Reading the Fine Print

We've all done it.

You are presented with an agreement to sign, and you skim through it or don't read it at all. Maybe you are signing you child up for swimming lessons, maybe you are buying a piece of furniture, or maybe you are renting your first apartment. As a business, maybe you are signing a purchase order, or product warrant. You're in a hurry, you're not sure what everything even means, so you just sign the document and move on.

Do you know what you just agreed to? Sometimes the agreement is ok - reasonable for you and reasonable for the entity asking you to sign. Sometimes the agreement is not ok - it puts you at a major disadvantage or attempts to strip you of rights you should have.

It is important to read the agreement and ask questions. A contract should be a collaboration between the Contractor and the Contractee (you!). You should ensure you understand everything in the document, and ask questions if you don't. If there is something you find to be unreasonable or overly detrimental to you, you should ask the Contractor to change the language. Remember - it is your right to inspect, question, or reject a contract. If you do not feel comfortable doing so, contact a qualified attorney to review the contract for you.

In many cases, the Contractor will refuse to collaborate with you. In those situations, the decision on whether to proceed or not is yours. Weigh the risks vs. the benefits. Make an Informed decision, rather than a quick decision.

If you have already entered an agreement with an entity that you believe is unfair, or that you'd like to discontinue, contact a qualified attorney and learn what you options are. Many times contracts will have unfair provisions that might scare you or frustrate you. Even though you signed the contract, those provisions aren't always valid.

The bottom line is this: take the extra time to read your agreements. Understand what they say, and understand how they will affect you. Always feel empowered to seek help from a qualified attorney.