ADVERTISING/MARKETING

Pay Now, Fly Later: About 400 law offices in California received a miniature $10 bill earlier this month, promoting a year-old legal reporting firm in Tustin. The phony $10 is a start on an incentive program that can earn customers six nights in San Francisco or a tour of England or tickets to a show at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

The promotion by Gunderman Reporting Service is called the Frequent User Program and is based on the frequent flier idea, said Steve Gunderman, vice president. The company hopes to gain new customers and to encourage them to pay their bills in a timely manner.

Program participants earn $2 in incentive dollars for every $100 worth of reporting services paid for within 30 days, or $5 for lawyers who pay the bill on delivery. The trip to England requires $5,000 in Frequent User credits or timely payments of between $100,000 and $250,000 worth of billings.

Gunderman said he hasn’t had any response, but he is hopeful that the Bahamas cruise will stir up some interest as cooler weather begins to chill California.