As both a consumer and an attorney, I read the fine print. Every time you click a link with “Accept” at the bottom, you probably just scrolled through a long contract that you didn’t bother to read. What is in that contract? If you’ve landed here, it’s probably because you are having a problem with a consumer product or service. Before you start complaining, you need to find and read the fine print. Chances are the problem you are experiencing is probably contained somewhere in the contract. For example, cell phone keeps dropping your calls? Tough luck, most mobile phone service providers specifically state that network availability is not guaranteed – don’t believe me? Check the fine print. To avoid unwanted surprises, read the contract first. If you don’t have time, at least do a Google search on the company. You can find out a lot about most companies, their practices and other consumers’ experiences with them before you decide to sign up.
In addition, contracts change. Don’t throw away those little black and while fine print pamphlets that come with your bill. The company is probably making a change to your agreement with them, and if you do nothing, you will accept the new terms. You may have to do something to exercise your rights. This happens with credit card companies. Everything is subject to a contract these days, and you must be vigilant to stay informed. For example, AT&T is going to implement a cap on bandwidth for its broadband users beginning in May 2011. What does this mean for you? If you are one of the users who is “hogging” bandwidth, watch out because you will now be subject to bandwidth caps. For a discussion of the practical aspect of AT&T’s change see this article by David Lazarus at Los Angeles Times (reposted in the Knoxville News).
The point is: read the fine print before you agree. If you don’t want to read it, at least read the last few paragraphs or do a search on the internet, your rights and your pocketbook depend on it.
Florida Consumer Law Blog by Sasha Sampaio, Esq. 