ANOTHER NETELLER CRISIS

27 April 2007

Now even non-US card users have a problem

Neteller card users could be in for a tough time as a result of the latest crisis to hit the troubled e-wallet. Both merchants and, later in the day, players received communications from the Isle of Man based company with the bad news that the Cirrus Maestro ATM network wil not accept transactions on Neteller cards from May 2.

The email, addressed to advises merchants that Neteller's third-party provider for the Neteller Card has recently advised that under the rules relating to the Cirrus/Maestro Network, it can no longer support the cards.

"Consequently," the email goes on to explain, "...members with NETELLER Cards will be affected. This should not affect you as a NETELLER merchant."

Users of the card around the world will be affected, however. The email advises that effective immediately members will not be able to withdraw funds from their e-wallet to their Neteller Card. Users will have until May 2, 2007 to use the funds that are presently on their Cards, but are now unable to "top them up."

The email advises merchants that Neteller will be communicating with card holders "....encouraging them to use the funds on their Cards before this date. After May 2, we will credit remaining funds on their cards back to their NETELLER e-wallets."

The email ends with an apology and an assurance that Neteller is working hard to provide new card services as quickly as possible. However, industry observers point out that this could take some time.

Online gambling message boards immediately lit up with outraged user comments that the e-wallet had apparently not contacted users as a priority or given them a reasonable window of opportunity to move their funds. Although it was later rectified, the company had not displayed any indication on the website that there is a problem, why and what the company is doing about it.

In a trial on the site, players found that their attempts to transfer funds from the e-wallet to their Neteller card went smoothly until the final confirmation, when the transactions were denied with no more explanation that "An error has been encountered"

The lack of notification and communication with users will do nothing to improve Neteller's already dim image in the marketplace following its activities in freezing US funds and suspending dealing in its shares on the AIM.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa

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