"It Ain't Necessarily So..."

• The sign in the restaurant reads, "NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HATS AND COATS." Wrong! Only if the business provides a convenient and ready place to hang your garments where you yourself can monitor them, will the establishment shed responsibility for storing wraps.
  
  
• Have you ever noticed a sign reading, "You break it, you bought it"? Well, courts normally don't recognize this rule. Generally, you are under no obligation to pay for a mishap. Accidents are a part of doing business and should be covered by the store's insurance. Also, the store owner should know that breakage is a legitimate business deduction. If you are too mortified to insist on not paying, agree to pay for the cost of the item, not its selling price.
  
  
• Most appliances and gadgets come with a warranty card that the manufacturer claims must be filled out and returned to ensure warranty coverage. In fact, warranty coverage remains in effect whether or not the card is completed. Manufacturers want the card because it provides valuable marketing data. They also may use the contact information in the event of a product recall. So only provide your name and address when you return the card.
  
  
• Contractors, like housepainters and remodelers, often will say they must be paid up front for at least a portion of the cost of a project. Don't succumb. Contractors are notorious for getting sidetracked by bigger, more lucrative jobs. Do not pay anything up front until all the materials are delivered and the job is started. Then pay one-third, holding back the rest until the work is completed.
  
  
• Credit card issuers often will say they must have your Social Security number on file. If you refuse, they will not issue a card. But you should not give in. Other than certain government agencies and your bank, which must report income to the IRS, no one should have access to your Social Security number. The security of your number is paramount in preventing identity theft and fraud.