How Careful Are You About Reading Terms And Conditions?

Whenever I sign up for something online, there is a LONG list of terms and conditions I'm required to "read" and agree to. I usually scan it looking for anything having to do with a payment, but I don't read the whole thing. Same thing when I get a credit card in the mail and it includes a tiny pamphlet with type so small it could fit on the head of a pin! I'm wondering what other people do in these cases. Thanks for your input.

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Nanny

asked 2 years ago

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I used not to read them too carefully beyond the bold print, and then audited an undergrad class in contract law. Some of the most seemingly unreasonable demands are made of the one contracting for the service (us), and the law honors the right of an adult person of sound mind to enter into a contract, even stupid and sometimes unfair ones.   This is true of internet user agreements, as well.

Also, I once signed up for a credit card whose terms allowed the company to increase my interest rate from 5% to 28% if the bill wasn't posted (not received!) within 3 days of due date.  So actually, I could make the payment on time, but if their processing was delayed or slow, I was the one penalized!

Now I read the fine print much more thoroughly.  I do this with a magnifying glass, mostly, since the fine print is increasingly fine and buried within the terms, and...OK...maybe my vision is not what it used to be!