 Reading a document before signing it is always a good idea. In a recent case, a farmer consolidated loans with a local bank in return for a 30-year installment note. Actually, the note said that he had 30 years to pay it off with annual payments unless the bank decided to demand payment in full at any time. He didn't read that part. He also thought the interest rate was a fixed 4.25%, but that was only for the first five years.