$108 charges on Pokerstars cashout - Internet Poker

Pokerstars sent me 29892.35 on a $30000 cashout and explained the charges as being on my end. However I contacted my bank and they informed me they had yet to make any chargers and received a total of 29892.35. When I contacted Stars again they informed me it must've been an intermediary bank that charged me. I've done many wires often over $100K but I've never been charged more than $30 and never heard of "intermediary banks".

How much are you guys charged when making wire cash outs on Stars?

Stars has always had the worse customer serive with no live chat or phone support. This episode could be enough to make me switch to Full Tilt.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 04:31 PM

ipp147

veteran

Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,068

Intermediary banks exist. Your bank should be able to contact them (the intermediary) directly and find why/how the fee got charged. There is no reason for Stars to take charges out before they send.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 04:32 PM

FutureInsights

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 4,509

This happened with FTP also. Changes in processors (because of recent US seizures, I guess these guys are charging more). So its the actual processors themselves instituting a fee.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 04:35 PM

Tryptamean

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 9,844

i also recently received a wire that came up almost $160 light... before my bank took out any fees.

i will not do anything to draw attention to the transaction. so im planning to just eat the loss and reduce the frequency in which i cash out (again)...

there was a thread a while back where someone's wire came up a few thousand short, which i believe was remedied by stars or one of the intermediate banks.

seems like they just try to take as much as they can and hope nobody complains.

god i hate banks

Quote

04-13-2010 , 04:47 PM

aling

journeyman

Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 257

I contacted Wells Fargo for the 4th time and they discovered there was no intermediary bank and that the funds went directly through the federal reserve. I tend to trust Wells Fargo over Pokerstars since I've done wires with Wells Fargo in the past but obviously they're both just trying to play the blame game on one another.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 05:07 PM

TeflonDawg

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5,935

Join the PPA and please bitch and moan to your congressperson please. Until we get gov't to change their ways, banks will be paranoid of online poker transactions. Which is why you get "intermediary" banks, oddball hits to your MGR for rakeback, and in your case, an absurd up-front charge from a mystery 3rd party.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 05:10 PM

FutureInsights

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 4,509

Quote:

Originally Posted by aling

Whatever, actual wires go through INTERMEDIARY BANKS, not the FEDERAL RESERVE (they use the same excuse with Paypal, whose primary bank is - TADA - Wells Fargo).

And the Processors (the ones that send the money from the Site to your bank - so its not labeled as coming directly from a poker site), are the ones charging the extra fees.

However, go and ask Stars for the money.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 05:17 PM

dostofan

adept

Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 885

This seems to be more of a trend these days. I was told that AP covers these charges by "intermediary banks" so go ahead and ask Stars if they'll do the same.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 05:20 PM

Henry17

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 27,710

Quote:

Originally Posted by aling

That pretty much means there was some sort of intermediary. The federal reserve wire system is only used for domestic wire transfers. That means that Stars is getting the funds into the United States in a previous transaction. Likely the institution that receives the international wire is going to be hit with a fee for that part of the trip. They are then also likely charging for the service of initiating the second stage of the fund transfer.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 06:49 PM

#10

aling

journeyman

Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 257

The frustrating thing is that without a straight answer from Stars I can't even figure out the best way to avoid these charges. If it isn't a % charge perhaps one big wire will be cheaper than several small ones. But judging by the guy that was charged thousands it probably is a % charge. Does anyone know?

Quote

04-13-2010 , 07:10 PM

#11

glassman

journeyman

Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 281

This situation was totally different. FT had accidently sent the funds in Euros and the fee was actually due to currency exchange rates. FT gave the player the difference.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 07:14 PM

#12

Nofx Fan

banned

Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 7,632

omfg people.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 08:41 PM

#13

SIThomer

veteran

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,038

complaining about a c note on a 30k withdrawal in todays online poker world seems a tad of an overreaction

Quote

04-13-2010 , 08:54 PM

#14

KEW

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,139

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIThomer

complaining about a c note on a 30k withdrawal in todays online poker world seems a tad of an overreaction

Not really...Banks charge a flat fee for wires not a % of the wire a $108 wire fee is high..

Quote

04-13-2010 , 09:42 PM

#15

Mitch Evans

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,633

Heh, most people try to avoid discussing poker wires with their banks, and here this guy is contacting the bank multiple times. I don't really think you want them to trace the wire that closely. I got popped $72 on a $10k wire, but every other time is was $35. Whatever.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 09:51 PM

#16

Henry17

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 27,710

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch Evans

It isn't just for his own sake that he doesn't want to push this. It could lead to the payment processor getting red flagged and then a whole series of issues.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 09:55 PM

#17

WaterFall21

veteran

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3,255

i woodnt make a big fuss about this at all

Quote

04-13-2010 , 10:01 PM

#18

Mitch Evans

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,633

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henry17

It isn't just for his own sake that he doesn't want to push this. It could lead to the payment processor getting red flagged and then a whole series of issues.

Well, ya. The latter is what I was referring to when I said he shouldn't push it. Unless he doesn't like getting his wires, he should stfu and take it up with Stars if he needs to whine.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 10:11 PM

#19

KEW

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,139

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch Evans

Well, ya. The latter is what I was referring to when I said he shouldn't push it. Unless he doesn't like getting his wires, he should stfu and take it up with Stars if he needs to whine.

My knowledge of international wires is very limited so please correct me where I am wrong....

International Wires do not come payment processors...The wires enter the US banking system via the larger banks with access to the Swift system(very uncertain of the names here)...This is where the intermediary banks come into play...If US banks attempt to "shutdown" these international wires it would greatly run the risk of damaging international processing all together...

OP was stupid for contacting his bank and I am and will be surprised if his account is not closed(or at least flagged)...I guess OP was careful with his choice of words when talking to the bank...

Quote

04-13-2010 , 10:14 PM

#20

FutureInsights

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 4,509

Actually, FTP Premium Wire Transfers still go though a processor first - or so that is what is explained in that thread and in the FTP forums. I have no reason to believe that PS Wires would be any different.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 10:20 PM

#21

DC11GTR

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 14,753

Gotta pick your battles. $108 for $30k I think I can deal with. Knowing that the situation that is going on with payment problems and banks not wanting to deal with "online gaming" I'd leave it alone.

I don't see any scenario where this ends well if he keeps at it.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 10:23 PM

#22

KEW

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,139

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureInsights

A processor would not have access to the Fed Wire system...

The processor would be down the lines in processing the wire and the processors name would not be associated with the wire...FTP to processor to Intermediary bank(if used or needed) to Major Bank(name of system escapes me) to The Fed...

Once again I have limited knowledge and my terminology is I am sure bad..Trying to better understand and hopefully others can learn as well...

Quote

04-13-2010 , 10:26 PM

#23

WaterFall21

veteran

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 3,255

im waitinf on 26k wire and i am definitly not going to go complain to my bank about a hundred or 2

Quote

04-13-2010 , 10:28 PM

#24

spoonitnow

old hand

Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,400

Quote:

Originally Posted by aling

Stars has always had the worse customer serive with no live chat or phone support. This episode could be enough to make me switch to Full Tilt.

Quote

04-13-2010 , 10:29 PM

#25

FutureInsights

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 4,509

Quote:

Originally Posted by KEW

It doesn't go through Federal Reserve, that's just something Wells Fargo likes to say alot. And all payments require a processor (i.e., when the processor was down for FTP, NO wire transfers). You can always email support of your poker site, and they will explain it to you.

Quote

Page 1 of 2

First

1 2

Last

Post Reply Subscribe

...

Page 1 of 2

First

1 2

Last