Big Dollar says "can't cash our checks..."??

**recruit** · 30th March 2007, 07:30 AM

OK, maybe this has been previously addressed - if so, I apologize - but can someone explain this email from Big Dollar I got yesterday, in which they claim their checks cannot be "cashed" but ONLY deposited in a bank account? If the check is made out to me, why in the world could I not just cash it at my bank??? (see email to follow)
***************
Kindly, note that a (withdrawal) check "can not" be cashed as it is non
transferable . This is for security reasons and a check can
only be deposited into a banking account.

Should you have any further queries, please feel free to
contact the Support

Desk, at anytime.

Kind Regards,

Darren Burt

Customer Services / Risk assistance.

Please Note: In order for us to assist you with greater efficiency,
kindly
include your casino account number on future e-mail correspondence.

Contact Numbers:

USA 1888 777 0203
Canada 1888 777 0206
UK 0800 051 6730
Australia 0800 785 383
Netherlands 0800 022 0929
France 0800 183 3554
Italy 0800 911 919
Germany 1800 750 135

Please visit www.bigdollar.com

________________________________

**footdr** · 30th March 2007, 07:49 AM

Also, your bank may cash it for you if you have the funds to cover it if it bounces, but I doubt it because the account number printed on the check is not a u.s. bank account number.

The check is only payable through Citibank (new york state). That is why it has to be deposited and then settled through NEW York State citibank.

BUT. I CALLED THE NUMBER LISTED ON THE PRINTOUT ATTACHED TO THE CHECK AND ON THE CHECK ITSELF. HANS ANSWERED HE ADVISED TO DO NOTHING UNTIL HE GETS BACK TO ME AS THE CHECK MAY NOT BE GOOD AND HE DOES NOT WANT ME TO INCUR RETURNED CHECK CHARGES BY MY BANK.

EMAILED BIG DOLLAR, NO RESPONSE YET.

**recruit** · 30th March 2007, 07:59 AM

So - upon reading your post, I guess it would be pointless to try and cash it at another CitiBank here in Texas, huh? (Only New York?)

Based on your conversation with "Hans"...do you think that maybe he just got suspicious and assumed it was a gaming related check since you didn't directly answer that question? (You indicated you didn't give a direct answer when he asked you that) Maybe his radar went up and he just figured he better check into it....who knows. I'm crossing my fingers for you though, because I have a $3000 check on the way from Big Dollar - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know how this turns out!!

**footdr** · 30th March 2007, 09:49 AM

Yes the first time he asked I said no. When he asked 2 more times during the coversation, I said,"look all I want to know is if the check can be cashed at a local Citibank Branch or do I have to deposit it. He said I would need to deposit the check but not to do so until he contacted his superiors to see if the check was good, so I wouldnt be charged a return check fee by my bank.

He also mentioned someone else phoned him. Maybe that someone else spilled the beans. My guess is that Hans knows what the checks are for. It didn't even seem to be a company. phone rang, he answered "this is Hans".

It didn't help that I had three checks issued by these people all on the same day.

I emailed all three groups, no response yet, as I expected.

Will wait to hear from Hans, however, I will probably call back tomorrow since I am sure he probably phoned his "superiors" asap.

Believe me all I asked when he answered was whether I could cash it at a branch. He asked for the check number etc. Then started the interogation regarding what the payment was for. I didn't think it was his business, since his number was on the check I felt he should already know what it was for. I don't think he got he impression I was evading the issue. I am pretty good at changing the subject or answering a question with a question. He asked me the question after I gave him the check details.

**ok2playme** · 30th March 2007, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by footdr

Yes the first time he asked I said no. When he asked 2 more times during the coversation, I said,"look all I want to know is if the check can be cashed at a local Citibank Branch or do I have to deposit it. He said I would need to deposit the check but not to do so until he contacted his superiors to see if the check was good, so I wouldnt be charged a return check fee by my bank.

He also mentioned someone else phoned him. Maybe that someone else spilled the beans. My guess is that Hans knows what the checks are for. It didn't even seem to be a company. phone rang, he answered "this is Hans".

It didn't help that I had three checks issued by these people all on the same day.

I emailed all three groups, no response yet, as I expected.

Will wait to hear from Hans, however, I will probably call back tomorrow since I am sure he probably phoned his "superiors" asap.

Believe me all I asked when he answered was whether I could cash it at a branch. He asked for the check number etc. Then started the interogation regarding what the payment was for. I didn't think it was his business, since his number was on the check I felt he should already know what it was for. I don't think he got he impression I was evading the issue. I am pretty good at changing the subject or answering a question with a question. He asked me the question after I gave him the check details.

footdr,

I really feel for you. I am still waiting 48 days for payment! Whats really scary is I was told my 2nd withdrawal for $10K will be in the form of a check. Like you I have already been thru the rigger and don't want to start all over again with this check bull crap. Good luck and please keep us posted.

Take Care

**vinylweatherman** · 30th March 2007, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by footdr

Yes the first time he asked I said no. When he asked 2 more times during the coversation, I said,"look all I want to know is if the check can be cashed at a local Citibank Branch or do I have to deposit it. He said I would need to deposit the check but not to do so until he contacted his superiors to see if the check was good, so I wouldnt be charged a return check fee by my bank.

He also mentioned someone else phoned him. Maybe that someone else spilled the beans. My guess is that Hans knows what the checks are for. It didn't even seem to be a company. phone rang, he answered "this is Hans".

It didn't help that I had three checks issued by these people all on the same day.

I emailed all three groups, no response yet, as I expected.

Will wait to hear from Hans, however, I will probably call back tomorrow since I am sure he probably phoned his "superiors" asap.

Believe me all I asked when he answered was whether I could cash it at a branch. He asked for the check number etc. Then started the interogation regarding what the payment was for. I didn't think it was his business, since his number was on the check I felt he should already know what it was for. I don't think he got he impression I was evading the issue. I am pretty good at changing the subject or answering a question with a question. He asked me the question after I gave him the check details.

It looks like Hans had no idea that the account was used for gaming transactions, but got suspicious when he received phone calls. I expect most people just pay a check in without worrying that it will not be honoured, that is, most people who know their check is not gambling related. The relatively large amounts on some of the checks will also arouse suspicion.

I believe that this route will work, for a while at least, if people do not "phone Hans" as soon as they get the check, and they withdraw in small and irregular amounts over time such that the amounts on the checks do not arouse the interest of the banks. This will mean it takes time to get the money, but a tenth now, and every month or so, is better than nothing for months on end.
Here in the UK, large inbound payments have to be scrutinised more than small ones. If I suddenly drop a check for a few thousand, the banks have to log where it comes from in case there is a case to answer for laundering. This also is the case for large cash deposits - could be from drug sales or selling "hot" merchandise. Small checks, or cash amounts, of differing amounts and on different and irregular occasions, will often go through without any special actions unless a pre-existing suspicion has been raised.
To cash these Citibank checks in the future, have them as smaller amounts, and pay them in to the bank branch you normally use, and in the manner you normally use - if you do anything different, the bank may start wondering why, as Hans did by asking all those questions about where the check came from.

**recruit** · 30th March 2007, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by footdr

Yes the first time he asked I said no. When he asked 2 more times during the coversation, I said,"look all I want to know is if the check can be cashed at a local Citibank Branch or do I have to deposit it. He said I would need to deposit the check but not to do so until he contacted his superiors to see if the check was good, so I wouldnt be charged a return check fee by my bank.

He also mentioned someone else phoned him. Maybe that someone else spilled the beans. My guess is that Hans knows what the checks are for. It didn't even seem to be a company. phone rang, he answered "this is Hans".

It didn't help that I had three checks issued by these people all on the same day.

I emailed all three groups, no response yet, as I expected.

Will wait to hear from Hans, however, I will probably call back tomorrow since I am sure he probably phoned his "superiors" asap.

Believe me all I asked when he answered was whether I could cash it at a branch. He asked for the check number etc. Then started the interogation regarding what the payment was for. I didn't think it was his business, since his number was on the check I felt he should already know what it was for. I don't think he got he impression I was evading the issue. I am pretty good at changing the subject or answering a question with a question. He asked me the question after I gave him the check details.

wow, this is getting scary. If you still haven't gotten an email response from Big Dollar, I would be PARKING on their phone lines. Ask to speak to casino management, someone on the vip response team...I've had good luck with that in the past...also - although they think it's some big dark secret, it's pretty well known by now that Big Dollar is part of Grand Prive - I would call some of their casinos (Bella Vegas, Grand Bay, etc) if you are not getting a response. I would not wait for a return email because it may never come. Failing that, if it were me, I would go ahead and deposit the check...even if you get a RCF, I really find it hard to believe that these guys would issue a bogus check....keep us posted!

**GrandMaster** · 3rd April 2007, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by recruit

OK, maybe this has been previously addressed - if so, I apologize - but can someone explain this email from Big Dollar I got yesterday, in which they claim their checks cannot be "cashed" but ONLY deposited in a bank account? If the check is made out to me, why in the world could I not just cash it at my bank??? (see email to follow)

Does the check have wording like "not transferable, account payee only". If it does, it means two things. First, you won't be able to cash it if you show up at the drawee bank. Second, if you endorse it to someone, the endorsee won't attain the status of "holder in due course", which means less protection for him, but it won't stop anyone cashing you check, it just means whoever accepts it assumes more risk. This is less of an issue with your bank, but Rico at Rico's Check Cashing and Bail Bonds may consider it too risky and he may require an indemnity in addition to breaking your kneecaps if the check bounces.

**footdr** · 3rd April 2007, 10:09 PM

Local branch looked up the account number,on the check, which they have to do before cashing a large check when the person cashing the check does not have an account with them. They look up the account on the check to make sure they have sufficient funds.

The account number on the check could not be found in their system, I assume because it was a foriegn account. They advised me to deposit as it was paying through New York State branch.

I probably could have had them investigate further and perhaps they eventually could have cashed it. But I didn't want to force the issue!

I phoned the number on the check and on the remittance to inquire about cashing the check for my own peace of mind that the check was good.

Figured if a branch of the bank it was drawn on couldn't locate the account in their system, there might be a problem with the funds being transfered to my bank when the check was presented for payment.

**recruit** · 3rd April 2007, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by GrandMaster

Does the check have wording like "not transferable, account payee only". If it does, it means two things. First, you won't be able to cash it if you show up at the drawee bank. Second, if you endorse it to someone, the endorsee won't attain the status of "holder in due course", which means less protection for him, but it won't stop anyone cashing you check, it just means whoever accepts it assumes more risk. This is less of an issue with your bank, but Rico at Rico's Check Cashing and Bail Bonds may consider it too risky and he may require an indemnity in addition to breaking your kneecaps if the check bounces.

I wish I HAD the check to look at the wording on it...the information from them with regard to "don't try and cash our check" was via email....here's how my correspondence with Big dollar has gone so far:

March 23: withdrawal requested, $3K via courier check (requires extra fee on my part)

March 23: withdrawal flushed

March 26: Informed by BD that withdrawal had been processed and check going out the next day.

March 27: I request the tracking number for the express courier service

March 28: Informed by BD that they can only release the tracking number after the "pending period" has expired, which in my case was April 1st.

April 1st: No check, request tracking number. Told by BD that the finance dept is closed, will get it tomorrow...

April 2nd: 3 emails to BD, requesting tracking number...same run-around, i.e., finance dept is closed, but that the tracking number will be emailed to me no later than tomorrow.

April 3: (today) AGAIN request tracking number....finally get an email back saying "We no longer use tracking numbers as our checks are sent out via express mail..." THEN WHY AM I PAYING A $50 COURIER FEE?????

This is making me reeeeeeeeeeeeely nervous....