StandardChartered is offering me money

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    13,099

    StandardChartered is offering me money

    I'm used to banks offering loans. I usually get calls/emails/letters offering relatively minor loans ($10,000-$100,000) on a fairly regular basis. Their frequency increases around tax time.

    Recently, about 3 weeks ago, I got a call from Standard Chartered telling me that I've been pre-approved for a loan up to $800,000.

    I immediately smelled a rat/scam coming along as I've never heard of such a thing in all my time in HongKong. The fact that we are still in a credit crunch got me thinking this must be a scam of some kind.

    So I looked, checked, enquired and turns out the whole thing is legit.
    The finance charges are high (in the range of 5-6% APR) but the money is available with very few strings attached.

    Alas, I dont need a loan so I wont take them up on this but I was curious if others have had similar offers.

    HC


  2. #2

    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    675

    I get pre-approved loan forms from HSBC through the post every couple of months it seems. All I have to do is sign the form as they have all my details typed in already. It really shouldn't be that easy...!


  3. #3

    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    13,099
    Quote Originally Posted by ArKay:
    I get pre-approved loan forms from HSBC through the post every couple of months it seems. All I have to do is sign the form as they have all my details typed in already. It really shouldn't be that easy...!
    Me2 - but the amount was very unusual this time. Normally I get offered small amounts but this time 800,000HKD.

    HC

  4. #4

    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    675

    Ah - no then....never been offered that much. Think the most I've been offered is around 3 times my salary. Way way short of 800k!


  5. #5

    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    Sarcasm - because beating the crap out of people is illegal
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    14,622

    I get "begging" letters and phone calls too. But $800,000 is a biggie.


  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Hong Kong
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    23,205

    I just had Citibank offering me $180,000 at an APR of about 5-6%, although I suspect it might not have happened if we got to the point of them finding out that I have no salary income.