"Blah, blah, blah, blah"....the cost of fine print

Having spent time working for government, I watched first hand as technical, cumbersome and jargon laden language was used purposefully to hide information from the public and policy makers.  More than once I got my hand slapped for trying to rewrite papers for clarity.  Demoralizing to say the least.

So have you taken a look at your mobile phone contract lately? Or your cable agreement? Chances are, you’re paying more than you think.  We're just 2/3rds thru the month of January but alreay I've been on the phone three times with companies disputing additional charges:  rental car, health care and the evil empire of Comcast.

This month’s SmartMoney Magazine catalogs a horrifying array of contracts, product waivers and legal disclosures with language that has likely bamboozled each and every one of us at some point.

From 100+ page checking account contracts to unexpected fees in everything from airline tickets to gift cards, this lack of clarity is costing us, big time. Experts estimate that hidden disclosures cost each American household more than $2,000 a year.