Epassporte... *sigh*

[Suckerpunch]

Got this when logging into epass...

From: Christopher Mallick, Owner, ePassporte.com <http://ePassporte.com>

Dear ePassporte Account Holders,

Please be advised that, at 12:00 PM PDT today, September 2, 2010, we were notified that effective immediately, Visa International has suspended our banking partner’s (St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank) ePassporte Visa program. The ePassporte e-Wallet program continues to be up and running, except funds cannot be transferred between your Visa Account and your e-Wallet. At this time ePassporte can no longer issue Visa Cards, and the ability for our Account Holders to make point of sale purchases and withdraw funds from ATMs has also been suspended.

At this time we do not know why this drastic action was taken by Visa. To us, it is unconscionable that such action would be taken without the opportunity for ePassporte to fully understand Visa’s reasons and to be able to take all steps necessary to keep our program running the way it has so successfully done for over 7 years. But that is what Visa has done.

As soon as we have more information we will be in contact with you.

In the meantime please be assured that your funds are safe.

We are very sorry for the short notice and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. The ePassporte team is working diligently to rectify this situation.

We kindly ask you to bear with us while we work through this issue.

Please feel free to contact us via the message center or at our call center, should you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Thank You,

Christopher Mallick

I have a huge balance on the my Visa that is stuck in limbo. Can't transfer it, can't use it.... just another fucking nightmare that we've had to contend with this year.

[cots]

Same here and I was going to get cash out of mine today to pay some bills. Now I'm fucked!

With wire/cheque costs being so high here (Tenerife) if EPassporte becomes a thing of the past I will have to cull a ton of sponsors. No point getting cheques (costs + six weeks to clear) or wires (cost of wire and €21.50 at this end) so looks like it's CCBill/Verotel based sponsors or nothing.

What a twat!!!!!

[Suckerpunch]

Yeah, I know the feeling... I had over $1,200 in there and now its in limbo... rent, kids back to school stuff. I agree that it's time to go back to CCBill only sponsors. If this doesn't get resolved my loss this year on epass and bad sponsors is a little over $7k. Insane....

[jscott]

Just when I thought we hit rock bottom with webmaster checks thing, then the SOBVsites and Gfprofits/fetishdiamonds shit, now this

fucking insane bullshit, this is just fucked!

[Suckerpunch]

Yep. Does anyone know of any peer 2 peer payment options in addition to PayPal. I have a ton of clients (probably about 70%) that pay me in epass and I need to offer some alternatives to them.

[jscott]

Moneybookers
Payoneer
I've never used those, but i've heard of them around the block

[Suckerpunch]

I've used Moneybookers before... I'll have to check into Payoneer though. Today has been the most unproductive day... can't work when I'm pissed... lol. Beers tonight. Should make things much better...

[jscott]

Yea this Epass thing has mentally mind fucked me, as the gfprofits/sobv thing did too

Totally unmotivating

Meeting couple webmasters tonight, bottle of vodka and some Asahi's!

[somona]

Try this one Chris, as it's a canadian payment solution ...I use them for some of my eshops

Elavon http://www.elavon.com/

Lots of kisses xoxox

[NinjaSteve]

Yeah it's too bad. Hopefully they'll get it sorted.

[Suckerpunch]

Thanks for the link somona... I will definitely check it out!

[somona]

Feel free to hit me on Twitter for any question Chris ! xoxox

[jscott]

Here is the latest email from Epassporte, from today:

September 16, 2010

ePassporte N.V. has had several extensive meetings with St. Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank (the "Bank") in an effort to resume operations and card functionality.

We are encouraged and believe these meetings and ongoing discussions with the Bank will result in all card functions becoming operational shortly, although a date has not yet been determined.

ePassporte and St Kitts Nevis Anguilla National Bank want to assure cardholders that their funds are safe and that resuming operations is a key and attainable goal.

A few very import points:

For information regarding your Account, it is imperative that you contact us via the Message Center or call our Account Holder Services line (310.301.2001).

PLEASE DO NOT contact ePassporte N.V. in Curacao, Mr. Elias, United Bank or St. Kitts Bank. Messages sent to the above may not be answered. All operational issues are handled by the ePassporte team via the Message Center or Call Center ONLY. Please also avoid posting your username on forums as this could pose a security risk to your Account.

We greatly appreciate your continued patience and understanding and will continue to update you regarding this situation via the Message Center.


Sincerely,

ePassporte.com

[cots]

Hope they do find a solution and soon. Got $00s tied up in there plus haven't found a viable alternative for many of my sponsors. Cheques and wires just don't work for me because of costs/timescales. So unless EPassporte resumes, or the sponsors pull their fingers out and find new payment methods, then non CCBill/Verotel sponsors are history for me!

[Toby]

I'm waiting for sponsors to figure out a way to do ACH transfers rather than wires. The fees for ACH aren't prohibitive for smaller amounts like they are for wires.