I started playing poker on-line around 2001, I don't make a living at it, but being retired on medical grounds it supplements my pittance. I play a few tournaments, low stakes for the most part, and freerolls, but mostly I play Pot Limit Omaha Hi Lo and similar games, always low stakes. I opened a Neteller account around 2004 on advice from one of the gaming sites, and had no complaints. Once, around 2006 my account was suspended and/or closed. I was told this was because of suspicious activity, in particular someone had tried to access it from the Netherlands. I was quite impressed with this; they're on the ball, I thought. But that was as good as it got.
In December 2007, my account was hacked; I discovered this almost at once because I logged in the same day or the day after. At least I tried to. When my log-in was rejected I phoned the company and was told the password and the e-mail address had been changed. A summary of what happened next - or didn't happen - can be found at the url below:
Earlier this month when I tried to log into my Neteller account I received a message to the effect that I had exceeded my "lifetime funding limit" and that my account had been frozen - whatever that is supposed to mean. I was informed that I must provide documents to upgrade my account.
I tried to phone the company but they don't have a UK freephone number anymore so I e-mailed them. This is becoming a difficulty too because they are now replacing proper e-mail addresses with these poxy on- line forms.
At length I received a phone call from someone called Antonio who said I should scan and send copies of passport, driving licence, etc. I can't find my passport and don't drive. And who is going to pay for this scanning, I asked? Not having a scanner at home. He told me to invoice him and he would sort it out. So I went to the local Internet Caff and scanned a number of documents including the receipt for £8.00. These documents included the front and back of my bank card, a doctor's prescription made out to me at my address that same week, and a national ID card that is acceptable by the Metropolitan Police. But not by Neteller.
I have received another message to the effect that I must scan other documents - at my expense of course - and e-mail them.
The fact that I deposited to Neteller - albeit a few years ago with a card on that same account, and the fact that these morons have spoken to me on my own land line at the address where I have resided since
1986 is apparently no good.I have on intention of sending them anymore ID; I had a similar problem with a gaming site, and they too took the piss. Security my ass, as I said to the owner of the gaming site I had problems with - why not name it? PokerPlex - this is not about security, this is about making people's lives difficult because they can. To his credit, Michael Chambers of PokerPlex sorted it out. I make money out of poker sites, but I don't make money out of Neteller. Neither do you.
I am currently preparing a submission to the British FSA in order to get my money back. Whether or not I do, I don't need this hassle. Neither do you.
Remember, if you use Neteller, I had been with them five years or more, and they have stolen my money with impunity. They could and very likely will do the same to other people. They probably have done.
And if they steal yours, there is nothing you can do about it.
Alexander Baron April 12, 2009