Mobile

Learning Sequence

Activity 3: The fine print (English)

1. PLAY the video segment

In the video, Nik complains to Sophie's boss that he shouldn't have to ring her mobile when there is a landline available. We also discover that Sophie bought her mobile because she liked its colour.

2. READ these terms and conditions from a mobile phone contract.

SUMMARY - STANDARD AGREEMENT FOR BEEP SEEP DIGITAL MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

1 This is a summary of the terms and conditions for your mobile digital telecommunications service. The full terms and conditions are available on request. The Standard Agreement is binding on you.

2 Your initial term begins when you are first connected to the Beep Beep Network. If you want to discontinue your connection at the end of the initial term, or at any time after your initial term, you must give us written notice. Your connection will be discontinued 30 days from the date of the next bill we send you after receiving your notice.

3 If you request us to, or we validly discontinue your connection within your initial term, you must pay us:

•  the access charges for the remaining months of the initial term
•  an early termination fee of $200 and
•  any outstanding fees and charges payable by you for the mobile service

4 We will invoice you for the services in accordance with the pricing plan you have selected on your application form. You can obtain a copy of our fees and charges for this pricing plan from us upon request. We may vary these fees and charges from time to time.

5 We will invoice you monthly and you must pay each invoice within 14 days from the date of the invoice (unless you have arranged with us to pay your invoices by direct debit or credit card). We may charge you interest on overdue accounts. You will be responsible to pay for all calls made using the mobile phone service even if you did not make them.

6 You acknowledge that, although we will take all reasonable steps to make sure you receive reasonable service within our coverage areas, the mobile service is not free from faults or interruptions such as network congestion, maintenance, geographical factors, obstructions, or interference may mean that you do not receive the mobile service in certain areas at certain times.

7 We retain ownership of the card. You must return this to us on disconnection of the mobile service. We may charge you a SIM card replacement fee if you fail to return the SIM card within 30 days from disconnection. Please inform us immediately if you lose, or damage is caused to, your SIM card. We will then disconnect or bar your connection (you will be responsible for all usage charges up to this time) until the SIM card is replaced or repaired. We may charge you a SIM card replacement fee unless we were at fault.

8 You agree that we may disclose or receive personal information or documents about you to
• Credit providers or credit reporting agencies for purposes permitted under the Privacy Act
• law enforcement agencies to assist in the prevention of criminal activities and agents, or any company within the Beep Beep group, for reasonable commercial purposes connected with your use of the mobile phone service such as marketing related and analysis related purposes.

9 We are not liable to you for any breach of any express or implied terms, conditions or: warranties. Where we are unable by law to exclude our liability~ our liability for such breaches is limited, at our choice, to:

•  If the breach related to goods, the replacement or repair of the goods
•  If the breach related to services, the resupply of those services, or paying for the cost of having those services resupplied.

10 You cannot assign your Beep Beep agreement without our consent. We can assign the agreement to our nominee: without your consent.

11 There are certain events which may require us to suspend, restrict or disconnect your connection, such as a breach by you. You should be aware of these events.
12 We may vary the terms of the Standard Agreement from time to time. We will publish the terms of the variation in a newspaper circulating in the capital city of your resident State if the variation is detrimental to any of our customers.

3. ANSWER  the following questions:

a. This is a summary of the terms and conditions. How can you get a copy of the full terms and conditions?
b. What if you don't read them?
c. If, after your initial term (usually 18 months or 2 years), you decide to cancel your package, how much will it cost you? What if you decide to cancel after 6 months of an 18 month contract?

4. WRITE about one of the 12 clauses. What does the clause mean? Do you agree the clause is justified? What are the implications of each clause? Write your notes here and report back to the class.

5. How is this mobile phone contract different from a mobile phone advertisement? What similiarities and differences are there?

COMPLETE the table below. You can find it in the PDF The fine print.

 

Terms and conditions

Advertisements

Topic

 

 

Audience

 

 

Purpose

 

 

Mode

 

 

6. LIST some of the vocabulary used in the terms and conditions.

7. SELECT 7 words or expressions that reflect the purpose of the text. For each one provide a word or expression with a similar meaning but that would be more appropriate in an advertisement, leaflet or other promotional material. One example has been done for you. You can find the table below in the PDF The fine print.

Contract

Promotional material

Reasonable service (6)

Great service you can trust

 

 

 

 

8. Is a mobile phone call plan a contract? What is a contract? You can visit the NSW Law Society website ( www.lawsocnsw.asn.au ) and click on Community Legal Information, then go to Fast Answers to legal questions. Go to the area on contracts.

You can also do to the Australian Communications Authority website at www.acma.gov.au for more information and to get a copy of "My Toolkit".

This activity can be found in the NSW Money Stuff Teacher resource book – English page 31 .

Explore additional learning activities (which include extension and revision tasks) in the print resources section under Print resources - Victoria.

Linked Learning Outcomes - NSW
Syllabus Outcomes
Stage 6 English Preliminary (Standard)
A student identifies and describes language forms and features and structures of particular texts that shape meaning and influence responses.

Stage 6 English Preliminary (Fundamentals of English)
1. A student responds to and composes texts for a range of purposes and audiences, in various forms, modes and media.
2. A student recognises some of the relationships between context and meaning.
3. A student recognises the ways in which changes in context require changes in form.
Stage 6 English Preliminary (English as a Second Language)
A student demonstrates understanding of how audience and purpose affect the language and structure of texts.

Learning Outcomes – Victoria
Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) - Discipline-based learning
Domain: English
Dimensions: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening
Level 5
Students critically evaluate the spoken language of others and select, prepare and present spoken texts for specific audiences and purposes
Students read and view imaginative, informative and persuasive texts that explore ideas and information related to challenging topics, themes and issues.
Level 6
Students compare and contrast the typical features of particular texts and synthesise information from different texts to draw conclusions.
Students draw on a range of strategies to listen to and present spoken texts, including note-taking, combining spoken and visual texts, and presenting complex issues or information imaginatively to interest an audience.

Learning Outcomes - Western Australia
(English)
R 5.3 Draws on knowledge of language features and conventions of text to explain how texts are constructed.
R 4.4 Selects, uses and reflects on strategies appropriate for different texts and reading purposes, identifies information needs, and finds resources for specific purposes.

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