Article: Law offers protection in contract renewals

Q: I signed a one-year contract for an alarm company to monitor my

home. I did not like the service, but after a year I received a bill

for $350 for the next year's service. I told the alarm company I

wanted to cancel but was told it was too late because the contract

automatically renewed.

I looked at the contract, and in fine print it said I had to cancel

in writing 60 days before the end of the contract or it would

automatically renew. Can the alarm company hold me to this contract?

A: Probably not. A state law, the Automatic Contract Renewal Act,

protects consumers against this type of trickery. The law modifies

the general rule of law that states that if you sign a contract, ...

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