boatingonthehudson.com HOLIDAY 2013 39
“Fine print” is everywhere.
It’s the language that is pains-
takingly crafted by lawyers to
protect their clients. Did you
know that for most consumer
agreements, such as car leases
and brokerage agreements,
the law regulates what can be
contained in the fine print?
Even the type face, bold and
things printed in red ink?
Despite this government in-
tervention to protect us, most
folks are overwhelmed by the
fine print. They rarely read
it, much less understand it.
They assume when faced with
“fine print” that they have no
choice. It’s take it or leave it.
So they sign and take their
chances. We’ve all done it.
In basic transactions, we
comfort ourselves by relying
instead on what we perceive
to be the integrity, honesty or
“good guyness” of the person
or business asking us to sign.
“That car salesman has been
so nice, this agreement must
be ok.” “That care giver has
been around for years; she
must be honest.” The Bernie
Madoff scandal is an easy
reminder of how that kind of
shorthand trust can go horri-
bly wrong.
Sometimes we do have a
choice and it pays to read the
fine print. Definitely hire a
lawyer to review documents
or contracts where there is a
lot at stake. Don’t go it alone.
When faced with fine print, I
recommend the following 5
tips:
1.
Try not to sign an
important document that you
haven’t read. The fine print is
written by lawyers and likely
will be used at least to intimi-
date you if a dispute arises.
2.
When you are pre-
sented with what looks like a
“standard form agreement,”
make a point of reading words
that are highlighted, bolded,
underlined or in red. At the
least, that’s the Cliff Notes
version of what you’re up
against.
3.
Just because something
is presented to you in a pre-
printed form doesn’t mean
it is legal. There is a big dif-
ference between “words on a
page” and what can really be
enforced.
4.
Language is often put
in documents and contracts
to make you think you have
no choice. But often you do.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate a
better deal or ask to remove
language that just seems
wrong.
5.
Fine print is intended
to intimidate you. If you are
concerned about what you are
signing – question it. If you
still don’t feel comfortable,
DON’T SIGN IT!
Give us a call if you need help
reading the fine print!
Susan G. Parker, Esq., P.C.
520 North State Rd. – Suite
301A
Briarcliff Manor, NY 10510
914 923 1600
Reading the
Fine
Print
© By: Susan G. Parker, Esq.
HOLIDAY 2013.indd 46
11/7/13 7:50 AM
