E-checks at Stars

[Det_Jimmy]

I received this e-mail from PS just a few days ago:

Dear Det_Jimmy,

Instant echecks logoInstant eChecks is a great deposit option which allows you to make safe and secure electronic fund transfers (EFT), directly from your bank account to your PokerStars account.

As a loyal and valued PokerStars player we'd like to offer you this option during our special introductory phase. As of right now eChecks is only being made available to a limited number of players.

We're happy to inform you that you're eligible to use eChecks at any time.

eChecks allow you to load your account instantly (providing you have no past negative eCheck history), so you can hit the tables and get in the game in no time at all! Simply click on the Instant eChecks icon in the PokerStars Cashier to make a deposit.

If you have any questions about eChecks, please feel free to contact us at cashier@pokerstars.com.

Regards,
The PokerStars Team

I haven't played there in months,so I put in $25 from my bank account.It was in my poker account within a minute.This seems as good as neteller if not better.If have deposited before,it shouldn't be a problem.

The good thing is it seems to be just as easy to cash out.I've been playing at Bodog for 6 months now.I started with $20,and have now rolled it up to over $550.I cashed out 100 once,it took 6 weeks to get the check.

Nice to be back at stars anyway.Hope to see some of yall around.

[lwestatbus]

[Edit: I decided to edit this post and remove the reference to my bank's name. I'm not worried that somebody would hack my account but thought there was no reason to tip off the bank about what's going on.]

After a disasterous month I needed to reload. I tried a debit Visa card but it didn't go through (declined by my bank). Shortly after (within minutes) I also received a message from PS about eChecks. I remained skeptical since if the bank declined the debit card I didn't know why they would accept an eCheck on the same account. But I investigated the Western Union option and it was going to be a $10 fee, so I thought I'd try the eCheck.

Filling out the form was easy enough and I received an approval from PStars within about 20 seconds and the money was in my account. It has now been about 20 hours and the transaction still has not shown up on the bank's site (debit card purchases show up almost instantly) so I really don't know whether the transaction has been finalized or not.

PS limits you to $100 via this method until you have had a complete successful transaction--then the deposit limit goes up. I also heard from PS support that this transaction can take up to ten days to show up at the bank. It seems to me that PS is actually assuming some risk that the transaction will complete by funding the account on faith. I am also willing to bet that PS is 'laundering' the funds somehow. I'll bet that the request from PS to the bank isn't obviously tagged as coming from PS the same way the debit card transfer clearly was.

I'll try to remember to post whether the transaction finally shows up in my account. In the mean time I'm keeping my play within the (limited) real money funds I had before the transfer, FPP tournys, and some tournament dollars I have from a Sunday Millions ticket I converted.

Jimmy: Did your transaction complete (show up in your bank account)? If so, would you mind sharing which bank it is?

[lwestatbus]

The second business day after completing the PStars eCheck deposit option the amount of the charge has shown up on the bank's site as "on hold" against a company that has nothing to do with PStars (by name, at least). The "on hold" status is how many transactions appear on the BofA site when they have been notified of the pending transaction but have not received final confirmation from the other institution. "On hold" transactions always convert to finalized transactions the next business day.

I'll post when this happens (or doesn't happen).

[UrAteUp]

The "on hold" status is how many transactions appear on the BofA site

hey lwest...thought you didn't want to give away the name of your bank?...

[MTClip]

The "on hold" status is how many transactions appear on the Bank site

hey lwest...thought you didn't want to give away the name of your bank?...

[lwestatbus]

Darn!! Now everyone will know I bank at the Bank of Arkansas.

Anyway, my eCheck deposit completely cleared the bank. So any of you Arkansas residents can use this method.

[UrAteUp]

Darn!! Now everyone will know I bank at the Bank of Arkansas.

Anyway, my eCheck deposit completely cleared the bank. So any of you Arkansas residents can use this method.

..nice cover. I too bank with Bank of Arkansas. They give you a free 20# pig with every new account and two if you know how to sign your name...

[lwestatbus]

AteUp is a hoot!!

Hey everyone!!! PS is now giving a 50% (up to $50) reload bonus for an eCheck deposit. Good for now through Dec 17th (check the date but I think it's the 17th) with three months to clear the bonus and pretty reasonable clearance criteria.

[Det_Jimmy]

Jimmy: Did your transaction complete (show up in your bank account)? If so, would you mind sharing which bank it is?

Sorry about the delay,even though it appears you have it handled.The bank I used was Chase.

[BeerWench13]

Went through without a glitch at Walkovaya Bank too.