A couple in Rockwall, Amy Van Vleck and her husband, needed to move out of their old home and into their new one immediately. To help make the move, they hired a moving company, Metro Movers, they found on Craigslist. However, as the Vlecks learned the hard way, they had actually hired scam artists who promised one thing – two loaders, a driver and a truck for $34.95 an hour – but delivered something else entirely. While the Vlecks weren’t paying attention (but before they signed the contract), the men from Metro Movers changed the terms of the agreement, dropping in a $3,700 charge for the plastic wrapping used to protect the Vlecks’ property. The Vlecks signed and, as a result, were bound by the terms of the deal, including the $3,700 charge.
Could the Vlecks have voided the contract on the basis that they were fraudulent induced to sign? Perhaps. Practically, however, they probably wouldn’t have gotten a verdict for several months and in the meanwhile would have been living without their possessions.
So, what’s the solution? Before you sign a contract, read the agreement from the first page to the last. If you have questions, don’t be afraid to ask them. If you need help understanding the agreement, talk to the experts at Fears | Nachawati. Both tort and contract injuries can emerge out of broken agreements. To avoid them, call us at 1.866.705.7584 or send an email to info@fnlawfirm.com. We can help!
