Consumer Items: Misleading Mailings

This section is limited to items that appear to be something you need to open, something important, when it's just an ad. I think this should be illegal because, like SPAM, they're going to make people not want to open ANY of their mail, even the important stuff.

Must Be An Important Notice From MY Mortgage Company 4/05

Here's a mailing from National Discount Home Loans made to make me think it's from San Diego Loans (my mortgage broker) regarding MY loan:

National Discount Home Loans deception

• The front of the mailer made me wonder if it was FROM San Diego Loans so I opened it
• Bogus official sounding form number at the top. Completely unnecessary to provide their information
• "The authorized institution below..."  Makes it sound like a 3rd party, maybe the gummint, is informing you that Nationwide has been authorized to offer you a loan. Well, Nationwide is referring to themselves so this info is superfluous (they show their CA license # farther down) and intended to mislead.

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