Things to check before you sign an agreement

By on 13-11-2018

THINGS TO CHECK BEFORE YOU SIGN AN AGREEMENT

• Shop around! Understand exactly what each company is offering. The more you know, the more you can negotiate. Compare price, guarantee or warranty, duration of contract and any other terms or conditions that are important to you.
• Know who you’re dealing with Reputation is important, so ask friends or family for references. If you are not sure about a company’s reputation, check with the Better Business Bureau or investigate a company online
• Negotiate! Most contracts can be negotiated. Use the information you gathered while shopping around to get the best service and price. If the company or individual wants your business, they will listen to your arguments. Don’t feel pressured to sign immediately—this is your decision to make!
• Read the contract and pay attention to the details
  Don’t rely on verbal promises; make sure any agreements or claims made by the salesperson are written into the contract. Strike out elements you do not want to agree with, and have these changes initialled by you and the salesperson before you sign. Fill all blank spaces so that details cannot be added later by the salesperson.
• Understand everything in the contract
  Ask the salesperson questions and get advice from someone knowledgeable if there are elements you don’t understand. And don’t forget the fine print; it is part of the contract too! If you feel you need to, have a lawyer review the contract.
• Know who to call for help or to lodge a complaint
  Ask the salesperson for a customer service phone number and the steps to take if you need to make a complaint.
• Remember: you are responsible . A signed contract is a legal document, so you will have to live with what you agreed to. Generally, a contract cannot be changed or broken unless you and the other party both agree (see next tip).
• Know how to get out of it Usually, a short period of time is allowed to cancel a contract without penalty; it’s called the “cooling off period” and it should be described in the contract. Even if it isn’t, you could still have a cooling off period, so check with the Consumer Protection Act of your province or territory. Otherwise, to cancel a contract before it is over, both parties have to agree and most of the time, it will cost you!
• Sleep on it! Is this what you really need and want? It’s OK to change your mind before signing or agreeing to a contract.
• Once it’s signed, get a copy and keep it You may need it later on for reference, or to launch a complaint if you have a problem.