Wednesday, June 22, 2011

When it's better to flout the law.

Somebody sent me the following:-

A Chinese man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. He tells the loan officer that he is going to China on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000. The bank officer tells him that the bank will need some form of security for the loan, so the Chinese man hands over the keys to a new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank. He produces the title and everything checks out. The loan officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. 

The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the Chinese for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drives the Ferrari into the bank's underground garage and parks it there. 

Two weeks later, the Chinese returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41. The loan officer says, "Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multi-millionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?" 


The Chinese replies: "Where else in New York City can I park my car for 2 weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return?" 



I had my own experience a few years ago. I have a Chinese friend who owns a company selling new cars. Once in a while he goes to his bank to deposit cash. I saw that he parked his car very close to the bank and in most cases he parked illegally. 


So one day I asked him why most of the time he parked illegally at the particular bank. Was he not afraid of being summoned by the authorities? He simply replied that he preferred being summoned by the authorities than being robbed if he parked legally somewhere else. 

No comments: