Realities of Cash Advances
CHAPTER 4, LESSON 2
NAME(S) DATE
Serena Benny Mathew 03/04/25
DIRECTIONS
Search online for “cash advance,” “title pawning,” or “tote the note.” Find one specific company and use it for
your research. Record the information and answer questions about these services on this sheet.
WEBSITE: [Link]
NAME OF COMPANY: ACE Cash Express
1. What pictures and information are used on the home page, and what ideas do they convey?
The home page has a picture of a happy family to convey that the company will make you happy.
2. How does this service work?
You can apply for cash when you really need it
3. What other images are used on this site, and how do they relate to what the company
is selling?
Additional pictures show people making purchases using a credit card or managing their money,
which relates to what the company is selling, a loan.
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Realities of Cash Advances
CHAPTER 4, LESSON 2
4. What are some of the promises or guarantees the company makes? How does it
attempt to position itself as a service provider? Give at least five observations below.
The company assures you that you can take time to pay off your loan, promises quick money,
convenience, security, and dependability
5. What are the exact terms of use for this service? Think about fees, payback time,
interest rate, and so on.
10% annual interest ratesFlexible payback time
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CHAPTER 4, LESSON 2
6. Research the company with the Better Business Bureau ([Link]) to find out if
there’s additional information about this company.
The actual company rating is a 1.73/5 instead of the 4.8/5 rating showed on their website. The
company has recieved 68 complaints in the last 12 months and have been in business for 58 years.
7. How difficult was it to discover the exact terms of the service? Why aren’t those terms
listed prominently where a person can see them clearly and easily?
The company doesn't want you to know all the negatives that come with loans, so they only list
them when legally required to.
8. Look at some of the FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) on the company’s website.
Which two questions and answers surprised you the most? Why?
The two questions that suprised me the most were "What services does Ace Cash Express offer?"
and "Will I be approved for a loan at Ace?". I was suprised at the fact that almost anyone can be
approved, and I didn't expect the company to offer that many services. This could be their way of
trying to be able to reach as many people as possible.
9. Return to the guarantees or promises in Question 4. Consider everything you’ve learned
about this business, and explain how this business keeps borrowers in a cycle of debt.
The company offers what people love most, convenience and safety. They also assure you that
you can take your time to pay off the loan which really is just a way for them to make more money
off you.
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CHAPTER 4, LESSON 2
10. Analyze the information and assess why some critical components (terms, fees, interest
rates) aren’t listed. Using the facts you’ve gathered, write a paragraph refuting the myth
that cash advance, title pawning, and tote-the-note businesses are financial services
that help people with lower incomes get ahead. Remember to include an introduction
sentence, at least three supporting points, and a concluding sentence.
The myth that cash advance, title pawning, and tote-the-note businesses are services that help
those with lower income is completely fallacious. These financial services only target desperate
people to take their money. They hide all the negative effects of taking loans from them while
showering you with assurance that it is all for your benefit.
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