DEAR SUN SPOTS: I hope you can help me again. My son and his family rented a cottage in Maine for his vacation and after they had unpacked and made the beds and put on their suits for the beach, another renter came along with a contract. My son had left his contract at home so left and went to a rental agent to see if she could help them. She stated that the person they had rented from had double-booked before, and she helped find a place for them.

To make a long story short, they still do not have their money back after four weeks. They talked to her after two weeks and she said that she could only send $400 now and by the way didn’t she mention that they should get vacation insurance.

They live out of state, and I have agreed to help them. Should I go to the Better Business Bureau or the Attorney General’s Office? Do you have any suggestions? — Frances Miller, wfmiller1@roadrunner.com

ANSWER: You can file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau online at www.bbb.org/file-a-complaint/ (the nearest office is in Massachusetts) or contact the Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Service at 1-800-436-2131 or 626-8849, or email them at consumer.mediation@maine.gov. The website is http://tinyurl.com/25kgmbx.

Sun Spots would be inclined to launch an all-out effort by doing both, so she checked with the Consumer Protection Service, and they said that would be fine and that they would be glad to help you. The advantage of filing with the BBB is that it might help warn other potential renters to think twice before renting from this rental agent and thus encourage the agent to settle up.

If all else fails, you can take them to small-claims court. Sun Spots hopes it won’t come to that, because going to court is time consuming and costs you more upfront, and even if you win, you still have to collect the money, which isn’t always automatic.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am looking for someone who teaches bagpiping locally. I would like to take lessons. Call 783-7536. — G. Nadeau, Lewiston

ANSWER: Sun Spots didn’t find any lesson-givers online, but she did find a site if you want to hire a bagpiper: www.bagpiper.com. Maybe some performers also give lessons?

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am looking for the person who bought a food-shredding set at an indoor yard sale at the American Legion Hall in Mechanic Falls on Saturday, Sept. 10. They didn’t take the base part to the set and won’t be able to use it without the base.

I would like to find whoever bought it and give them the missing part. I can be reached at 345-9760. Ask for Faith or leave a message on our answering machine. — Faith, Mechanic Falls

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Calvary United Methodist Church at 59 Sabattus St., Lewiston, is holding its annual fall rummage sale on Friday, Oct. 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 22, from 9 to 11 a.m. We have a great assortment of clothing and household items and lots of fun sharing with our community.

We would be pleased to donate remaining items to any organization that would be able to pick them up between 11 a.m. and noon on Saturday the 22nd. Call 783-9784 if interested in taking our leftovers. — Jack and Penny, Lewiston

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). Please include your phone number. 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 e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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