Reference no: EM131221206 , Length: word count:1200

Question -

Merco recently entered into a written agreement with Eddo Publishing Co to subscribe for a monthly magazine called English for Migrants- Beginners to advanced stage. The background to the negotiations and the entering into the contract are as follows: Merco arrived in Australia about 7 months ago. He could not read or write in the English language. He could speak and understand spoken English only haltingly. He was employed as a clerical assistant by a large corporation. His job was to assist in operating the various photocopying machines used by the company. He had earlier enrolled in English language classes with an adult education centre conducted by the NSW government.

One day while Merco was having dinner in a café near where he worked he met Ted Upton, a sales representative for Eddo Publishing Co. They started chatting and Merco told Ted about his difficulty with English.  He said that this prevented him from getting any promotion in the company. Ted said that his employer published a monthly magazine called English for Migrants- Beginners to advanced stage. . He told Merco that the magazine would be of great advantage to a person in Merco's position. He explained that the magazine was very well thought of and was used by English teachers in their classes. Ted said this although he knew of only one teacher who used the magazine occasionally. He also told Merco that many employers have been recommending to their migrant employees that they obtain a subscription to the magazine. This statement is untrue. Ted informed Merco that if he wanted to take out a subscription he should do so immediately as there were a very limited number still available and only to persons selected by Ted. This statement is untrue.  'Act now or you will lose this opportunity to improve your English and this will prevent you getting promotion. Subscribe today Merco for a better future at work and in your social life'

Ted then produced a written contract of ten pages in length containing 90 clauses including a provision by which the subscriber agreed for an additional fee to purchase binders for each year's copies of the magazine from the publisher at the end of the year of the subscription. This clause was not brought to Merco's attention.

There was also a provision in the contract by which the publisher had the discretion to review the subscription price at six-monthly intervals during the currency of the subscription and to increase the price if in the opinion the production costs of the magazine had increased. This clause was not drawn to the attention of Merco.

Merco was not sure of most of the clauses in the contract and told Ted that he would like to telephone a solicitor friend to come to Merco's house that night to read through the contract document and explain the clauses to him. Ted told him there was nothing to be concerned about and that by waiting another day Merco might be too late to get the subscription. Ted said:' Sign the contract now and be sure of getting the magazine. You have time to go to your bank and get the money to begin your subscription. Merco withdrew the money from his bank and then signed the contract.  He handed the money to Ted for the subscription price. A few days later Merco had doubts about whether he should continue with the subscription even though all his workmates agreed that the content of the magazine was of a genuinely high standard and would be of benefit to him for the development of his English skills and for his future job prospects.

Merco now seeks your advice regarding the contract. He wants to know whether he can have the contract set aside.

Advise Merco.

You are required to support your answer by reference to relevant legal authority.

1200 words

5 references.