Dear Sun Spots: By law, what hours can a bill collector call? One called me as late as 9 p.m. and again on Saturdays. Thank you. – No Name, No Town.

Answer: According to www.creditinfocenter.com, collection agencies are not allowed to: call your office, call your home before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., address you in an abusive manner, call family or friends in an attempt to collect your debt, harass you, make false or misleading statements or add unauthorized charges.

If any of the above is happening to you, tell the collection agency to stop harassing you. If it continues, ask for its name and address and report it to the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission or your state’s attorney general’s office.

Dear Sun Spots: The following is part of a letter I received from a Muriel Wing Surowiec, “who is the daughter of Inez Grose, who is the daughter of Edwin Hall Grose, great-granddaughter of Tryphene (not sure of the spelling) and Lorenzo Grose, who ended their days in the Victorian house on the edge of town” (Stratton).

Wing Surowiec is looking for the daughter or great-granddaughter of Olive Taylor. She did find Olive’s. Mrs. Buster Fonce lived in Alfred, but there are no Fonces there now. She has a letter written to Olive in 1928. At that time she lived in Auburn. Muriel Wing would like information regarding Olive’s present family and doesn’t know her married name.

Thanks in advance for any help you or readers can give. For further information, please call me at 864-3443 days or 246-2271 nights, if there are any questions. – Mary Henderson, President, Dead River Area Historical Society, Stratton.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, you or Wing Surowiec might try contacting the Maine State Archives to see if they can assist you. They are at 84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333, 287-5788, Search Room: 287-5795; Records Center: 287-5792.

Dear Sun Spots: I need your help. Is there someone in the area of Rumford, Dixfield, Roxbury or Byron who works on electric garage doors? I am in need of someone who does this for a living. If you know of any, please call me at 364-2384. – J.C.B., No Town.

Dear Sun Spots: I am the president of a nonprofit support group for moms and kids called Moms of Maine. We are looking for a space to use for blocks of two to three hours during the day to use for events such as the children playing with toys. The events would be during the weekdays only and usually from 9/9:30 until 11:30 a.m. We are a nonprofit and do not have money to rent a place, but we clean up after ourselves and are just looking for a safe place for our kids to play. – Wendy Cassidy, Durham.

Dear Sun Spots: I want to know if there is anyone in the Bethel area who cleans window fans? – L.B.D., No Town.

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be posted at www.sunjournal.com in the Advice section under Opinion on the left-hand corner of your computer screen. In addition, you can e-mail your inquiries to sunspots@sunjournal.com


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