CALVIN AYRE OWES ME MONEY

I put $5k into my Bodog account last fall because they were offering a $400 bonus on the deposit if I earned enough player points. I played some here and there but I never came to enjoy the interface and a couple of months ago, I decided to just cash out and move my action to another site. I really only play Full Tilt and PokerStars anymore. I closed out PokerRoom and Full Contact last year and I never did sign up anywhere else other than Bodog.

So, I requested a full cashout of all money in my account which was just over $6005. Bodog told me they would subtract the $400 since I never qualified to earn the bonus and they would get me the $5605 within ten business days. That was 36 business days ago. They did send out a check for the $605. When I called the company that issued the check, they told me they cut two other checks of $2500 apiece. Weekly email exchanges with Bodog assures me that I will receive full payment soon as they are no welchers, though they have no earthly idea when and have no way to track the money.

Here was the comforting response from May 27th when I politely requested full payment:

It is normal for multiple payout checks requested on the same day to arrive at different times, due to variances in areas like processor load, mailing times, check amount, and so on. As it has already been 20 business days and you have already received your check for $605, you should be recieving your two remaining checks for $2,500 very shortly, though I cannot give you a specific date.

Crusty old Dude responded curtly:

I would very much like if the $5k was either in my hands or in my Bodog account. Delays in mail delivery cannot account for the month that has passed since I was informed the "check is in the mail". Can you stop this process and overnight me a new set of checks?

Bodog:

Thank you for contacting Bodog Customer Service. The delays we have been experiencing are a result of the limitations our processors are facing, in regards to getting checks cut and mailed out. We are unable to cancel your check at this time. Not only that, but If we were able to cancel it and have it re-issued by FedEx, the courier service we deal with, your payout would be delayed even further. As we are sure you are aware, normally a check through FedEx would take approximately 1-2 business days. However, due to the delays we are experiencing, it would take much longer than usual.

We understand that you are anxious to receive your payout; however, we can not give any time frames as to when your withdrawal will arrive; we just do not have that information. However you are guaranteed to be paid. We have been in the business 11 years and have never missed a payout so while we cannot guarantee when you will get it, we can guarantee that you will get it.

Dude:

To recap - I have nearly $6k sitting in my Bodog account where you are free to use it as you wish so long as you make good whenever I request a cashout. I make the request on April 29th. You proffer "an average of 10 business days" as your delivery window. It is now nearly 30 business days later and not only have I not received full payment but you can offer no way for me to track the process. This is very poor customer service. I don't doubt that I will receive the payment but I highly doubt I will ever again find reason to put Bodog in care of my money. Upon conclusion of this transaction, you have my permission to close my account.

So every day I am anxious to see the mailman but so far nothing. I had planned to keep my account open in case I was ever lured back by a big tourney or just for a change of pace, but now I can't imagine I will ever send Calvin any more money. I'm sure Bodog will make good on the payment but there's no reason it needs to be this grueling.