And a big Ouch! With ESB.

[Carl]

JUST found out the $500 check ESB sent me was returned by their bank to mine, and the funds taken out of my account.

This is, as the girly on TV would say, "Not a good thing".

I won't be able to find out more from my bank until Tuesday at the earliest, but in the meantime I would advise anyone who is considering dealing with them to hold off. Hopefully it is some sort of clarical error, but I fear it is more likely a shortage of green.

later,
Carl

[tbrown]

Carl,
Hope you get your money. This thing is red flag. Historically, there is nothing
lower than a bookie that doesn't pay up.
They should absolutely give you a bonus for your trouble, and deliver it on their knees!

[Glen]

Sorry to hear about that Carl. Hopefully it was just a minor clerical error...

[Carl]

Thanks for the well wishes guys, I may well need them.

The bad news/good news for me is that I still have $1955 in the account, not counting the $500.

Anybody want to buy some paper 50 cents on the dollar? My ESB "stock" is starting to feel more and more like HTR tokens to me. I e-mailed them last night also, have yet to here back.

later,
Carl

[Carl]

And, unfortunately, looks like I am not the only one having trouble with ESB. Here is link to a sports betting bulletin board where people are reporting similiar problems.
http://theprescription.infopop.net/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=100090022&f=988094022&m=6523098162

later,
Carl

[Carl]

Here's an update.

1) First time I called, I made the "mistake" of asking about my returned check. I was told I would have to talk to a "supervisor". I was then forwarded to a busy signal.
2) Second time I called, I was told I would have to find out exactly why the check was returned to my bank before they could do "anything". I said that was O.K., asked if they got my request for withdrawal for another $1500 yet. They transfered me to "the fax department", who claimed they didn't have my fax yet.
2) Refaxed, then recalled. This time I didn't mention the bad check (that apparently is a sore spot with them), rather just inquired about if they recieved my $1500 withdrawal request yet. They said they hadn't, but "would call me as soon as they did".

So I am sitting by the phone waiting hehe.

I'll do another report after I call them tomorrow. What a joke. (Too bad it is on me!)

later,
Carl

[ERNIE2]

Carl: Ofcouse I have no idea how this is going to turn out for you.......and I wish you the best, but the bright spot from my stand point is that they are still there answering the phone......the last (two I think) of these companies that made the headlines ...they had just disapeared, here one day gone the next......with little or no way of finding out who the investers had been dealing with..........My point here is that I'm hoping that it's just a banking error.......like they have more than one banking account and just maybe someone slipped up and let that one run low.......I once worked for a family owned theatre in southern California that issued checks on Fri night but didn't deposit any money in the payroll account until Mon. morning(or aftrenoon depending on how they felt on blue Mon) I developed the habit of cashing their check at their bank and not depositing it at my bank to avoid any charges when "mistakes" happened.
I stopped at my favorite dinner the other night the waiter infromed me that they were sorry but they could only serve part of the menu, they had no steak or fish to serve.....when I ask if there had been a special or something that I had missed......she said ...no ! that the cook had quit and stole all the steaks and sea food when he left..........so heres hoping that maybe someone has quit and took your money with then....and that it will be made good in the end......Good Luck..

[Carl]

Well,

They did call me back.

And are sending me another check, this one for $1500.

And they told me that as soon as I can get a photocopy of the returned check for $500 to them, they will re-issue that. (And to be fair to them, I don't know why the check was returned yet. I just know from checking my account on-line that it was taken out of my account on Friday.)

Will post back as the drama develops. At least it seems like they are trying (in both senses of the word) anyway.

later,
Carl

[Carl]

Thanks for the good wishes and positive feedback Ernie.

I'll keep you posted buddy.

later,
Carl

[Carl]

At least they are TRYING.

I got the $500 today via Western Union for the make-up on the bad check.

I am still waiting on my $1500 I requested Monday, but at least it is "progress". (I got cash from Western Union hehe.)

later,
Carl

[fred4now]

Well glad you got that much at least Carl. I haven't made any bets with them lately, been waiting to hear the end of your saga.

[MtKen]

Carl:

Good deal. I, for one, am waiting with much interest (both uses of that word) on the conclusion to your ESB withdrawal adventure.

After a week with ESB I'm $8 ahead---be down $50-$60 w/o 10% bonus. In addition I have a free 4-teamer for the NFL tomorrow (NO -1.5, Min -10.5, Bal -9, Phily +3.5) worth $250 if it hits, free $50 for PHilly to win Super Bowl @ 15/1, & a free $25 on Tiznow to win BCClassic @ 10/1. See what happens on Albert the Great's homecourt today. So I'm going to have some sort of an ESB account at least until the Eagles lose in the playoffs.

BOL

Ken

[Carl]

ESB update.

Got my final requested monies from ESB today, 10 days after I requested it.

It came in the form of a $1520 bank draft. This is probably a good thing, because from my experience they weren't that good at writing out checks, they are probably better off using bank drafts and Western Union.

So they are still paying out 10% bonuses on straight winners, and, in my case at least, paying off winners. While it did take me a few phone calls to get my money, it also takes a few phone calls sometimes to get scratches or winning payout horses missed paid too with them. (Sometimes they make a mistake in my favor, I ignore those. Figure they aggravate me enough I "deserve" it.)

But I will say everything has been resolved to my satisfaction, and for a straight bet bettor like myself that 10% bonusing on winning bets is huge.

God bless all my American friends in this time of sorrow and anger, and may we all emerge the stronger, wiser and better for it. Still sickens me to think of it, so I won't/try not to anymore. Gonna start thinking of them ponies running around in circles instead (I hope).

Later,
Carl

[MtKen]

Carl:

Glad to hear your ESB dilemma was finally resolved. Hope this restored your wife's confidence in horseplaying as an investment;)

That 10% is huge & especially noticeable after a couple of weeks. I'm playing with 'their' money for the moment. Hope I can try a withdrawal before long w/o the withdrawal symptoms you encountered.

Good deal & nice to hear some good news.


Ken

[MikeDee]

Great news Carl on your getting paid.

Does anyone have any word on when on line wagers will be available from them?

[fred4now]

Just called them because the website says online wagering now available. You can only bet sports online for now, not horses. Tried to get an answer out of them. "Maybe next month mon" was the reply.

[MikeDee]

thanks Rick!

[Carl]

I'm on line with them now for sports and futures.

At the rate they move (in a "no problemo" economy) I would anticipate racing on line would take a back seat until at least after Super Bowl.

But IF anything comes up sooner, I'll let you know. I would imagine on line betting would be a huge labor savings for them, and they should be able to piggyback or buy the technology "off the shelf" for horse racing betting at this point. So we may see it sooner rather than later.

Later,
Carl