I thought you guys might appreciate a chuckle. My girlfriend received this in the mail yesterday. It is from a credit card company she already has a card with.

Here it is:

Congratulations!!
YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED
Pre-approved Credit Line Increase...$350
(Respond by May 1, 2001)

Dear --name--:

Your excellent account management is recognized by --bank name here--. Because of your commitment to responsible financial management, we have selected your account to receive a Pre-Approved Credit Line Increase of $350

This exclusive credit line increase will allow you the financial freedom that comes with a --bank name here-- credit card. Simply complete the Acceptance Certificate below and return it to us immediately in the enclosed envelope or visit us on the web at --bank url-- to accept this credit line increase offer via the Internet. If approved, your line will be increased within 48 hours! Respond today! You don't have to send any money to accept this offer! A $100 Credit line increase fee will be billed directly to your account.*

This special offer is our way of thanking you for your business. We realize the importance of good customers like you.
This offer is available for a limited time!

Sincerely,
--fake signature--
--printed name--
Cardholder Enhancement Services

*The Processing fee is a FINANCE CHARGE that will be treated as a "Cash Advance" or "Loan" under your Account Terms.

I won't even comment on it. I'll let you guys do it!

Regards,
Michael

Damn, if she's getting an *increase* to $350, what the heck is the limit *now* ??? Ohhh, and I love the "A $100 Credit line increase fee..." - did she tell them to blow it out their donkey?

You should see the junk mail I get.....

Chicken,

It was an increase of $350. Yeah we thought the $100 thing was pretty amusing too! No, she didn't tell them to do that! I just threw it away!

A few months ago though, I started writing in big black permanent marker "Return to Sender. Please Remove Me From Your List!" on all my junk mail and popping it right back in the mail! There is one company that I have sent an offer back to at least 10 times and probably more. I just got another one of their offers yesterday!

Here's a tip, if anyone else wants to start doing this! Bulk mail cannot be returned by writing "Return to Sender" on it, however, if you open it up there is usually a postage paid or no postage necessary envelope inside. Use that one to send them the message! heh heh he.

-Michael

Sadly, that's pretty typical of the kinds of offers credit card issuers give to people with unestablished or "substandard" credit histories. Typically it means the rest of the terms for that card probably aren't all that good either: high interest rate, annual fee, or no grace period usually distinguish these things. Lots of times people have to start out, though, using such cards; I hope she uses the card and maintains a good payment history. Then she should apply for a card elsewhere with a better deal, and cancel this one!

The other kind of credit card offer that amuses me are those for pre-approved cards, but sent out with no knowledge by the issuing institution about who the recipient really is. I get these at a couple of different office addresses, by virtue of being on various business-related mailing lists. Obviously, since they don't have my real address, they don't have a social security number and have no idea what my credit rating is. I usually open them to get a chuckle out of the terms; usually something like a 27.75% interest rate and an annual fee of $75 or so.

Originally posted by MichaelD
Here's a tip, if anyone else wants to start doing this! Bulk mail cannot be returned by writing "Return to Sender" on it, however, if you open it up there is usually a postage paid or no postage necessary envelope inside. Use that one to send them the message! heh heh he.And, if you want to really helpful, put some useful stuff in that envelope along with your message. Maybe literature some other company mailed you. Maybe a few pages out of the newspaper or a magazine. Don't worry if that bumps the weight of the envelope too high, it'll just be deducted from your friendly postal correspondant's business reply mail account!

It might be interesting to take the postage paid return envelope, cut out letters from a magazine to form a ransom note type letter that says

"All your credit are belong to us" :) :)

Originally posted by Phiberop
"All your credit are belong to us" :) :) I love it when all the threads come together.

Originally posted by Phiberop
"All your credit are belong to us" :) :) As one of the world's leading proponents of running jokes into the ground, I heartily endorse this followup.

Are we talking about $350 with $100 fee to increase that amount. I think you should send this paper back to them and ask them to use it as a paper toilet. You know what I mean
;)

Holy crud! You just never know when an old post is going to pop up out of thin air!

Oh well, I might as well respond to JayC because I am here. :)
Originally posted by JayC
Sadly, that's pretty typical of the kinds of offers credit card issuers give to people with unestablished or "substandard" credit histories. Typically it means the rest of the terms for that card probably aren't all that good either: high interest rate, annual fee, or no grace period usually distinguish these things. Lots of times people have to start out, though, using such cards; I hope she uses the card and maintains a good payment history. Then she should apply for a card elsewhere with a better deal, and cancel this one!JayC,

I was rather offended (which is why I did not respond sooner... I was cooling off! :) ) at your brash generalization based upon peoples mail. Just because someone receives an offer such as this does not mean they fit your criteria of "unestablished or 'substandard' credit histories". And, on the other end of the spectrum.... just because I received a credit card offer the other day that had great terms and offered a 100,000 business credit line... does mean I have good credit! :) Credit card offers do not discriminate!

Let me clarify. My girlfriend (my wife now ;)) will not ever EVER EVER be accepting this offer! I posted this for a chuckle, that was all. Like I said, it's tossed. Probably already in the city dump! This is a card she has had for over a year and with which she has maintained a "good payment history". I just thought it was immensely amusing that they would expect her to pay $100 to get a $350 increase in her credit!

Originally posted by JayC
The other kind of credit card offer that amuses me are those for pre-approved cards, but sent out with no knowledge by the issuing institution about who the recipient really is. I get these at a couple of different office addresses, by virtue of being on various business-related mailing lists. Obviously, since they don't have my real address, they don't have a social security number and have no idea what my credit rating is. I usually open them to get a chuckle out of the terms; usually something like a 27.75% interest rate and an annual fee of $75 or so. Yeah, those "Pre-approved" offers are such a crock! It doesn't mean a thing! As far as annual fees, high interest, membership fees, etc., why in the world would I want to pay an annual fee (or the other crap) to have a credit card? These companies must think we are all VERY desperate to get credit. It makes me chuckle.

Originally posted by Phiberop
It might be interesting to take the postage paid return envelope, cut out letters from a magazine to form a ransom note type letter that says

"All your credit are belong to us" :) :) (remember to report phiberop to the local FBI office... just in case!):D
Originally posted by JayC
I love it when all the threads come together.
I remember that other thread... it's funny how that works sometimes, isn't it?Originally posted by JayC
As one of the world's leading proponents of running jokes into the ground, I heartily endorse this followup. I heartily endorse JayC's endorsement. :)Originally posted by m6.net
Are we talking about $350 with $100 fee to increase that amount.I am not sure what her credit line is... but it was $100 to increase it by $350. Still a stupid offer though.Originally posted by m6.net I think you should send this paper back to them and ask them to use it as a paper toilet. You know what I mean;) Hmmm... I will keep that in mind for next time! :)

Regards,
Michael

You'd be surprised how these credit card companies get your name, and what exactly "pre-approved" really means! And you'd be just as surprised to find out how easy it is for some schmuck to steal your identity and run up credit in YOUR name! This has become a bit of a crusade for me. Best thing to do is go here, http://www.creditfederal.com , gobs of pages of information to prevent credit card fraud, what to do if you're a victim, and how to prevent tons of hassles... not to mention how not to lose your hard earned cash - ola!

Toni