Why yes, Chase, that's exactly what I've always wanted.
How in the world did you know?
Real checks and cash are so overrated. I mean, really, why would I want to wait until I have the money for a purchase when you're there, offering me the opportunity to pay fees and interest on top of the purchase price?
Sign me up, baby!
/sarcasm
Oh my goodness, I hate those things. We must get them in the mail once or twice a month. I rip them up in tiny little pieces. It is more satisfying then shreading them.
lol! and it wouldn't be SO bad if they were marketing this as a way to pay for something essential. But a lot of the letters I get encourage me to use these "checks" to pay for a vacation, or a home improvement project.
Insane.
So many jokes about government spending are coming to my mind right now...
I wish we got them once or twice a month. I kid you not, we get at least FOUR every week - two each, for my husband and myself. That is ridiculous!!! What a horrible waste of resources! So, I finally opened one up, found a phone number and called requesting that we be taken off their mailing list, because we were NEVER going to take advantage of their offers. The lady I spoke to was extremely nice and said she would gladly take our name off their list. I had also shared with her how MUCH and how frequently we were getting these mailings. She apologized for any inconvenience and annoyance they might have caused. Then she told me that they are printed up MONTHS IN ADVANCE and automatically mailed out on a schedule. She said it probably would be several months before we stopped receiving them. She advised that I wait three or four months and if they continued, to call again. That was a couple of weeks ago and they continue to show up like clock work - and I continue to throw them away - un-opened.
About 10 years ago Dave Ramsey had a great letter to credit sharks. You would put in in the return envelope postage paid of course. This worked and was so much fun. Just call the universal opt out number for all credit cards. I receive NO credit card offers, checks etc. My hubby still gets some though cause he's too lazy to call.
i love dave ramsey 😉 i once sent back the paper ripped up in the envelope. LOL
Chase is not doing its market segmentation properly.
Oh and for anyone who gets these checks: rip, shred or burn them. A person of ill-intent can use them in ways that negatively affect you.
A good paper shredder is a wise investment. My grandmother used to burn all such things but they don't look too highly on those practices any more. 😉
I always shred mine, mostly because I need more shredded paper for my compost bin! lol
This is very applicable:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/1389/saturday-night-live-dont-buy-stuff
The fact that it's comedy is probably the "worst" part about it.
I love that skit...SO awesome. I keep meaning to post it here, actually!
I get these all the time. In fact, whenever I get something from Chase I know that it's either these or a change to my agreement.
With the interest and fees in using these, why not just go to the bank and get a small personal loan if you absolutely NEED the money now? Of course, if you do things right and save for a rainy day and pinch your pennies and such, you won't need to ever use such things.
UGH! We shred these as soon as they come in the door from the mailbox!
Shame on the credit cards companies for this. I get these all the time and I absolutely hate them. ESPECIALLY because I request paperless statements, and these still come in the mail! It's a double-whammy of risk of identity theft and excessive paper use!
Also, it's awful how the credit card companies prey on people who aren't very good with their finances. Just look at how that letter is written. It's dumbed down, and written like a marketing scam. Seriously, shame on them.
It takes tinme to get removed from the mailing lists but the phone call is worth it. The flood does stop eventually. I've even taken the step of putting a week's worth of 'solicitations' in a larger envelope (unopened), written a letter kindly asking to be removed, and sent them all back in a big envelope to the return address. Returning the favor, so to speak, by flooding their mailbox!
When I get unsolicited solicitations, shred paper with identifying information and use the prepaid envelope to return the rest to the company - at their cost.
When I get unsolicited solicitations, I shred paper with identifying information and use the prepaid envelope to return the rest to the company - at their cost.
Between these, the letters asking me to give my bank details so someone can release all their millions from a far away country, the ones asking me to invest in a scheme to bet on horses that are guaranteed to win....it's always interesting opening my mail or reading my emails
I hate these things as well! I get them from Bank of America. What's even funnier to me is that I barely ever even write checks anymore! If I were dumb enough to use these to try to fund a vacation, I don't even know how I could pay Orbitz with a check. 😛
BTW, identity theft through snail mail only accounts for about 4% of identity theft cases.. but better safe than sorry, I suppose.
I write checks for exactly two things...tithe for my church (oddly enough, the offering plate does not take credit cards! lol) and my water bill. My county charges me extra for the privilege of paying online (which I do NOT understand. Wouldn't it save them money and time to not have to process my mail and deposit my check??).
I am having the same problem with our phone bill; they keep encouraging us to "go paperless," and yet when we try to enroll we get a message that our account currently does not qualify for paperless billing. What?!?!? We've called, written, etc. but nothing has changed, so I have to write a check every month.
Those unsolicited checks go right to the shredder without passing go and then head right on over to the compost.
What??! is right. Seriously, what. On. Earth.
That's like the time I tried to use my doctor's after-hours emergency number... you know, the one their phone tree pointed me to... to be told, "We're sorry, no one is available to take your call..." *flails*
Hi Kristen,
I get around this by using my bank's bill pay program. There is no charge for the service and they send an actual check to your designated payees. You can set it up so you pay it manually or automatically.
hahahaha! Funny indeed. And of all the banks in the world {not including credit unions} I love Chase! I prayed for them to California when I first moved out here.
Side note: who writes checks? I don't write them too often anymore. Cash is in!
I burn every piece of junk mail that has my name on it! Checks most definitely included!
Ugh, what a pain. Our credit card company keeps upping our credit limit without us asking. Don't know why - we always pay off our smallish amount every month!
LOL!!! Loved your "sarcasm" - so true - and I totally agree! In the shredder it goes - because I need packing material to ship my ceramics in! ;- )
Thanks for brightening my day, Kristen!
Ugh. I used to get those cheques every month with my M/C bill. I got so tired of shredding them, so I called up Customer Service and requested that the cheques never been sent to me again. Haven't seen them since, and I get a lot less in my mailbox since I went paperless. 🙂
I pay my rent by cheque, and that's only because I can't pay it online...
Are they serious? That is hilariously sad.
Well, at least you got compost out it! A most appropriate use, come to think of it 🙂
Our church has started automatic withdrawals. We filled out a form stating how much and how often, weekly, monthly, etc. Its nice, I was always scrambling to write out a check before the plate came around.
dave ramsey say's you spend 12-17% more swiping even a debit card. cash register's as pain in the brain. i never paid cash b4 & i always used my debit (or credit ~YIKES). only thing is it takes me longer to shop now because if i don't have enough, i have to decide on what i don't need ( like 3 pair of shorts for my daughter in different colors) i spend alot less. & now i'm on a budget. we weren't for the first 8 yrs of marriage. i don't know how we did it. i wasted so much money & food. BLAH! well, atleast we are still young & learned this now. FINANCIAL FREEDOM. i love it. we are planning to pay off all our debt ( including college & house) in 5-6 yrs. $116,000 maybe even sooner 😉
I understand hating stuff like this if you arent a member of Chase... but if you are, I can understand it.
My bank sent me 4 checks last year. I could use them as normal checks, but they'd go on my credit card. I'd incur a slightly elevated interest. It just so happens that my now fiancee lost his job and couldn't find another one. I was in school and we already had food stamps. The checks were a god send. I never carry a balance on my credit card anyway, but these helped me pay off my bills and gave me 30 days to pay off my credit card---which was enough time for the boy to get a job and me to get extra christmas money.
So I DO understand the need... and won't throw them away if my bank sends more. Now if CHASE sends em to me (I don't have an account with em) I'd probably shred them too 🙂
Ugh, I hate Chase bank. They have our mortgage and give us the run around about things that shouldn't be issues. The even stopped paying our home owners insurance and it was cancelled. After I made it very clear not to send me any thing except what is directly related to our mortgage, they continue to send absurd things like these checks.
I am a "Chase hater " also .Many banks do crazy things ,but Chase sure excelled in that!!Way to go Chase( WaMu and what else)... We had mortgage with them and I even used to be their employee for 5 years or so! Now when I get anything from them I shred it without even looking what is in there.