Moneybookers - WTF

[vinylweatherman]

UK regulators, including the FSA have been under fire for being incompetent.
Maybe the way would be to call their bluff, and get a solicitor, or a good letter writer, to send them a "solicitor's letter with a cut-off date to prevent court action". This often does the trick, no company wants this kind of black mark against it, as this affects their standing in the BUSINESS community.

Forget Click2Pay too, they are just as bad. Here in the UK, what they have just done would be ILLEGAL, as they have failed to give advance notice of a change of terms that are "detrimental to the client", and they can be fined, and taken to court for civil damages. Equally, refusing to return any outstanding funds is THEFT.

Forget their "complaints form", use "snail mail", and make it look official, as though they might be dealing with someone with legal experience.

This looks much like the stunt Neteller pulled with the US, claiming they were free to still use their accounts for "non gambling purposes", but the second any US customer tried this, they locked both their account, and that of the recipient.

Many of these eWallets might as well be unregulated, so the only way for any kind of justice is to ensure these actions get maximum publicity, so that other customers can be fully aware of what can happen.

It is utter bullshite that they made this policy change overnight, this was a deliberate and premeditated attempt to extract extra value by delaying the hit caused by losing the affected customer base, charging them extra fees, as well as benefiting from sitting on their funds while they sort things out.

The big question now is who the hell is next, this kind of thing is spreading well beyond the USA and Canada where it started, with Turkey and Israel adopting this policy, as well as attempts by some EU states.

[Rhyzz]

I think some people need to realise that these companies may have very good reason to pull out of certain countries and restrict transactions 'all of a sudden'.

As for the incompetence, that's just poor CS and they won't learn until people complain, so like VWM says, get it on a letter and address it to the directors, that way it may get through.

MB are regulated by the FSA so your money is safe, they're much better than any of the others. Click2Pay are awful and lost a load of details last year, mine being part of these. Please explain to me how someone managed to hack my C2P account when I didn't even know the details myself? Yes, C2P couldn't explain it either...very dodgy, avoid them like the plague.

[vinylweatherman]

Originally Posted by Rhyzz

I think some people need to realise that these companies may have very good reason to pull out of certain countries and restrict transactions 'all of a sudden'.As for the incompetence, that's just poor CS and they won't learn until people complain, so like VWM says, get it on a letter and address it to the directors, that way it may get through.

MB are regulated by the FSA so your money is safe, they're much better than any of the others. Click2Pay are awful and lost a load of details last year, mine being part of these. Please explain to me how someone managed to hack my C2P account when I didn't even know the details myself? Yes, C2P couldn't explain it either...very dodgy, avoid them like the plague.

Maybe, but it does NOT give them the right to hold to ransom the CUSTOMER'S monies, and they should offer IMMEDIATE return or give evidence of a LEGAL RULING, not just "change of policy".

These companies know full well that they are going to have to pull out of certain countries, but the only reason that it happens "all of a sudden" is because they are GREEDY, and want every HOUR of moneymaking available before they are forced out, even if this means risking money that IS NOT THEIRS TO RISK.

[chuchu59]

The very, very least that they could have done is to return the money to the account holder free of charge. Now they are simply saying that you can still make transfers to other merchants and sound as they have no obligation towards their customers.

[mobigarden]

Originally Posted by chuchu59

I feel compelled to tell everyone of how badly MB treats its customers. More than 2 weeks ago, I was suddenly cut off from depositing with MB at a Rival and then a sportsbook. The funny thing is I was sure I had adequate funds in my MB account and I had just deposited elsewhere the night before. OK, I log in my MB account and lo and behold, there is a notice stating that with immediate effect, because of where I live, I was restricted from performing any gaming transactions as a policy change.

As I wasnt given any prior notice, I asked them why they didnt let me know earlier of the change in policy and they replied bluntly after 3 days that this was a change in policy and that I could still use MB to transfer funds to non-gaming merchants. Obviously not satisfied, I asked the same question again with a little more emphasis on why no notice was given only to be given the same reply again, this time 4 days later. Mind you, writing to them is a bit of a hassle because you cannot reply to their e-mail but can only go their site's Messaging centre and forward a complaint using the ticket number previously registered with them. So I asked a 3rd time and demanded that I should either be given a grace period to settle my other transactions ie withdrawals at various casinos or at the very least to have them send my MB balance via bank wire free of charge to me. After another 3 days they replied and said no to both requests while reiterating yet again that I was permitted to transfer funds to other merchants and I must pay a fee for the wire which I feel is ridiculous as I wasnt given any time to settle my accounts.

In a mad scramble to find an alternative to get my funds out of MB I was fortunate to be rendered assistance from someone from my zone and my funds were safely retrieved. I believe that those of you that have MB accounts to be wary of this as they will, without advance notice, cut off access to your gaming transactions. This was handled very badly by MB and I give them a fat 0.

I have my business in China and I had my MB account, they closed my account one month ago suddenly without any reasons, and they ignored me for weeks, I kept sending them emails and documents, no answer at all, badly I have about 3000 USD in the accounts, I don't kwow when they will return the money to me, fuck moneybooker.

[vinylweatherman]

Originally Posted by mobigarden

I have my business in China and I had my MB account, they closed my account one month ago suddenly without any reasons, and they ignored me for weeks, I kept sending them emails and documents, no answer at all, badly I have about 3000 USD in the accounts, I don't kwow when they will return the money to me, fuck moneybooker.

Try the threat of court action. You will have to convince them this will be in an English court, but for $3000 they might just believe you have engaged a firm of representatives to pursue the case here. For $3000, you could use the small claims court, for a fixed fee of well under £100. If you have friends or relatives here in the UK, they could help by getting local advise.

Moneybookers are looking very bad now, even Neteller have not stooped this low (except for Americans).

What players need is a better choice - currently, these crappy ewallets have little competition, so can get away with providing this poor level of service, especially to their customers OUTSIDE the EU, and thus OUTSIDE the immediate regulatory framework.

If they tried this on a UK customer, we could complain to the FSA after 14 days of no response, since we can assume no response as being the same as receiving a "letter of deadlock". The regulator will FORCE them to respond, and explain their actions. Poor service can be subjective, but holding onto money that belongs to a customer is absolute, and hard to deny.
I do not know what would happen if a non EU customer complained to our FSA, but it might be worth a try, since if there are many such complaints, Moneybookers might face an investigation "in the public interest", to see if they are still fit to hold their emoney license.

Posting these stories on the net will help, since the worst offenders will lose customers to the better operators, and newcomers will stand a chance of capturing many of these disaffected customers.

I have not heard more on Ivobank, a new entrant, and a "proper" bank with full FSA regulation and FULL membership of the FSA investor compensation scheme. Ivobank set up with the intent to take on GAMBLING transactions, and seem to be targeting the UK and EU, going head to head with Neteller and Moneybookers. The problem at the moment is a lack of casinos accepting them as a deposit & withdrawal method.

[Mouche12]

Yes, it is indeed time to say goodbye to MB, I have filed a complaint with financial-ombudsman.org.uk because 3 times over a period of 1.5 week, my bank account was debited using Ideal and NOT credited to the casino I wanted to deposit. Until now, MB has refused to respond to the regulator and I am awaiting its decision. Today, I tried to upload funds using Ideal and same thing happened AGAIN. My bank account was debited, but my account at MB was not credited. Also, MB's phone no. does not seem to work at this moment. I have sent 6 emails in the meantime (today). No reply yet.

[vinylweatherman]

Originally Posted by Mouche12

Yes, it is indeed time to say goodbye to MB, I have filed a complaint with financial-ombudsman.org.uk because 3 times over a period of 1.5 week, my bank account was debited using Ideal and NOT credited to the casino I wanted to deposit. Until now, MB has refused to respond to the regulator and I am awaiting its decision. Today, I tried to upload funds using Ideal and same thing happened AGAIN. My bank account was debited, but my account at MB was not credited. Also, MB's phone no. does not seem to work at this moment. I have sent 6 emails in the meantime (today). No reply yet.

If this is true, and you should find out from the regulator, then this makes Moneybookers look VERY bad indeed.

NO reputable bank, or other regulated processor of money, refuses to respond to the organisation tasked with regulating them.

Other complaints about Moneybookers have made their reputation look pretty shaky, but refusing to respond to a government regulator is in a different league.

Please let us know how this turns out.

[Mouche12]

1) the deposit was eventually manually done 4 business days after it happened
2) I still have not heard from the UK regulator... so I will keep you posted. Am not going to use MB anymore, that's for sure!

[AussieDave]

Hi all,

Just an update...

Well after my little rave to Moneybookers and pointing out that their policy sucks.

I received a response saying they would accepted a scanned Utility Bill.

Well I whipped out the scanner, sent and a few hours later I have now received confirmation that my identity and address has now been verified.

Ok so now my limit has been increased again and I can now use my MoneyBookers without being hassled for ID forms, number and what not.

Least it was somewhat smooth and void of too many headaches.

But if I didn't have a scanner I'd still be in the poo!


Cheers
T