Read the Fine Print

Yesterday I was at my son's flag football game cheering him on to victory. There was one play that his coach had them pull off for a touchdown. My son was the center and pretended like he was going to snap the ball to the quarterback. What really happened was that he handed the ball between his legs to the quarterback, the other team thought the ball had been handed off and had gone to one side, but the quarterback took the ball and ran all of the way to the goal line. None of the parents on our side even knew what had happened until everything had been said and done. When the game had ended and my son and I were walking back to the car we were talking about that surprise play and rehashing the whole thing. He was telling me, "Well, that is why it was called Hide and Seek. No one saw it coming. You have to read the fine print." I have to admit that I was laughing my behind off because it was so funny coming from the mouth of an 8 year old.

On the way home my mind start thinking about what he had said and how that applies to many things. Many people who need to sign a contract, regardless of whether they are purchasing something or wanting to download something on their computer or are signing up for a service, usually barely glance at the fine print. I admit that I don't always read the fine print. I assume that everything will be fine. But what about when something goes wrong and you have to go back to that fine print? Sometimes you find yourself screwed.

For example, with credit cards they will send you mailers that describe the terms and the changes for your account from time to time. If you were to look closely at those terms though, you would see that they have the right to change the APR at their discretion regardless of whether you are a good customer or not.

I found a great article that talks about how the buyer should beware by Jean Chatzky. It is located at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15548380/. After reading some of the things in her article, it makes me want to read the fine print a little bit more as I feel a bit taken advantage of in a few things in my life. From time to time I want to give my husband back to his parents and they keep telling me I should have read the fine print. Darn it!

What about in your own business? Do you go over your contracts with your clients to make sure that they fully understand what you are going to stick to them if they don't follow your rules? If not, it could come back to bite you on the behind. Remember the scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory where Willa Wonka is going over the contract and the print keeps getting smaller and smaller and no one knows what it says? Grumpy customers, regardless of whether they should have read the fine print or not, will not use your service or products again no matter how great they are if they feel they were taken advantage of.