Greek biting off pounds of flesh

[Shazer]

Yesterday made a Moneygram deposit to The Greek.
Noticed when the deposit went through, my balance was short.
Emailed the accounts department and this was their response…“The reason your balance is $[XX] short, is because $[XX] was deducted from your original deposit of $[XXX] for processing fee.”

Wait a minute...Processing fee!

Now guys, please understand that I had already paid the Moneygram transfer fees MYSELF.
So The Greek had slapped on AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE...for what?…the privilege of wagering with them?

FACT: Other books CHIP IN money when you make a deposit.

FACT: I made a Moneygram deposit the week before and guess what...there were NO “processing fees”.

FACT: This kind of bullshit does not happen in Vegas…which these guys say they’re emulating.

FACT: I wrote the accounts department and asked them to tell me where on their website it states that Moneygram deposits require ADDITIONAL fees. (No response so far)


IS THE GREEK IN FINANCIAL TROUBLE?


Why else are they nickel and diming punters?




DOES THE GREEK REALLY DESERVE AN "A" RATING...considering that they tack on spurious, impromptu fees?

And how can one trust them for honest withdrawals when they’re already biting off chunks of deposits? (TEN PERCENT!)

[pico]

looks like you're a poster from therx?

the greek is fine. if you want your fees reembursed, go to 5 dimes. or maybe you moneygramed too little to qualify for fee reembursement.

the greek is really good with their financial stuff. never had a problem with them. done couple of bank wire, and all my fees are reembursed. never done moneygram with them, so they could have some wacky rules with moneygram and western union.

[Shazer]

looks like you're a poster from therx?

if you want your fees reembursed, go to 5 dimes. or maybe you moneygramed too little to qualify for fee reembursement.

Picoman,
What's therx?

You haven't understood what I wrote.
The subject of the post is NOT fee reimbursement.

The subject is ADDITIONAL GREEK FEES.

As I have already stated...I PAID the Moneygram fees (and was happy to do so).

The issue is an ADDITIONAL TEN PERCENT FEE THAT WAS CHARGED BY THE GREEK on top of the fee charged by Moneygram.

I made a deposit using Moneygram (for the exact same amount) last week was not charged the additional ten percent by The Greek.

So please don't try to tell me that a fee which is not stated on their website and appears and disappears from week to week is "fine".

I've actually read this forum for YEARS and finally joined just to post this thread because what the Greek did is so outrageous.

And my Greek pin is only five digits long. If you're REALLY into The Greek, that should tell you something. Friend, I didn't fall off the turnip trunk yesterday.

I've read many of your previous posts so I know you're a regular contributor and I have great due respect...

But you gotta really read what I wrote.
I'm not some simpleton looking for bonuses or reimbursements.

I'm looking for honesty. And The Greek gouging an ADDITIONAL (Non-Moneygram related) TEN PERCENT expense is absurd.

[pico]

same currency?

how much was your moneygram deposit? 10% is a lot...pretty much unheard of.

[pico]

if you paid cash, then this is a problem. if you tried to be cute and use creditcard/debit card for moneygram, then it is your own fault.

[GamblingPrincessXOXO]

if you paid cash, then this is a problem. if you tried to be cute and use creditcard/debit card for moneygram, then it is your own fault.

Do you even know what your talking about? How is this his fault?

The customer could pay however he wants at the moneygram location and that should have no impact on the processing fees the Greek incurrs. Even if the customer did want to 'get cute', as you put it, the Greek should specifically outline the additional fees on the deposit page of the site..

[pico]

Do you even know what your talking about? How is this his fault?

The customer could pay however he wants at the moneygram location and that should have no impact on the processing fees the Greek incurrs. Even if the customer did want to 'get cute', as you put it, the Greek should specifically outline this on the deposit page of the site..

if this is the reason why the greek charged 10%, then i have no sympathy for him. this is standard practice in sportsbooks, and it is your own fault for trying something like that.

[GamblingPrincessXOXO]

if this is the reason why the greek charged 10%, then i have no sympathy for him. this is standard practice in sportsbooks, and it is your own fault for trying something like that.

I dont think you can ever give somebody the 'standard practice' excuse without explicitly saying so on the website. What if the Greek is the customers first/only sportsbook and they are unaware of what the 'standard practice' is?

If the greek is trying to emulate Las Vegas as the customer says, then he is right in that Vegas would not charge the customer a 10% processing fee, especially without clearly informing the customer first.

[pico]

I dont think you can ever give somebody the 'standard practice' excuse without explicitly saying so on the website. What if the Greek is the customers first/only sportsbook and they are unaware of what the 'standard practice' is?

If the greek is trying to emulate Las Vegas as the customer says, then he is right in that Vegas would not charge the customer a 10% processing fee, especially without clearly informing the customer first.

when you ask for moneygram info, they tell you straight up cash only. if you try to be cute and ignore that, it is your own fault.

[GamblingPrincessXOXO]

when you ask for moneygram info, they tell you straight up cash only. if you try to be cute and ignore that, it is your own fault.

Your still missing the point that the poster already PAID the moneygram fees at the moneygram location. there should not be any further fees to incure once the money is already in moneygram being transfered to the greek. It just doesnt make any sense that they would further charge him regardless of how he paid into moneygram

[pico]

i think i've said enough here. if you don't agree with me, wait for someone else to reply.

[Shazer]

OK...

Just went through an email volley with customer service at The Greek.
Here's the story...

Although it is not stated on their website (and one can decide about the brilliance of that)...there IS a Greek processing fee that is charged in addition to the one that Moneygram requires.

HOWEVER...
When one emails or phones the Greek accounts department to find out what name and address to send the Moneygram to...the accounts department is supposed to inform the sender that there will be an additional processing fee.

I sent them copies of all the correspondence and asked them to check their own records.
Wally at customer service agreed that - in fact - I had NOT been informed.

PLUG FOR GREEK HERE...
So they credited my account for 2.5 times the fee they originally charged. Which, of course, is fine with me. And is more like The Greek I remember.

So no...Picoman...there wasn't any funny business on my part.
Not EVERY American is dishonest, you know!

Well now I can quit my bitching and go back to just reading this forum.

But just a note in passing...
Gee they could have avoided this whole mess AND ANY FUTURE SITUATIONS...simply by getting the webmaster to amend their site to include notice of a processing fee for Moneygrams on their deposit page.

Of course, there are human beings involved...so God forbid we do things the easy way, right?

Thanks everyone for your input!
Peace out...

[bookie]

I love happy endings.

[Stumpage]

Nice...I've been with the Greek for a long time, and in my experience if you contact them regarding any problem or concern, a favorable solution is usually in the offing...Anyway Shazer, at least it worked out for you in the end.

[pico]

the only bad part for the greek is their 20 cents mlb lines and 30 cents props. other than that, they're really good. you can treat the greek as las vegas on the internet.

[sportsfanatic]

I can't even find Moneygram as a method on the website. Unless it's EMT.

[louis]

The greek should not charge a fee for money gram deposits, whether on the website or not. That is ridiculous. I have never, ever heard of a sportsbook charging a fee for a deposit - never. Maybe I don't deposit small amounts, but charging a fee for a deposit is NOT industry practice. I have never been charged a fee for a deposit (by the sportsbook) at any of the A rated books here at SBR. The only fees have been charged by the money processor. Of course I've paid plenty of withdrawal fees, and I've said before the sportsbooks that eliminate these fees will end up getting more profit in additional customers than they will lose from additional costs.

[spliff]

ARE YOU SERIOUS??? hey Spiro, get your head out of your ass- this is no way to treat your customers. I don't give a flying fukk if Wally credited the guy with 10 times the "processing fee"- he'll just get it from someone else.

The Greek will never see any of my money.

[Shazer]

I can't even find Moneygram as a method on the website. Unless it's EMT.

Just a note...
Yes, sportsfanatic...you are correct. The Greek does not mention Moneygram by name. As you said, once you email the Greek customer service, EMT turns out to be a Moneygram deposit.

And, of course, I think louis is right on.
Here's a cut and paste from Wally at the Greek...

" The Greek Customer Service wrote:
Customers are told when they call for a name for money gram that if they are sending under $300 that there is a $10 processing fee. Believe me we do not make a penny on these transactions.

Wally "

I'm winning right now, so I had no need to send them a bunch of money. I was just padding the bankroll up to round numbers and thought it was going to be a simple process.

They say they're not making any profit. However, when I sent the Moneygram, I paid a transaction fee. So what does The Greek do with an additional processing fee, one wonders.

Anyway...what do I know? I'm just a sports bettor.
It's all Greek to me.

[louis]

How not to run a sportsbook

If you don't make money on a transaction, then don't allow it. But I don't buy that profit is not made on $300 deposits. Most sportsbook bettors are not betting $300 or more at a time, The typical bettor is probably betting $50 to $100 a game. Charging the typical bettor a fee is a mistake.

Guess what? I went to the grocery store today and used their water fountain, and cost them money to operate the place and only bought a single soda thus costing them money. Should they charge me a fee to come in the store and buy nothing? Of course not, because next time I may buy more. These sportsbooks need to act the same way, and stop feeing us to death using costs as an excuse.

I don't deposit small amounts, but I want these books to stay healthy and not follow the path of books such as betmania, and hollywood, that use to be player friendly and then started acting stupid choking off their business.

[ms61853]

The greek should not charge a fee for money gram deposits, whether on the website or not. That is ridiculous. I have never, ever heard of a sportsbook charging a fee for a deposit - never. Maybe I don't deposit small amounts, but charging a fee for a deposit is NOT industry practice.

They could always do like 5 Dimes did, and just stop allowing Moneygram deposits under $500.

[freebie]

try doing ** or ** to matchbook.

they don't reimburse your fees, but add an additional 2.9% fee charge to your deposit.
doesn't matter if it's under or over $500 deposit.

Plus. 5dimes does allow deposit under $500, you just pay for your own fee ($5-$9) for **>

[austintx05]

So the additional charge is only because your deposit was with **?

What if you chose a bank wire? Any fees?

[ms61853]

t 5dimes does allow deposit under $500, you just pay for your own fee ($5-$9) for **>

That's not what Live Chat told me a couple of months ago. Used to be they wouldn't accept payments of less than $100 through Moneygram, and the would reimburse fees with deposits of $250 or more. When reporting my last deposit of $100, they told me this was the last time they would do this. From then on, they would only accept deposits of $500 or more.

[sportsfanatic]

...

They say they're not making any profit. However, when I sent the Moneygram, I paid a transaction fee. So what does The Greek do with an additional processing fee, one wonders.

Anyway...what do I know? I'm just a sports bettor.
It's all Greek to me.

I love the post title "Greek biting off pounds of flesh". Just funny as hell. Anyways, glad it worked out for you.

[Shazer]

I love the post title "Greek biting off pounds of flesh". Just funny as hell. Anyways, glad it worked out for you.

Thanks sportsfanatic!
Like I said...have actually referred to SBR book reviews for years, that's how I found out about Pinnacle. (Based on SBR reviews moved from Greek and Canbet to Pinnacle).

Didn't read the forum though until that fateful day Pinnacle barred US players. Then, I began reading the forum religiously.

Since I already had long time lingering accounts with The Greek and CRIS...and based on what I read in this forum... once the DOJ went psycho, I moved back to The Greek and CRIS. (Did it immediately and managed to complete transactions using Neteller just before they froze everyone's money - as in 1.5 days before- "whew")

Then when CRIS created a separate site for US players, I smelled smoke and baled out of there. So I think since The Greek has suddenly become a major out for US players, it's somewhat important to keep each other informed if/whenever they become unfriendly towards players.

Also think louis is right in two regards.
1) From now on, I'm not going to bother depositing small amounts...the fees aren't worth it.
2) A healthy book is a "player friendly" book. After all, providing that a bookmaker doesn't get greedy, they're never going to go out of business...there are just way too many losers. So why not, at a minimum, at least give the appearance of generosity.

Anyway...
I see how posting can become addictive.
Learned a lot from everyone's feedback.
Hadn't expected that...and it's kinda cool.
You suppose I'm qualified to run for President now?