Northeast COMBAT receives complaints about many different problems. Here are some helpful ideas on how to avoid some of them.

Robert M. called to ask us to check the reputation of a “college by mail.” There always will be “diploma mills” which offer courses in a variety of subjects. They may promise high-paying jobs which they can’t deliver. Too often, consumers pay for courses that are of little or no use to potential employees because the classes are inadequate or because the employment market is saturated.

In addition, some students have lost money when schools have gone out of business.

Before signing a contract, research the educational and job opportunities in your desired job field. Check with local colleges or vocational schools to see if they offer the desired training. If they do, chances are it will cost less.

Before enrolling, check the school’s reputation carefully, and find out if they have a job placement service so you are not disappointed at the end of the course.

Ask if any special licensing is required for the work you are interested in. If so, contact the licensing agency and ask if the school’s graduates qualify for a license.

Carolyn S. wrote us a letter and told us of a problem she was having with a company to which she had sent $65. She had been offered, through a magazine ad, a chance to earn up to $4,000 a week. All she had to do was stuff envelopes.

The idea of working at home to earn extra money sounds good to both youths and seniors alike. Carolyn is a senior on a fixed income and is also a shut-in. The advertisement sounded like a gift from heaven. The problem is that the promoters of work-at-home offers usually are the only ones to make money.

The offers can be devious schemes with one thing in common: victims who accept the offer have to buy something before they can begin to work at home, plus pay the fee up front. Consumers of any age should remember that when work-at-home schemes claim there is supposedly a “great demand” for workers but no experience required, the chances are they will end up losing money instead of making it. Ads that suggest setting up a mail-order business or a newspaper clipping service are merely selling ideas. They are not putting a consumer in business.

Joanne W. received a catalog through the mail. She had never heard of the company, based in Los Angeles, but they had such cute clothes, she told us. It had been three months since she placed an order, and despite writing them four times, no replies were forthcoming.

Mail order complaints rank very high at our office. Northeast COMBAT has always recommended to consumers that they patronize reputable local firms. Most of the merchandise ordered through the mail is available locally and is a lot easier to exchange if the need arises.

There are, of course, very reputable firms engaged in mail order service. We suggest that you do not do business by mail unless you know in advance that you are dealing with one of those firms. Even then, problems may result from dealing with a long distance business through the mail.

A Federal Trade Commission ruling protects consumers who order through the mail. This rule gives consumers the right to know when to expect the merchandise to be shipped.

If an ad says the manufacturer will rush an item in less than a week, for example, they must ship it within that time. If no date is stated, you have the right to have your merchandise shipped within 30 days. If the seller does not ship within the stated time, or within 30 days, you have the right to cancel the order and get your money back.

If you have a consumer problem, contact Forum and give us the opportunity to assist you.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded, nonprofit consumer organization. Individual memberships $25, business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information, write Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.