Odd sizes
As we talked about earlier, the rate card will explain how unusual situations are handled, such as when an advertiser wants to run an ad spreading across two pages facing each other, what the majority of the industry calls a "double truck". In some cases, newspapers charge for both pages plus the normally unused space, or "spine", that runs down between the two pages.

Disclaimers
The rate card is also a legal document, containing everything the newspaper needs to protect itself if something goes horribly wrong. Whether the ad is printed wrong or doesn't make it in the newspaper, or the newspaper presses burn down and the paper isn't published, you're covered by the fine print in the rate card. You should read it over carefully and make sure all your advertisers have been given a rate card so they know what you're liable for. This might keep you out of trouble later.

Advertising acceptance guidelines
Every newspaper has to decide what types of advertising it will accept. Usually the types of ads a newspaper won't accept for publication are for things their readers might find offensive--ads for strip clubs, phone sex lines, etc. Some newspapers also try to watch out for the readers interests by not allowing certain ads that they know aren't legitimate. Some restrictions are based on other factors. For example, if your newspaper is sent through the U.S. Mail, most likely lotteries or games of chance are not allowed because you can't hold a lottery through the mail (Publisher's Clearinghouse gets away with it because it's free to enter, which doesn't make it a lottery).

Look in your rate card for any restrictions, or ask about it. I have been told that once a salesperson accepts an ad from an advertiser, that the paper is legally required to run it. This may not be true any longer, but if you are ever given a questionable ad from a business, you might want to tell the retailer that you're not sure if you can accept this ad for publication. Explain that you'll get back to him once you run it by your manager.

Billing periods
Finally, the rate card might discuss billing terms, how to establish credit, and what happens if the advertiser doesn't pay his bills.