Don't we get some just oh-so-marvellous letters occasionally?

14 years ago

I received a window envelope today, bare except for being addressed to "current occupant".

On opening it, I found a scissors-detachable "Payday Certificate" at the bottom of a legal-sized sheet, offering me a guarantee of at least "Two hundred and sixty dollars" ...

... and assuring me that I've been pre-approved ... as "The Cash Store cash advance centers" reiterated in the banner headline at the top of the page, also assuring me of, "No Hassles. No credit checks". Local address ... but they used U.S. spelling style for their logo.

When I bring in certain items (pic I D, verification of earning rate and current address verification) ...

... I can walk out with the money!!

Rental rate on $100. for 14 days is ...

... $22.26 ...

... and for the $260.00 is ...

... $57.88!

Heck ... that'd pay the interest on my fully-secured Line of Credit, at 2.25%, for 25.72 years (assuming that I paid the rent month-by-month) at the bank: I prefer 25 years to less than 14 days (as their office isn't open at midnight).

They can call their entity a "Store" if they like ... but I'd call it a rental office!

I'd offer to send the certificate to you ...

... but ...

... it's "NOT TRANSFERABLE".

Sorry - you know that I like to be helpful, when I can!

They'll cash cheques for 2.5% - "lowest industry rate", offer a "Freedom" Mastercard ... and will allow me to transfer money via Western Union for minimum of 5% off of their usual wire transfer rate.

Aren't those impressive offers?

And just imagine ... to a plain ordinary Joe like me!

Have a great week - avoid the clutches (that's "teeth") of the loan sharks!

ole joyful

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Comments (7)

cbtexas
14 years ago
I throw ALL to current occupant mail away. If they don't even know my name to put it on the label, then how can they pre-approve me even if I was looking to take out a loan. Glad you didn't fall for that off OJ. That is a lot of pair of new under britches.
Mystical Manns
14 years ago
We keep getting mail from.... I think it's Citibank ... saying we're "pre-approved for $274,000." I keep writing "NO THANKS" on the form letter that misspells my name each and every time, and mailing it back to them (in their postage-paid envelope, of course).
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cbtexas
14 years ago
Good for you Stoney. I do that also but switch companies. Put one credit card offer in another companies prepaid envelope. I also put the offers to buy cheap magazines or gifts in with my payment to my utility companies with NOTHING signed. Why can't they just send a bill without all the other propaganda too? I bet the person who opens those envelopes thinks I'm looney for taking the time to return all the crap they send.
cynic
14 years ago
Oh I like to return the penalty envelopes, but wait! There's MORE! I put in the rest of the junk mail and anything I can find to add weight to it. If you get it over the ounce they not only pay the penalty but an additional fee on top of it. Plus you get rid of your garbage. Been waiting for one to put a dead fish into and send them dinner on me.

If I find some scrap masonite I'm tempted to cut it up into envelope sized pieces and include that as a notepad.

Although I always tear off the address portion of the advertisement unless I put on there that I "opt out" of their mailing list.
joyfulguy
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi again cynic,

Have you ever tried particleboard? Don't know if you use that term, but it's essentially sawdust with a bit of binder included, covered ith a plastic sheet of, usually, wood-grain look.

Though you may not have any scrap stuff on hand, as you conduct your social interaction up and down the street or among your friends, probably you can find some, if you ask.

If you have to pay for garbage removal, think of the savings there - oh, sorry, this isn't the "Money Saving Tips" forum!

Hope you're enjoying a mischievous week!

ole joyful
jannie
14 years ago
I got a check for $5000 several months ago from my local Ford dealer. I had recently purchased a used 2002 Ford Explorer for my 19 year old daughter to use for school and work. The check was good only toward purchasse of a NEW Ford vehicle. I discarded it. I am happy to say I own four vehicles and have no car payments any more. It's nice to have that monkey off my back!
joyfulguy
Original Author
14 years ago
Hi Jannie,

That $5,000. is about double the price that I usually plan to pay for an experienced vehicle, which I pay for in cash.

What do you think the possibility might be that they'd give me a couple of cars for that cheque?

I assume that it was to put toward the purchase of new one.

I last bought a "new" car (last year's model, that had been stored till the following spring) 33 years ago last spring.

In earlier times, when new (domestic nameplate) cars were selling at less discounted prices, I've sometimes suggested that when someone buys a new car, it's as though they had placed 50 $100 bills on the empty passenger seat beside them, with the window open, and that en route home they all flew out of the window.

Good wishes for increasingly shrewd use of your income ... and assets - getting them to work harder for you than for the other guys.

ole joyful

Don't we get some just oh-so-marvellous letters occasionally?

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cbtexas

Mystical Manns

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Don't we get some just oh-so-marvellous letters occasionally?

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cbtexas

Mystical Manns

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