How reading the fine print could help unlock hidden savings
Casually accepting the terms and conditions for products and services without reading the fine print is something many of us are guilty of.
These days, moving past the conditions is as easy as scrolling aimlessly on your phone — yet this simple act could lead you to miss out, in some cases, financially.
At least, that's the message from US lawyer and Plug and Law founder Erika Kullberg.
Erika Kullberg shares her tips for reading the fine print with her social media followers. Erika Kullberg/Instagram
In videos shared with her eight million TikTok followers, Kullberg has claimed that by reading the fine print, she has been able to get a free First Class flight with United Airlines, an instant discount with Nike, and $400 savings on Apple products and phone bill costs.
She said under American Airlines' terms and conditions, reward points can be transferred to purchase a first class ticket if they are collected using a specific credit card.
Kullberg also pointed out Apple's discount to "all current and newly accepted college students and their parents, facility and staff and homeschool parents of all grade levels".
The tech giant offers an educational discount, of up to $450, to its Australian customers.
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US lawyer and consumer advocate Erika Kullberg. Erika Kullberg/TikTok
While her advice is targeted to an American audience, her advice offers pause for thought the next time you're faced with the words 'will you accept these terms?'
“I think it’s really important to read the fine print, for two reasons,” Kullberg told CNBC.
“One, you can know what your rights are and two, it could mean savings that you might not have known about if you hadn’t read the fine print."
She said it is also important you know your rights.
Tech giant Apple. AP
In Australia, consumers are protected under Australian Consumer Law, regardless of whether you bought a product in-store or online.
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"Under the Australian Consumer Law, when you buy products and services they come with automatic guarantees that they will work and do what you asked for. If you buy something that isn't right, you have consumer rights," the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said on its website.
Choice found Australians spent $4.1 billion in online sales in October 2021 alone.
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