As of September 30th you may now opt to be added to the National Do Not Call List. This will keep those pesky telemarketers or unsolicited calls which always seem to be either early in the morning, late at night or while your in the middle of something important, now is your chance to be added to their Do Not Call List.You will be able to add your land line, mobile or fax numbers by going online at https://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca/ or by calling 1-866-580-DNCL (3625). However, there are some exceptions.

Who may still call you?

1. Canadian Registered Charities
2. Political parties, riding associations and candidates
3. Newspapers of general circulation for the purpose of soliciting subscriptions
4. Organizations with whom you have an existing business relationship
   • Purchased, leased, or rented a product or service in the last eighteen (18) months from the telemarketer;
   • You have a written contract with the telemarketer for a service that is still in effect or expired within the last eighteen (18) months; and/or
   • You asked a telemarketer about a product or service within the last six (6) months.
5. If you have provided express consent to be called

The website had received so much traffic early yesterday that by 9am it was overloaded and crashed. The site should be fully functional now. Those registered with the list will also be able to file a complaint with an investigator if they are still receiving calls from an unexempt organization. Telemarketers found in violation of the list could face fines of up to $1,500 for individuals and up to $15,000 for corporations.

This past weekend I accompanied my girlfriends brother in purchasing his 2008 Hyundai Tiburion. We ended up getting $1300 off the MSRP price and 5 yrs of free oil change. Purchasing a car requires a little haggling and knowledge to get the absolute best deal. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• cash purchases will get you a significant discount, for the Tiburion GS Sport package it would have been $3,000
• if you plan to finance, high credit scores of 680 of better will get you the best rate
• to equip youself with knowledge of the wholesale price that dealers get, visit carcostcanada.com if you are a CAA member you will get a discounted price.
• always test drive the car to ensure it is right for you, you will never know just looking
• dont be afraid to visit or call more then one dealer

Happy car hunting!

What are they?

All weather tires or more commonly known as winter tires is my topic for today. This winter has been relentless, snowfall in the month of February was the highest in history and tonight we were hit with another 15-20 centimeters. I was driving home from the movie theatre in harsh freezing rain conditions with about 5 cm of snow on the highway. Traffic was really slow on the QEW and I drove past countless accidents and cars which spun out of control into the ditch but I was not afraid because I change my tires every winter to all weather tires.

Most of us have a set of all season tires which we use all year, they are great all around tires but below zero celcius they stiffen and lose grip with the road. If you live in the snow belt such as Waterloo-Kitchener, Hamilton and up north in Barrie and further north I highly suggest you get all weather tires for the winter.

Which tire to choose?

Snow tires are specifically designed to provide better traction and braking in deep snow conditions as well as greater stability and control on slushy roads. Some winter tires offer additional features that will enhance the tires’ performance in icy conditions. These features may include studs, specialized rubber compounds or additional traction enhancers moulded directly into the tire.

There are so many tires from different manufacturers out there and it was hard for me to choose. From my endless searching I found that the top 3 were:

1. Michelin X-Ice
2. Bridgestone Blizzak REVO
3. Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50.

Here is a quick video about different tires:

Here is a video which demonstrates the difference between All Season vs. All Weather tires:

Quick Tips:

• Install 4 tires - 2 tires or mixing tires will cause handling issues which can be very unsafe.
• As weather gets warmer, the rubber on your winter tires will melt. Change them to All Season tires (marked with M + S for mud and snow).
• Ensure you have proper air pressure.

When buying all weather tires, be sure to look for the symbol of the mountain with a snowflake logo on it. These tires have been designed specifically for use in severe snow conditions.

I myself bought the Michelin X-Ice from Canadian Tire but I am sure any reputable car shop, although expensive I was able to afford it because my car uses 13″ wheels. I hope that everyone has a safe drive into work tomorrow!