barking dog? Angry because a store won't give a refund? Don't despair, you can get help -- for free.

Government's Consumer Affairs Bureau has long been equipped to advise, mediate and provide information on a host of bothersome problems during normal office hours, but from now on it will also offer the same services at its newly-formed Consumer Advice Centre on Tuesday evenings.

To appreciate how valuable the new service is, it is first necessary to understand the Bureau's work and aims.

"The aims of the Bureau are to provide consumers with the skills needed to be effective in the marketplace, and to provide an equitable balance between consumers and producers,'' Community Affairs advisor Miss Sue Davis explained.

Put simply, that means the Bureau doesn't take over your problems wholesale; rather, it helps you to help yourself through advice and mediation. Some of the many areas in which the Bureau will offer advice are: Your rights and responsibilities in buying goods and services, repairs, maintenance and disposal Prices, advertising, labels, guarantees, etc.

Money management, including debt counselling Resolving complaints Avoiding future problems Where to go for additional assistance In terms of mediation, while the Bureau is not empowered to force a settlement, it will work diligently with the parties in dispute to try and find the middle ground.

"Through discussion with both sides and further investigations and research, if appropriate, the Bureau attempts to resolve conflicts by reconciliation, compromise or settlement,'' Miss Davis explained.

Should mediation fail, the Bureau will then suggest other avenues the parties can pursue.

"For example, one alternative might be to seek Court action, and another to get legal advice,'' Miss Davis said. In addition to the education and information it supplies, the Consumer Affairs Bureau also provides free materials and outreach services. It has published and distributed more than 50 different leaflets, posters and booklets throughout the community. Copies are also available to the public free of charge at the Bureau's Court Street headquarters.

As part of its outreach programme, the Bureau organises seminars, discussion groups, lectures, newspaper articles and press releases.

For years the Bureau has dispensed these services from its offices at 81 Court Street (in the courtyard behind the old Fire Station off Front Street) during normal working hours: 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday.

While that been convenient for some, Miss Davis has been aware that there were many others for whom it wasn't, so in a bid to be of even greater service to the public, the Bureau has established a Community Advice Centre at The Centre on Angle Street (opposite Dellwood School) on Tuesday evenings.

"It will be part of our outreach service,'' Miss Davis explained. "We want to help the people who have difficulty in making appointments for money management advice, or who have indicated they are very limited in their free time during the working day.

"The Advice Centre will be open from 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. and we will be providing the same broad range of services we offer at our Court Street location. This includes financial counselling, budgeting, landlord/tenant services, repairs, purchases and community queries, such as `If my neighbour's dog barks, what can I do about it?'' Noting that landlord/tenant services were one of the most prominent problems the Bureau dealt with, the advisor said: "We get calls from both landlords and tenants wondering what their rights and responsibilities are. We have seen an increase in people not paying their rent, which is not unusual because of the recession. And there are also cases where the tenant has difficulty getting the landlord to effect repairs. At the Advice Centre we will give the appropriate advice on how to handle the situation and avoid conflict.'' Returning merchandise for exchange, credit or refund is another area of major concern to consumers.

"We get a lot of queries on the basis of shops refusing to exchange or give credits,'' Miss Davis said. "At the Advice Centre we will be able explain to clients whether or not they are entitled to what they want.'' In addition to dispensing on-site advice on Tuesday evenings, Miss Davis said the Community Advice Centre would also field telephone calls at 292-2081.

"People can just phone or drop in to the Centre on Tuesday evenings without an appointment, and they will be dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis.'' Miss Sue Davis.