Determined to set the record straight, Hal wrote a polite but firm letter to First National, stating that he had never done business with the named company and wouldn’t be paying a cent. A week later, another letter arrived, now warning of "serious consequences" if payment wasn’t received. So, Hal decided to have some fun.
He mailed back an even more official-looking letter on stationery from “The National Association of Honest Citizens,” claiming he had reviewed his records and, in fact, the First National Credit Bureau owed him $23.75 for wasting his time. He kindly requested payment within 10 business days, “lest further action be required.”
A month passed with no reply until one afternoon, Hal received a call from an exasperated collections agent. “Sir, you do not understand how this works,” the man sputtered.
“Oh, I do,” Hal said cheerfully. “And I’ll be happy to clear up your mistake for the reasonable processing fee of $23.75.”
There was silence on the other end of the line. Then a defeated sigh.
The letters stopped coming.
The First National Credit Bureau, Inc., started business in Detroit in 1932 and was incorporated in Michigan in 1934, at the height of the Depression when lots of people owed lots of money. It remained a strictly Michigan business until 1948, when it opened a branch office in Akron, OH, then Cleveland, Cincinnati, Grand Rapids, and on. By the early 1960s, it had 23 branch offices in Michigan and Ohio, all busily collecting bad debts for a nifty fee of 5 ½% of the total owed. Most of its “customers” weren’t as intelligent as the Mr. Thompson above and paid. It continued to expand into the far West in the 1980s before going out of business altogether around 2000.
This sign dates from the 1940s, when it first expanded its business in Michigan in the post-World War II boom and recession years. It hired a lot of people from the banking and credit worlds, but also employed commissioned salespeople and even ministers, all to wheedle cash from the many ne'er-do-wells it was told about. This sign is lithographed aluminum, measures 8 x 3 inches (20 x 8 cm), and is in good to very good condition, with a bit of gloss and excellent text. Just a little bit of discoloration in parts.
A nice bit of decoration for a World War II and mid-century modern recreated office, bank, or display. Hang it in your recreated auto garage or shop to remind deadbeats to pay up or else. A great gag gift for that somebody who has chronic cash problems. Shipped carefully packed. Check out our other vintage collectibles at www.ebay.com/str/agitpropshoppe
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