proposed amendment four be approved by Nebraska voters, there is no real yes or no answer as to whether the case concerning LB 206 would become ir relevant. The law would provide reimburse ments for legislative sessions prior to the upcoming sessions that would be affected by the passage of this amendment. 148 N. 48th 464-7777 Just North of Alpha Fitness FROSTING SPECIAL 1500 FROST ONLY "BO00 FROST & CUT PERM SPECIAL SPECIALS GOOD NOW THRU NOV. 20th DO YOU KNOW HOW YOUR SENATOR VOTES??? Senator Zorlnsky voted against an Increase in funding for BEOG and SEOG grants. These additional funds would have provided grants for 300,000 students. NOV. 2 - VOTE FOR AN EDUCATOR WHO IS COmmiTTED TO EDUCATIONAL FUNDING VIRGINIA WALSH FOR U.S. SENATE Paid for by Walsh for Senate 1 1535 "R" St. 7:30-11 p.m. Donations: $2 - Adults Oct. 28-30 $1 - Kids Thursday-Friday-Saturday All Proceeds to MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 4.1 ' .-S' AS-' . 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