A nice lady bullied me into signing a contract but now I want out. Help!

Hi Auntie B

I have read their contract many times now and there is nowhere in the contract that says I have to pay a cancellation fee. But they’re charging me and threatening me with legal action if I do not pay it on time. I have asked for a break down in costs and they have not provided it.

Should I seek legal advise on this one as I feel I was pressured to sign up on it. I was promised by the rep – who is nice lady – that my business would grow and it hasn’t. It is costing more then anything else. Because of this I rang others and they advised me the same deal has happened to them. They signed up and 4-5 months later they got no calls or just a few, and they’re paying through the roof untill the contract is over. 

I just feel hurt that people can do this and promise you and give you figures that show how successful it is when it isn’t.

K

Dear K,

I hear your pain! But really. How exactly did the nice lady make you sign a contract? What did she do? Sit you on her knee and gently guide your pen to the signature line? Look K, you are in business and a contract is a contract. You signed it for a set period. Legally you are obliged to serve out your time even if you are getting zip return.

Going to a lawyer will be a waste of time. What I would do and which should be a lot more fun that sitting down with a lawyer is to go out with Nice Lady and negotiate a “cancellation fee” which I assume is a lot cheaper than paying out the end of your contract.

Then discuss with her how you can get more bang for your buck in your remaining time left.

Advertising involves work from both ends. If you don’t have a good product and the right offering, no advertising on earth will work so have a good look at the advertising offer. Can you provide anything from your end to freshen it up? Can you come up with a special offer?

On the other hand the advertising company should feel disappointed they did not get a better return for you and they too should be suggesting some solutions.

So what is needed here are some constructive ideas – not lawyers.

Good luck!