Concern growing over e-payment processor
News on 19 May 2011
News on 19 May 2011
Amid widening reports of delayed payments to US affiliates and players, the Europe-based e-payment company Quick Tender-UseMyWallet confirmed this week that it has stopped sending funds to US players.
In a public statement, the company says it has reliable and efficiently served the industry for several years, but goes on to caution that it cannot always predict the “vagaries of the US administration,” a reference to the actions of US federal enforcement agencies, which have been using the UIGEA and banking laws to shutdown internet banking financial transactions in the United States and freeze bank accounts .
“Over the past 2 weeks we have in good faith transmitted withdrawals initiated by Quicktender account holders to beneficiary bank accounts in the US,” the statement notes.
“The money left our account in Europe. It was only in response to increasing complaints from our customers that we recognised there was a problem, and asked our bank to investigate.
“It emerges that the money has been accumulated in our bank’s correspondent banking partners accounts in the US, and has been frozen. We suspect it is possible that these funds may be subject to a seizure order by the US authorities.
“We would stress that we do not have bank accounts in the US of our own, and that the funds have left our account in Europe.”
The statement goes on to assure users that the company’s intention is to ensure that the funds of account holders are safe.
“For this reason we have decided to suspend future withdrawals until we understand what has happened to the money that has been frozen. If we continue to transmit bank wires into the US we could find that these funds also do not reach their ultimate beneficiaries. This would simply make the problem worse,” it concludes, asking users to be patient whilst clarification is obtained.
In the meantime, the company is assessing its current exposure and how best to reintroduce withdrawals in a safe and reliable manner, bearing in mind that the US actions could impact the viability of the company.
