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Consumer Q's April 19, 2007

Contact:  Teresa Jenkins
(404) 656-3645
1-800-282-5852

 

CONSUMER Q’s
Prepared by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Office of Public Affairs
Tommy Irvin, Commissioner
Call Consumer Q’s Hotline at 1-800-282-5852

Consumer Alert/Recall:  Small World Recalls Children’s Wooden Sound Puzzles with Knobs for Choking Hazard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product.  Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.  Name of product:  “Sounds on the Farm” Puzzle and “Sounds on the Go” Puzzle; Units:  About 78,500; Distributor:  Small World Toys, of Culver City, Calif.; Hazard:  The knobs on the recalled puzzle pieces can come off, posing a choking hazard to young children.  Incidents/Injuries:  Small World Toys has received 42 reports of the knobs detaching from the puzzle pieces.  No injuries have been reported.  Description:  The recalled involves two separate wooden-knobbed puzzles that make sounds.  “Sounds on the Farm” and “Sounds on the Go” puzzles were sold under the Puzzibilities and Ryan’s Room brands.  The wooden puzzles have four pieces in farm animal or vehicle shapes that make animal or motor sounds when the pieces are lifted by their knobs from the puzzle boards.  “Sounds on the Farm” or “Sounds on the Go” is printed on the top left of the puzzle boards. “©2003 Small World Toys®” and the number 24101 or 24102 are printed at the bottom of the puzzles boards.  Sold at:  Puzzibilities puzzles were sold at toy stores and various retailers nationwide and by catalogs from June 2003 through February 2007.  Ryan’s Room puzzles were sold at Target Stores nationwide from January 2006 through February 2007. Both puzzles sold for about $16.  Manufactured in: China; Remedy:  Consumers should immediately take this toy away from children and contact Small World Toys to obtain a free replacement toy.  Consumer Contact:  For additional information, contact Small World Toys at (800) 421-4153 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, visit www.smallworldtoys.com, or email the firm at puzzlerecall@smallworldtoys.com

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When I bought my new house, at the closing my attorney gave me the termite warranty and stated that the builder would complete the backfill on the property soon.  We moved in two weeks after the closing and the backfill was done the same day.  We have not seen our termite company.   How long do they have after the backfill to complete the termite treatment?  We have been living in our new home for about two months.

State law requires the final termiticide application on new constructions or pre-treatments to be completed within ninety (90) days of actual occupancy of the structure by the owner; the closing of a permanent loan on the structure; the completion of backfilling by the building contractor or owner; or the issuance of a local "certificate of occupancy" which ever occurs first.  The countdown on your exterminating company started on the day you closed on this property.  By our calculations, the company has less than two weeks to do your treatment.

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I've found wood destroying fungus in the attic bathroom and in the mother in-law suite over the garage of the house I just bought.  I was given an inspection report at closing that indicated there were no problems with wood decaying fungus in this structure.  Will my pest control company take care of this problem at no cost?

No.  The wood destroying fungi on inspection reports cover only occurrences that happen below the first floor level and are the result of moisture conditions that can be corrected with moisture barriers and increased ventilation.  Fungus resulting from roof or plumbing leaks or improper drainage of surface water is not covered by the Georgia Wood Infestation Inspection Reports.

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I received my termite renewal notice yesterday and I'm not happy.   The annual renewal rate went up another $10.   Can they legally raise my renewal every year?

The answer to that question depends on the terms and conditions of your termite contract.  There are no standard termite contracts.  However, this department does require all termite contracts to show the effective date, the period of guarantee, the pest to be controlled, the job price, and the renewal option and cost.  Read your contract.  It should answer all of your questions.  You can contact our Structural Pest Control office for information about areas that you don't understand.  If your pest control contract is scheduled for renewal soon, now is a good time to evaluate your current one.

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I am considering hiring a lawn care company.   How should I go about selecting a company?

Commercial lawn care companies that apply pesticides for hire must be licensed.  The companies you are considering should be able to provide you with a copy of their Georgia Pesticide Contractor's License.  After you have selected a company there are still things you need to ask.  You need to know what chemicals the company will be using on your lawn and their risks.  If you live in a neighborhood where children run and play at will; and pets are allowed to roam-free on a regular basis, you should consider notifying your neighbors before you have your lawn treated.  Although commercial lawn care companies are required to post warnings when applications have been made, pets cannot read and children sometimes don't take the time to be cautious.

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If you have questions or problems with products or services regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, you may write the Office of Public Affairs, Room 224, 19 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta 30334 or 404/656-3645 (metro Atlanta) or 1-800-282-5852 (state wide).