Beware of contracts
LETTER: I would like to warn people about unscrupulous sales people. I have unfortunately fallen foul of two salesmen recently and it has cost me my savings.
I have unfortunately fallen foul of two salesmen recently and it has cost me my savings.
It appears that it is legal for a representative of a company to come to your house and blatantly lie because the contract he then gets you to sign has clauses like "this contract overrides any verbal promises made to you".
OK, I know we are supposed to get a contract checked by a solicitor, but at more than £200 an hour how many people do that? So is it right that good honest everyday people like me and you can be exploited because we can't afford justice?
Is it right that large companies with money should be allowed to rip off people because they have perfected the art of misleading you and then hiding behind a contract that only a solicitor can understand, but you can't afford?
Trading Standards is a toothless tiger that has no interest in helping.
A solicitor smiles politely and says he may be able to help, but at more than £200 an hour, it is nearly a week's money so how can I afford legal representation?
Is the law there to protect only the wealthy? Are ordinary people exempt from protection from being ripped off by lying cheating salesmen who are protected by large organisations that can afford to pay for the right to act with no morals or standards?
It's a very sad day when ordinary people can no longer expect justice because we have not got enough money to pay for it when we need it.
Colin Price
Wellington
