The internet contract
A short in Serbian text at level B1. The translation sits next to it: reading with a dictionary is still too early at this level, and without support it will not happen at all. I signed the internet contract without reading a single clause to the end. I thought the plan was fixed, but it turned…
Text
- Потписао сам уговор за интернет не прочитавши ни један члан до краја. Мислио сам да је тарифа фиксна, а испало је да се после шест месеци мења. Кад сам позвао да раскинем уговор, рекли су ми да по закону морам да платим накнаду. Тражио сам да ми то пошаљу писмено, јер усмени договор ништа не значи ако дође до спора. На крају смо се погодили: платио сам половину износа, а услов је био да не тражим нову услугу код њих.Potpisao sam ugovor za internet ne pročitavši ni jedan član do kraja. Mislio sam da je tarifa fiksna, a ispalo je da se posle šest meseci menja. Kad sam pozvao da raskinem ugovor, rekli su mi da po zakonu moram da platim naknadu. Tražio sam da mi to pošalju pismeno, jer usmeni dogovor ništa ne znači ako dođe do spora. Na kraju smo se pogodili: platio sam polovinu iznosa, a uslov je bio da ne tražim novu uslugu kod njih.I signed the internet contract without reading a single clause to the end. I thought the plan was fixed, but it turned out it changes after six months. When I called to cancel the contract, I was told that by law I had to pay a compensation. I asked them to send it to me in writing, because a verbal agreement means nothing if it comes to a dispute. In the end we settled: I paid half the amount, on condition that I wouldn't order a new service from them.
Comprehension questions
The questions are asked in Russian on purpose: we test your understanding of the text, not your ability to read the question.
- What didn't he do before signing?
- What changed after six months?
- Why did he ask for a written answer?
- How did it all end?
Frequently asked
What level do you need to read this text in Serbian?
B1. That means: you know the letters and have a stock of everyday words — about two or three hundred.
How to read a text in an unfamiliar language usefully?
First all the way through without peeking at the translation — just to catch the familiar words. Then with the translation. Then all the way through again: the second pass brings noticeably more, and that feeling matters more than any rule.