Who reads the fine print?

Inez Romanos | June 24, 2016

‘Who reads the fine print?’ asked Duncan Garner — rhetorically — in last night’s edition of The Story on TV3.

The news item was about a couple who claimed on their policy with AA Insurance when they found their home polluted by use as a P lab.

Drug contamination claim was rejected at first

At first, AA refused to pay out. They said that the policy’s fine print excluded claims for contamination resulting from drug manufacture. Eventually the insurers made a goodwill payment.

The couple are disgruntled, and presenter Duncan Garner agreed. ‘Who reads the fine print?’ he asked.

Fine print can be readable

Fine print need not be unreadably dense. You have a basic democratic right to clear information about your financial and legal rights. For example, the requirement for transparent financial writing is enshrined in the Financial Markets Authority Act.

The WriteMark assures your customers

The WriteMark assures readers that a piece of writing meets an internationally recognised standard of clarity. It gives your customers the confidence that you’re acting transparently. Together you can build a sense of trust — and from that, loyalty. Without getting lost in the fine print.

At Write we can work with you to bring your writing up to the WriteMark standard. Clients we’ve worked with include ANZ, AA Life Services, Bonus Bonds, the Cancer Society, Inland Revenue, the Ministry of Justice, PHARMAC, and Statistics New Zealand.

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Watch the 23 June edition of The Story — you’ll need to sign up to 3NOW.