Throughout history, usury laws made loan sharks commonplace.[clarification needed] Many moneylenders skirted between legal and extra-legal activity. In the recent western world, loan sharks have been a feature of the criminal underworld, but are otherwise rare. Loan sharks are common in the UK and among the Italian Cosa Nostra[citation needed] and Triads in China.
Now that we understand what a loan shark is, but nowadays loan shark are very sophisticated and organized. Heck from what i understand loan shark even can register their shell company and keep changing and upgrade. They run their business as any business would. Their objective? Probably same as the bank. But they loan to poor people, while bank lend to the rich. These are actually some of the good thing when those bank turn their cold shoulder towards the poor. Everyone needs to survive in this dying world, but before the world comes to an end the story won't change. You still have to buy your food from any food stall or cook them yourself. The sad part about having loan shark is that, they don't target the person who loan. They simply want to get their money back, at all cost. Which include terrorizing and sticking papers to notify you and those near you *pray you don't have any kepo auntie lurking around to spread the news like 95.8FM*.
Back in the days, when loan shark operates they always beautify your front door with paint such as below
On the left, are what traditional loan shark would basically do, sometimes i get some sense that whoever that sits on top of the loan shark food chain has some splash painting experience, and are very into art. Judging by the stroke of the paint and color it is safe to say they have no intention of making a mess around the area except for the door. But wait, something is missing in this picture. Due to cost cutting even loan shark knows ROI would not be easily achieve by hanging a pig head on the front door as it is very expensive to get one nowadays in this modern city.
Detailed examination of the door reveals something quite interesting, 2 part red and 1 part yellow. Red signifies glory and firm. While yellow is a happy color. I might be wrong but whoever that does this are highly coordinated and might be suffering from work tension. Hence the color choice. Lets not talk about the past and fast forward to today and with high tech easily available for every home and business. Loan shark has change their strategy and also approach. How do i know this? You really have to see it to believe it. Even know the loan shark is not after me, but i'm close enough to taste it.
Here's my encounter: 2 months ago, 2 guys from a financial group they call themselves financial officer. On a very Lazy sunday morning, while everyone is out buying grocery and church. I'm praying in my bed while dreaming. *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* (apparently the knock is loud enough to wake me up) *KNOCK knock KNOCK* upon opening the door, 2 old guy probably in their 40's open their mouth and say "Is *Andy* (not his real name) home!?". I'm still in my dream, i thought to myself "For the love of god, it's sunday." but instead i say "Who are you?", the other guy is keeping a lookout at this time, and the first guy say "We're from a financial company, *andy* credit card is over limit". These are 2 very bad liar, but then again they are not looking for me. So i got *andy* up and went back to sleep. When i woke up *andy* is still alive. So i didn't pay any attention to it.
2 months later, on sunday morning (15/8/10) (again it's sunday! what is wrong with these people). I was awaken by my phone ringing, picked it up.... i said hello... No one answered! but it keep ringing.Then i notice it's an sms, so start the back and forth smses. Then i found myself wide awake after that. Decided to watch some bleach, when suddenly there was a very very gentle knock. If i didn't know better i thought it was from across the block. Ignored it until it stopped. Then comes a gentle "hello", and another "hello" *gentle* 3 tap knock and then there was silence. So the normal routine for sunday if i wake up early, i would go have coffee and see what has installed for me. Upon opening my door, i saw a piece of paper stuck on the metal gate door. In my mind *when does all these properties people are going to stop terrorizing all the blocks with their flyers*. Snap the paper off and turn to the front page just to find that it's an officially print out paper notifying *andy* to pay the amount stated or legal action would be taken. That's the same crap i saw 2 months ago, i thought *andy* would have settled the issue already. I'm impressed by how the notice is being printed out, they have format, time and date, company logo and slogan, complete with official layout of a memo.
Nothing special throughout the day, until 11pm++. When i got down to get some coffee and just right then when i was going into the elevator. I saw this :
this thing is literally stuck like this
I'm sure this sight is very common. but further inspection of the *unofficial* notice, there is *andy*'s full name (i didn't even know his full name if it's not for this notice, and also his identification card!) there is a lot of information here. So anyway the loan shark runner nowadays are very well educated. They have notepads and red marker pen. it used to be just paint and a strong arm. Now they have to write and express their intention. That's why parent always remind their child to stay in school and study smart. I used to think that kopi kia (coffee server) are not educated and pitiful, due to repeated reminder that if i don't study hard i will become one. Anyway judging from the hand writing and the size of letters plus the speed of writing. Whoever write this is right handed, cannot coordinate letter size very well on white paper which means he was copying these words from another paper as due to concern that all the letters won't fit in his *i would bet SGD10 this is written by a guy* white sheet of notepad. More interestingly, this is written by 2 person. So now you know loan shark runner operate in the team of 2 just like a police patrol using buddy system just in case something happen. Of course there are more stuff you can get if you analyse these sheet of paper. I have to disagree with their method of terror. There are so many ways of asking your money back, but this is just plain weird and can be charge for terrorizing the safety of citizen. Just to clarify, the first notice and this notice are just 12 hours apart. *Andy* are currently no where to be found. And i am getting my shit out of here!!!
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