Epassporte stole $300 from me...

[Rebel2k5]

I really don't know what other options I have. But heres what happened:

In April, I deposited $300 with my Visa, so I could play some poker. Two days later, they announced they are no longer going to be associated with gambling web sites. So, now my $300 is pointless. I go to withdrawl a few days after I found out. They ask me to scan a copy of my ID and CC, no big deal.

A week later, nothing has happened, I email them and ask what's up. They then said they forgot me to fill out a form, so I have to do that and scan it. Whatever, I do that and again, a week later, nothing. I email again, and they ask for a copy of my checking account statement along with a blank check. Now, I'm starting to wonder if this site is a scam.

I email them asking why they need so much more information, when I already gave them what was originally asked for. A week or two passes, and I get no reason why. I then see my account is set to "limited", so I can't withdrawl my money.

So, I do a chargeback, claiming goods were not received. If epassporte wants to put a hold on my money, whatever, it's all there, so I will do a chargeback. My Visa company puts the money back into my account.

In June, I get a call from my CC company asking for more information. Thank God I printed out everything I could, which showed my balance still being in my account, to them locking my account. So, I send all that information in. So, i think I'm fine, I have enough evidence to show they put a hold on my account and basically stole it since they will not release MY money.

Last week, I get a call from my CC company again, but being busy I am not able to call back in time. So, two days after the call, I see they charged me again. They said Epassporte sent letters saying I used the money already, and that they are not in the wrong, so my CC company sided with them.

I ask my CC company why didnt they ask for proof of this, and all they said is that I can reopen my dispute. If my CC company is this stupid to side with them when I sent in enough evidence in which a court Judge would side with me, then I know they will just side with epassporte in the end.

So, what are my options here? A family friend is a lawyer, so I can have him send a legal letter down to Epassporte, but they hide their address, go figure.

Oh yeah, my account is now deleted, I can't even log in any more. Heres what happened to my account. It went from Limited --> "hold" (which I couldnt click any side links) --> deleted

[Fleur-De-Lis]

I'd say, re-open your dispute with your CC company. With evidence you have there is every chance to recover this amount back. I had somewhat similar problem in the past (CC issuer VS. online payment processor) and it took over 6 months to finally get my $$$ back, but it was a sure thing once you provide all evidence to your CC issuer.

[Rebel2k5]

Thanks, glad to hear someone has had some success, even if it's not with epassporte.

I will reopen it for sure. I'm still curious as to if anyone has had trouble with epassporte too.

[vinylweatherman]

The odd thing is them asking for a blank check. They seem to know what they are doing in terms of manipulating the system, however, your CC company has to comply with local regulations, even if the eWallet does not have to.

There is no proof you used the money, and there is every proof to show they withdrew your ability to pass the funds on to their merchants when they pulled out of the market for poker sites.

It seems many companies see Americans as "fair game" for a screwing over when it comes to online gambling, since it is supposedly "illegal", and they don't expect their customers will admit to having attempted a gambling transaction that then went wrong.

Here in the UK, what would happen is that we would hold the CC company jointly liable, so if the merchant fails to deliver the goods, the CC company has to refund the money. You could complain to the regulator of the CC company, whoever that might be in the US, on the grounds that it was unreasonable for them to accept this "letter" as good cause to reverse the chargeback based on your extensive evidence. This is not the first time I have heard of a merchant wriggling out of a chargeback claim by making a counter-claim will little in the way of proof. It seems to me that the word of a merchant means a hell of a lot more than that of a cardholder.

[gambler777]

stick to your guns with the credit card company and dispute again. It took my cc company over 3 months to get my money back from a company. It was unrelated to gambling, however they kept persisting because I made them even though the merchant kept denying it. finally after almost 4 month it is back in my account. so don't give up yet and good luck

[lauram]

I had a similar issue but a lil dif. It did take weeks to clear mine up. Mine was a cashout to means of deposit first few weeks they kept telling me it just wouldnt work them putting money back into my account. So i further investigated it seems the prob was on my end i cleared that issue up and still weeks later nothing happened. I in frustration fig that they simply had planned to keep my 400 and never see it again. I finally got hold of the right person at the casino and within that day they sent me 400 by another means of withdraw they even helped me set up moneybookers account so they could put my money in there.
Now as i said i didnt get anywhere with any of this till i got hold of live chat that in turn gave me a phone number. I called they called me back making sure i was who i was asked security questions and off we went.
Not sure this info will help you but just thought i would let you know that some times when it seems hopeless things can turn around.
Hope it works out for you.
laura