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peterbirksWhilst on holiday I managed to watch part of a really surreal DVD. Perhaps everyone bar me knew this, and that my "revelation" will be met with the chorused exclamation "but how could he not know that?"
The DVD in question was the Russian edition of Final Destination 3. If you watch the Russian version therein, you get genuinely dubbed Russian voices (if you see what I mean). However, if you choose the Polish (or, I guess, the Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian versions) then you get the original soundtrack, but with the sound reduced to such a level that you can't make out what is bveing said (as with some of those news items you see when abroad that have a foreign language commentary over the top, translating what is being said).
And, above this seriously muted soundtrack, one speaker, the narrator, translates what is being said. In an emotionless manner. As if he were speaking for a news bulletin. I suppose that people could get used to this, but it just seemed utterly bizarre.
+++++++
I looked up my Neteller account this morning and noticed that my withdrawal (submitted January 17) was still "pending". I e-mailed Neteller and am still awaiting a response.
However, I did have a look at the Neteller site, and this is the bad news that I found.
Despite this statement in Neteller's press release (dated January 18th, the day after I put in my submission), that:
"NETELLER customers not resident in the US are not affected at all by this withdrawal from the US market."
we have in the FAQ section the following statement:
"Does this change affect non-US members?
Yes. NETELLER is currently unable to transact with USD bank accounts, regardless of the location of the member. Please contact us to learn more."
So, it looks as if I am screwed. Does this rule apply to withdrawals made prior to January 18th? Who knows?
I had the vague fear that Neteller would close off my deposit access to my US account, and now the worst is confirmed. I'll have to wait for an e-mail from Neteller before I know whether that last transfer went through. But, at the moment, I just have $2.5K sitting in limbo. I can't even see the "cancel" button, which apparently alows you to cancel a "pending" withdrawal.
It's all a very sad end.
The DVD in question was the Russian edition of Final Destination 3. If you watch the Russian version therein, you get genuinely dubbed Russian voices (if you see what I mean). However, if you choose the Polish (or, I guess, the Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian versions) then you get the original soundtrack, but with the sound reduced to such a level that you can't make out what is bveing said (as with some of those news items you see when abroad that have a foreign language commentary over the top, translating what is being said).
And, above this seriously muted soundtrack, one speaker, the narrator, translates what is being said. In an emotionless manner. As if he were speaking for a news bulletin. I suppose that people could get used to this, but it just seemed utterly bizarre.
+++++++
I looked up my Neteller account this morning and noticed that my withdrawal (submitted January 17) was still "pending". I e-mailed Neteller and am still awaiting a response.
However, I did have a look at the Neteller site, and this is the bad news that I found.
Despite this statement in Neteller's press release (dated January 18th, the day after I put in my submission), that:
"NETELLER customers not resident in the US are not affected at all by this withdrawal from the US market."
we have in the FAQ section the following statement:
"Does this change affect non-US members?
Yes. NETELLER is currently unable to transact with USD bank accounts, regardless of the location of the member. Please contact us to learn more."
So, it looks as if I am screwed. Does this rule apply to withdrawals made prior to January 18th? Who knows?
I had the vague fear that Neteller would close off my deposit access to my US account, and now the worst is confirmed. I'll have to wait for an e-mail from Neteller before I know whether that last transfer went through. But, at the moment, I just have $2.5K sitting in limbo. I can't even see the "cancel" button, which apparently alows you to cancel a "pending" withdrawal.
It's all a very sad end.
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no subject
Date: 2007-02-02 06:56 pm (UTC)Ahh, that's an interesting theory and it makes some kind of conspiratorial sense. Doesn't mean that it's true (it might just be liquidity problems converting three-month instruments into cash).
Anyway, I received a letter back from Neteller. It made quite intersting reading.
"Thank you for your email. We have taken a look at your account in regards to the situation.
At this time we are experiencing delays for all USD withdrawal requests, we do advise opening a new NETELLER account with a different currency to avoid any withdrawal delays or issues. Once this has been completed we can transfer your information to your new NETELLER account so you can request a withdrawal.
Since Neteller has a notoriously ropey conversion rate, this doesn't make much sense for me, as, if the US withdrawal route is eliminated, I would only be using the Neteller service to move cash between poker sites, at all of which I use dollars.
But the indication does appear to be that I'll get my cash eventually. Only $2.5K is "pending", while $1.6K just rests there earning no interest. I'm not particularly illiquid in any of the sites on which I currently play, so I can, if I want, ride it out for a year, just (hopefully!) building up the bankroll at the poker sites.
PJ
no subject
Date: 2007-02-02 07:27 pm (UTC)I'd agree that it could be as simple as liquidity problems, which is my "on the record" speculation. It is likely just that, with the DOJ/FBI taking advantage of the situation and issuing statements as scare tactics.
At the end of the day, it's likely just a revenue issue here in the US driving all of this and it is dressed up as a moral issue, as you say (and with which I would agree). Politicians are very good at killing two birds with a single stone.
It appears that Neteller is giving you an out and that's good. As long as the sites stay open to the US, I also have more than enough to continue playing at my sites of choice without the necessity of trying to deposit. I cleaned out my Neteller account a few days before all of this hit the fan.
Still, this is all so very unnecessary...
Michael