How Much Do You Read of Contracts and Terms of Service? Survey on Anxiety About Contract Disputes (Investigated by Aoyama Tokyo Law Office)

We often encounter contracts and terms of service in our daily lives and work. We are asked to "sign" or "agree" in various situations, such as applying for services, using apps or web services, rental agreements, and service contracts. On the other hand, contracts often contain specialized terminology and detailed conditions, making it difficult to make a decision after fully understanding all the content.

In particular, pricing, contract periods, cancellation conditions, and refund rules are important points that can easily lead to disputes later. However, if the text is long or the wording is difficult, many people may feel anxious about whether they can "truly agree to this" or if they are "overlooking unfavorable terms."

Therefore, Aoyama Tokyo Law Office (https://www.at-law.jp/) conducted a "Survey on Contract Reading Habits and Anxiety About Contract Disputes" targeting 200 men and women aged 20 and over. The survey investigated the extent to which people check contracts and terms of service on a daily basis, what kind of content causes anxiety, and who they want to consult with when they have concerns.

We hope this survey will serve as an opportunity to understand general awareness of contracts and terms of service, and as a reference for considering how to check and who to consult with before entering into a contract.

Q1: To what extent do you usually check the content of contracts and terms of service?

Q2: What aspects of contracts make you particularly anxious?

Q3: If you have concerns about the contract terms, who would you first consult with or where would you check?

Summary: Checking and consulting before signing a contract is the first step to preventing disputes.

Q1. When signing a contract or agreeing to terms of service, to what extent do you usually check the content?

The most common answer was "I read all the content and confirm any unclear points before signing/agreeing," at 28.0% (56 people). Contracts and terms of service can include content that easily leads to disputes later, such as pricing, contract periods, and cancellation conditions. This indicates that a certain number of people not only skim through but also confirm any points they don't understand before making a decision.

Next, "I mainly check important-looking items such as pricing, cancellation conditions, and contract periods" was the most common answer at 20.0% (40 people). While reading every sentence in detail can be burdensome, many people want to check parts that directly affect them, such as payment details and conditions for ending the contract.

Additionally, "I check only the headings and items of interest" accounted for 16.0% (32 people), and "I check only the necessary parts based on the explanation from the contracting party" accounted for 9.5% (19 people). While not reading the entire text, a certain number of people check the parts that interest them or were explained.

On the other hand, "I often sign/agree without checking much" was 6.5% (13 people), and "I sign/agree without checking at all" was 2.5% (5 people). Although a minority, some people enter into contracts or agree without fully checking the content.

Furthermore, 12.0% (24 people) answered, "I rarely have the opportunity to sign contracts or agree to terms of service."

Q2. What aspects of contracts make you particularly anxious? (Multiple answers allowed: Note 1)

Note 1: Although this question allows for multiple selections, the choices are limited to three. This is to more clearly understand the information sources commonly used for everyday dining out.

The most common answer was "The contract is too long, and I'm afraid I might overlook risks or points of caution," at 41.5% (83 people). Contracts often contain important details as fine print, and it becomes difficult to concentrate on reading until the end if the text is long. Therefore, it is thought that many people feel anxious not only about the content itself but also about "whether they might skip reading important parts."

Next, "I'm worried about hidden additional charges or unfavorable billing" was 25.5% (51 people), and "There are many technical terms, and I can't understand what is written" was 24.0% (48 people). If you sign a contract without understanding its content, you may incur unexpected costs later or fail to notice unfavorable terms. In particular, with contracts that contain many legal or industry-specific terms, it is easy to feel anxious about whether you are correctly understanding the content even after reading it.

Additionally, "I'm worried that the verbal explanation may differ from the contract terms" was 22.5% (45 people), "Refund and cancellation rules are unclear" was 21.5% (43 people), and "I feel pressured that once I sign, there's no going back" was also 21.5% (43 people). Whether the explanation received before the contract differs from the written document, and whether cancellation or refunds are possible after the contract, are areas that can easily lead to disputes after the contract is signed. Therefore, it can be seen that many people have concerns not only about understanding the contract terms but also about how to handle issues after the contract is made.

Other responses included "Cancellation terms are difficult to understand, and I'm worried if I can cancel smoothly," at 15.5% (31 people); "I suspect there are only unfavorable terms for me," at 13.0% (26 people); "The automatic renewal mechanism is unclear and frightening," at 12.5% (25 people); and "I don't know where to consult in case of trouble," at 10.0% (20 people). Anxiety about contracts extends not only to the length and difficulty of understanding the text but also to specific situations after the contract, such as pricing, cancellations, refunds, and handling of troubles.

Q3. If you have concerns about the contract terms, who would you first consult with or where would you check?

The most common answer was "I would check with the representative or inquiry desk of the contracting party," at 24.0% (48 people). When people have concerns about contract terms, many seem to want to check directly with the party they are contracting with first. It is thought that the contracting party is chosen as a consultation destination because they can provide specific explanations about service details, pricing, and cancellation conditions, making it easier to resolve doubts.

Next, "I would search for information on internet articles and search engines" was the most common answer at 16.5% (33 people). Many people want to use internet searches as a quick way to find information when they feel anxious before signing a contract. This suggests a desire to check and understand the contract terms, points of caution, and common disputes in similar contracts on their own before making a decision.

Additionally, "I want to consult, but I don't know who to consult with" was 13.0% (26 people), and "I will decide for myself without consulting" was 12.0% (24 people). Even if people feel anxious, a certain number do not know the appropriate consultation destination or try to decide for themselves before consulting others. Even if they have concerns about contract terms, they do not always immediately consult experts or public institutions, and there are cases where they are unsure about how to choose a consultation destination.

Other responses included "I would consult with public institutions such as consumer affairs centers," at 9.0% (18 people); "I would consult with family, friends, or acquaintances," at 7.5% (15 people); and "I would consult with legal experts such as lawyers," at 6.0% (12 people).

On the other hand, "I would check the contracting party's official website, FAQ, or contract documents" was only 5.0% (10 people), and "I would look for similar cases on social media or review sites" was only 1.0% (2 people).

Furthermore, 6.0% (12 people) answered, "I rarely feel anxious about contract terms."

Summary: Checking and consulting before signing a contract is the first step to preventing disputes.

This survey suggests that while many people have the intention to "check contracts and terms of service thoroughly," they often feel unable to fully understand the content due to the length of the text and the difficulty of specialized terminology.

Contracts include information that can easily lead to disputes later, such as pricing, contract periods, cancellation conditions, and refund rules. However, in reality, it is not easy to read through all the items in detail, and it tends to lead to anxiety about "whether important parts are being overlooked" or "whether unfavorable terms are included."

Additionally, while some people think of the contracting party's representative or inquiry desk when they feel anxious, others are unsure who to consult with. If you have any doubts about the contract terms, it is important not to proceed with signing or agreeing without checking the content first and, if necessary, seeking the opinion of a third party.

Once a contract is signed or agreed to, it is not always possible to return to the original state even if you realize later that you "didn't understand it well." Therefore, organizing any unclear points before signing and making a decision with a clear understanding is crucial for preventing contract disputes.

Aoyama Tokyo Law Office handles consultations regarding contracts, articles of incorporation, and work rules. If you have any concerns when reading a contract, or if you feel anxious about whether "this content is okay to proceed with," please check the consultation services available on our official website first. Simply knowing what kind of support is available can make it easier to organize your pre-contractual anxieties.

Link to Aoyama Tokyo Law Office website

Survey Overview

Survey Date: June 18, 2026

Survey Area: Nationwide

Survey Organization: Freeasy

Survey Method: Online questionnaire survey

Survey Target/Number of Respondents: 200 men and women aged 20 and over

<<Conditions for Use of Survey Results>>

Please cite "Aoyama Tokyo Law Office, where the initial consultation is free" as the source of information.

When using on a website, please include the following link as the source.

URL:

https://www.at-law.jp/

About Aoyama Tokyo Law Office

Under the concept of "supporting a society where transactions can be made with peace of mind by preventing legal risks for companies and individuals," Aoyama Tokyo Law Office provides a wide range of legal services, focusing on contract review, contract drafting, and corporate legal support.

We provide careful support and practical advice from experienced lawyers to companies and individuals who have concerns about checking contract content and assessing legal risks.

We also support the establishment of a system that allows companies without in-house legal staff or those who cannot allocate sufficient resources to contract review to make contract decisions with confidence.

Point (1) "Contract Review and Legal Check" to Prevent Contract Risks Before They Occur

Once a contract is concluded, it is difficult to amend it later and can often lead to disputes. Aoyama Tokyo Law Office meticulously examines the contract content from a legal perspective, identifying clauses that could pose risks or unclear expressions in advance, thereby supporting clients in proceeding with contracts with peace of mind.

Point (2) Corporate Legal Support System Tailored to Practical Business Operations

We emphasize advice that considers actual business operations, not just legal interpretation. In addition to drafting and reviewing contracts, we handle all aspects of corporate legal affairs, including articles of incorporation and work rules, and provide ongoing legal support.

Point (3) Comprehensive Legal Support to Prevent Contract Disputes

We provide comprehensive legal support, including not only contract-related matters but also the prevention of transaction disputes and dispute resolution. Rather than providing one-off consultations, we aim to build a secure transaction environment through continuous legal support tailored to the situation of companies and individuals.

Overview of Aoyama Tokyo Law Office

Office Name: Aoyama Tokyo Law Office

Representative: Hajime Ueda

Location: Shinnansan Building East Wing 13F, 1-1-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

HP: https://www.at-law.jp/

Services Handled: Corporate Legal Affairs, Corporate Legal Affairs (Retainer Lawyer), Individual Legal Affairs