We click the check box before installing apps. We choose “accept” when using online platforms like Google, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. But do we actually read the Terms and Conditions?
Terms and Conditions
Terms of Business
Fair Usage Policies
Privacy Policies
Etc
How many free web based services do you use? How many paid ones?
Have you ever actually read the terms of business on the services you use? Few people do so don’t be embarrassed if you’re in the “no” category. You won’t like my next statement;
“You should read them!”
Why? Well, let’s take a look at a couple of popular services.
But, before I do, let me ask you:
If you paid for a year of car insurance and then 6 months later the insurance company told you they were not providing insurance any longer, how would you react? Would you want a refund?
If you hired someone to clean your windows every two weeks and paid them a year in advance and after a few months was told they weren’t going to clean your windows any more – but you can’t have your money back – how would you react?
Daft questions? Not so. Look at this
The above is from a popular cloud based data storage / hosting service used by tens of thousands of people to store and share their personal files, publicly shared downloadable files and media for their websites.
reserves the right to terminate Free Accounts at any time, with or without notice
That particular statement relates specifically to ‘Free’ accounts, or does it? Let’s look at the terms and conditions imposed on their PAID customers
Shocked? Well, I think so.
We reserve the right to suspend or end the Services at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice!
Yes! that means if you’d paid for a year of the service and they cancelled their provision of the service at any time, you’re out of luck and out of pocket.
[SERVICE] DOES NOT PROVIDE REFUNDS OR CREDITS FOR ANY PARTIAL MONTHS OR YEARS
Think that is a one-off? Unfortunately not, here’s another one
Look at some of the reasons why this provider can cancel your account:
- if our relationship with a third party partner who provides software or other technology we use to provide the Service Offerings expires, terminates or requires us to change the way we provide the software or other technology as part of the Services
- if we believe providing the Services could create a substantial economic or technical burden or material security risk for us
- in order to comply with the law or requests of governmental entities
- if we determine use of the Service Offerings by you or any End Users or our provision of any of the Services to you or any End Users has become impractical
I know a guy who runs a window company. How long do you think his business would survive if his customers were asked to agree to “once we have removed your old windows, we can, at our discretion, for whatever reason known only to use, cancel this agreement and not install your new windows”…?
Please, if you use services for your business, or anything for personal use that you consider essential, think about what you’re agreeing to…
Read the Terms and Conditions!
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