Before you sign a service contract, check the paper itself. Blank fields, missing pages, and terms marked to be determined are common reasons a buyer later learns what the contract did not say. This check takes a short time and does not require any special knowledge of insurance or repair work.
Look for blank fields
Scan every line that asks for an item description, term length, price line, start date, seller name, or administrator name. A blank line is an open question. Ask the seller to fill it in before you sign, and do not accept a promise to fill it in later. If a box that should be marked is empty, ask what the box controls.
Check the pages and the references
Check that the page count matches the table of contents or the footer of the last page. Where the contract refers to an attached schedule, exhibit, or state notice, confirm the attachment is in your hands. A reference to a page you do not have is a reference to terms you have not read.
Ask the questions the form leaves open
Write down what you could not find. Ask which section covers the item you care about, where the cancellation terms appear, and which part names the party you would call for a repair. Ask for the answers in writing and compare them with the form. If they differ, ask the seller which one governs and to confirm that answer in writing.
Hold the signature until the form is complete
Do not sign a copy with open terms. Ask for a complete copy, and keep the first copy you were given. If the seller says the blanks are standard, ask the seller to point to the language that says so. Sign only when every line you were asked to read has an answer you can point to.
What this guide does not do
This guide does not rank sellers or say which contract is better. It does not describe any named company's form. It does not say what any state requires, and this edition has not read the signing rules for every state. The state page names the statute or program for each state, which is the place to check a state rule before you sign.