# Thank you Bank of America! How can I resist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 26, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-bank-of-america-how-can-i-resist/461308 "2008-08-26T14:13:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-bank-of-america-how-can-i-resist/461308/1 "2008-08-26T14:13:42Z")
I’ve just gotten one of those promotions from my credit card company that includes a check you can write against your card, with a special interest rate. This one is really special: **9998%** No, there’s no missing decimal point. That’s it. Nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-eight percent, or as it says in the small type at the bottom, 27.93179% corresponding Daily Periodic Rate. What a deal! How can I pass this up? By my calculations, if I cash this check for $100 now, I’ll only have to make low monthly payments of $83.316.67 to pay off the loan in a year. And my credit line is $20,000! I knew the banks were in trouble, [Groucho voice] but this is ridiculous.[/GV] ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-bank-of-america-how-can-i-resist/461308/2 "2008-08-26T14:46:10Z")
What the heck? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-bank-of-america-how-can-i-resist/461308/3 "2008-08-26T14:50:05Z")
Don’t do it. They lure you in with an attractive rate but then get you with the hidden fees. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-bank-of-america-how-can-i-resist/461308/4 "2008-08-26T15:28:40Z")
Don’t just throw away the offer, either. Shred it, or better yet burn it. They are easily stolen and used fraudulently by thieves, and if you’re victimized, there are scant protections for you. [More information here](http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/CreditCardSmarts/DangerousChecksInTheMail.aspx). I predict that these will be targeted for very strict regulation, or even outlawed completely, in the next five years. They’re that big of a horror show. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-bank-of-america-how-can-i-resist/461308/5 "2008-08-26T15:37:35Z")
At least it’s not 999 **9** %. That could get expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2008, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-bank-of-america-how-can-i-resist/461308/6 "2008-08-26T15:37:55Z")
You might want to contact your local paper and see if they’re interested in it as a humorous story. ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2008, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thank-you-bank-of-america-how-can-i-resist/461308/7 "2008-08-27T02:56:53Z")
[QUOTE=Santo Rugger] At least it’s not 999 **9** %. That could get expensive. [/QUOTE] It is. In the fine print, they tell you how it’s 9998 and 9/10%, just like at a gas station.