the•truth•shall•set•you•free

a certain bank - 9875.36

another bank - 4821.58

(another bank lurking dangerously somewhere. i pray it doesnt rear its head anytime)

a certain loanshark - 50/wk for nth no. of wks

[lets say its 1 yr (and dats prolly a conservative estimate, cld be more, much more) = 52 wks = 50 x 52 =] 2600.00

another loanshark 100/wk for nth no. of wks

[ditto top = 2600 x 2 =] 5200.00

(another loanshark hiding behind some dark alley, ready to strike)

yet another bank, but now its a bank loan - 10000.00

but of coz, they have their subtle differences as well.

for instance, when the bank wants to demand money fr you, they call you incessantly or get a machine to call you incessantly (read: day after day, many times each day). then they'll send you a warning letter, threatening, in no uncertain terms, that they will 'commence legal proceedings against you without further notice'.

whereas for the less legal, their threats take the form of (alot of) vulgarities/hurlings/red paint/pig head [(?) - yet to experience. will report and take photos if/when i do].

victim: hello, ah [insert any loanshark-y name] ah..?

loanshark: ah, si mi dai ji? li xiang?

victim: wa si *** eh friend. (gives up trying to speak in hokkien) can *** pay the debt nxt wk or not?

loanshark: buay sai lah!

victim: can give more grace period or not? *** cannot pay by this wk lah. *** no money at all, you like dat force also still no money mah..

loanshark: mai luan luan gong hor, wa ma la wu force* li. li eh friend ga wa ya lui, do ai heng lah! si mi force. li gieo li eh friend ga gi ga wa gong. (slams down phone adamantly)

*if you are required to pay a certain amt every wk and when you dun, something bad will happen to you, ISNT DAT CALLED FORCE??!! 做贼心虚.

**vulgarities edited to maintain purity of blog.

变相的高利贷

(anybody knows the meaning of 变相?)

wits' end, sometimes.