Based on our experience, there's nothing that generates more mail from marketing types than having a mortgage. Not a week goes by without some "finance company" or "mortgage company" offering us a better deal, at least if we don't read the small print and don't mind having a mortgage that isn't locked in to an specific interest rate (so-called adjustable rate mortgages).

But the postcard I got yesterday really bothers me. On the front it says in big letters "FINAL NOTICE" and says "WARNING: $2,000 fine or 5 year imprisonment for any person interfering with delivery of this notice. US Mail Secretary, Code 1700."

And, in case that isn't enough to make you think this is all legit and important, there's a boxed "GOVERNMENT APPROVAL NUMBER: CO-0604-04".

But in fact, this postcard is from yet another mortgage refinance company. Surprise.

What bothers me about this is that these marketing companies are exploiting people's fears to get business. By sending a card that looks official and has 'warnings' on it, government approval numbers, etc., they're scaring recipients and positioning their business in a way that I feel is quite inappropriate.

You and I may laugh at this, but there are plenty of people in the country who aren't highly literate and who cannot differentiate between legitimate email from a department of the government and a sleazy come-on letter.

And in my book, that's a pretty miserable way to generate business.