PAGE 12,WEDNESDAY,'OCTOBER 7, 1981,WHITBY FREE PRESS hitby Free Press..... iving in Today's World ________________________________' b___________________ i.. d. .1 A .~ Most of us in Ontario find credit confusing as it is indispenable. For women in part}cular, the question of credit rights and credit worthiness is a difficult one; chargles of discrimination against women in credit granting are not at aU un- usual, and misconceptions about credit rights exist, not only among the credit-using public, but among credit grantors themselves. The fact is that under SIZES3- 15 4-16 CHARGEX MASTERCHARGE Ontario's equal credit op- portunity guidelines, every- one - regardless of sex or marital status - has the right to apply for credit and be judged by identical stan- dards. The guidelines were established by the ministry of consumer and commercial relations in cooperation with the credit-granting in- dustry. But no matter how good the intentions of creditors are, only women themselves can ensure that the guidelines are applied, by understanding their rights and responsibilities in the credit market. Know the facts In Ontario, a woman, whether married or un- married, has the right to ob- tain credit in her own name as long as lier credit qualifi- cations, including her earn- ings or separate property, would qualify a man in the same situation. Both alimony The Casual Life starts at Fashions 126 Classic sportswear for the warmth and ease of fall. 10% OFF ALL MERCHANDISE (OCT.7.17) P126, "To-morrow's Fashions To-day" 116 Brock St. S., Whitby 668-1266 and child support are consid- ered sources of income. Cre'dit agencies may not refuse to grant credit to a woman simply because she is newly separated, divorced or widowed. And if she obtains credit and then changes her marital status, that change alone does not justify a re- evaluation of her existing credit arrangements. The same standards should be applied to men and wom- en seeking mortgages and other credit facilities, regard- less of which spouse is the primary family supporter, or the sex of the person making the application. If a couple applies for credit, then the income of both partners should, if nec- essary, be considered. An agency can no longer say a wife's income "doesn't count", or ask questions about the couple's attitude towards family planning. A woman should be judged accordihg to her own credit history, which should not change simply because her husband's does. And agencies must observe the same standards in requiring credit data on the spouse, regardless of the sex of the applicant. Establish a good credit history Of course, credit is a privilege - not a right. Therefore, the guidelines do not mean that women who have never had the oppor- tunity to demonstrate finan- cial responsibility have an automatic right - to receive credit. Any woman - or man - must first prove to the bank, trust company, loan agency or other lending institution that he or she is CONSUMER BEAT Wonen Have Equal Right to Credit oeen denieu. Know now to complain If you are denied credit and really beheve that you have been discriminated against because of your sex or marital status, ask to see the senior credit officer of the agency involved. Be pre- pared to assert your claim and back it with facts. If your request for credit is still refused and you are not given a satisfactorv exnlanation_ contact the nearest Consum- er Services Bureau of the ministry of consumer and commercial relations. But first, get the full story. The ministry provides a booklet titled "Credit and You" through its Consumer Infor- mation Centre at 555 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2H6. Only when you know the facts can you take advantage of your full eco- nomic status in Ontario. a good credit risk. A person-s character, income and assets, work record, living accom- modations and reasons for borrowing may all be con- sidered. Because of that, you may wish to establish a credit history. You can do this in a number of ways. Apply for a charge account at a local department store or shop. If you drive, apply for a credit card from a gasoline com- -pany. Apply for your bank's package deal for personal banking services, or a general-purpose credit card. Join a credit union where you work or in your com- munity, or apply for a small loan from a finan'ial institu- tion where you ae known. Remember when you apply for credit that your chances of getting the best possible terms improve if you do some comparison shopping. Compare interest rates, services offered and other terms of credit before you make a final decision. Credit refusals Of course, your appli- cation for credit may be turned down for any num- ber of reasons. Lenders are not obligated to extend cred- it to anyone, and each agen- cy applies its own criteria for judging credit worthi- ness. The fact that you have been refused by6óne credit grantor does not mean an- other won't accept your ap- plication. But if your appli- cations are turned down, take a closer look at your situation. Are you really credit worthy? Do you have a financial problem? What other reasons might there have been for credit refusal? In order to improve your credit qualifications, it is im- portant that you find out why you've been refused credit. Lenders are legally re- quired to give you their rea- sons, but you must be sure to inquire within sixty days of receiving notification that your application has RAINBOW COL ORS for eyes and pastel peach, coral, pink and mauve tones for lips and cheeks are popular this season for their feeling of pure delicacy, the same mood evoked by soft fashions. New Focus on Eyes Makeup and fashion snow carry the message that a woman commands more attention with a whisper than a shout, says Kay Larke, special beauty con- sultant, Elizabeth Arden of Canada. Gone are yesterday's bold, bright colors. Delicate pastels for face and fashion create soft, romantic looks which herald the return of pure femi- ninity. Fabrics and more relaxed clothing silhouettes join in the softening trend. "Besides softer cosmetic- colors, the big change of emphasis in' makeup is that eyes now wear most of the color, while lips and cheeks co-ordinate in a quiet way," says Mrs. Larke. "Eyes are the focal point of color, either contrasting with lips and cheeks in soft blues and greens, or carrying the lip and cheek colors several steps further in their own color family. "For instance, in the com- pany's summer 'Rainbows' color collection, soft coral tones for lips and cheeks are grouped with shadow shades of light blue, navy and peach, while soft pink colors for lips and cheeks are com- plemented with cool pink and dusty mauve shadows." This season, shadows and pencil liners are applied to produce an elongated, lifted look for the eye. The darkest shadow shade, used in the crease for contouring. is applied in a horizontal fashion, moving out and up just past the corner of the eye. The lightest shade goes on the lid. Mrs. Larke says the overall look of makeup is individ- ualized naturalness. Soft lip and cheek shades of pastel peach. warm pinky coral, spirited pink and dusty mauve allow a woman's features and coloring to show through. The pure, delicate colors are designed to enhance a woman's natural beauty, not compete with it. she says. ~, *~-~;' r -