A reader can check a service claim by matching it against the agreement word by word, focusing on the exact services covered and the fees payable. Study Australia advises that written agent agreements should specify both “the exact services that are included in the fees” and “the fees you will pay.” Any claim not clearly reflected in those terms should remain unverified.
Start with services and fees
The two elements answer different questions:
- Services: What assistance is actually included?
- Fees: What amount must be paid, and what does the agreement say it covers?
A description of services does not, by itself, verify the fee. Likewise, a stated fee does not establish which services are included. Both elements must align with the claim being checked.
Compare each claim with the agreement
-
Break the claim into specific parts.
Separate the promised service from any related statement about cost or coverage. -
Find the corresponding written wording.
Look for language that describes the service and connects it, where applicable, to the stated fee. -
Classify the match.
Use three clear outcomes: - Matched: The written terms expressly cover the full claim. - Partly matched: Some elements appear, but others remain unclear. - Unmatched: The reviewed agreement contains no corresponding wording. -
Request clarification for missing wording.
If the claim is important, ask for the missing point to be explained in writing. Until then, the reviewed terms do not support that part of the claim.
| Written evidence | What to check | Result |
|---|---|---|
| The agreement identifies the claimed service and states that it is included in the fees | Both the service and its fee treatment are express | Matched |
| The service is mentioned, but its relationship to the fee is unclear | The service and the fee have not both been verified | Partly matched |
| The agreement does not address the claim | There is no corresponding support in the reviewed terms | Unmatched |
What the reader must still confirm
The comparison should be made against the complete agreement, not only a quotation, message, summary, or selected clause. The reader must still judge whether the wording covers every part of the claim and whether any important condition remains unclear.
Study Australia’s guidance identifies what a written agreement should specify; it does not determine whether a particular agreement is complete, legally enforceable, or suitable for the reader’s circumstances. A consistency check can confirm that a claim appears in the written terms, but it does not guarantee an outcome or turn an omitted promise into an agreed term.