blackbarn..Why would anyone want to consult a solicitor when the alleged "bookmaker" is offshore ? In my day (!) there were plenty of punters who claimed "chargeback" from Asia and there was not a dam thing that could be done about it.If your bank has started the process then I would give them the Spanish Archer.
However that is just a personal opinion...

HFT............the bets were struck by a British National in the UK with a bookmaker based in a British Territory.

That apart..........why do you think European arrest warrants exist or why dyslexic and autistic hackers aged 8 can be extradited?

The law does not start and end on your doorstep.hth

GT-MOLE I am not giving out advice.I am saying what I would do.SJames are a rancid outfit.As stated if they have not charged the poster there will be many more.I have worked with their system and I can guarantee that there will be many  many more.They (in my opinion for what it is worth) will not chase anyone..
However if you have not been charged for your bets (You will be the ones who still have an account) then feel free to carry on...

hft - to answer your question. Because the alternative for the op is to trust you!  It is not clear from your posting what expertise you have in this particular field. but whatever I'd recommend the o/poster to get some relevant, recent, objective and authoritative advice from an independant source. Mind you, he could just trust you

GT-MOLE
08 May 12 22:00 Joined: 20 Mar 12 | Topic/replies: 1,852 | Blogger: GT-MOLE's blog
HFT............the bets were struck by a British National in the UK with a bookmaker based in a British Territory.

That apart..........why do you think European arrest warrants exist or why dyslexic and autistic hackers aged 8 can be extradited?

The law does not start and end on your doorstep.hth

You have the better of me !! Pay up or Interpol will be knocking on your door...
Good Night....

cant wait for the christmas party then

Dave - actually they won't! at least not at this early stage.

if they close your account just spend £50 of the money you owe them changing your name by deed pole ( stan james would be a good name to go with), and move house, then re-open another account with them and help yourself to the welcome bonus

Trouble is that the general advice being proferred is probably wrong. Hard to tell of course, without all the facts but no one on here (including the original poster) has suggested that the stake money is NOT owed.

as if the OP is still reading this sh it he probabaly left hours ago and left you all arguing with each other

CALL MONEY TREE TO THE WITNESS STAND

ill give:

4/6 the OP gets away with it.
5/4 the OP is forced to pay back the money.

Although you could argue it is unethical, they have not commited a fraudulent offense. The OP gave them his bank details.


The OP has signed up to SJames' T's and C's and as a result does not have a leg to stand on.

Threating letters and calls from debtors are now regulated by new laws that effect all matters concerning money that is owed to companies and though you may well owe the money, the way it can be paid back and the rate that is affordable by you is in your hands if you seek free legal advice on the matter...

FACT 1.............bet or buy insurance with your debit card and it is a legal free for all with your account.

FACT 2..It is diabolical and a liberty

FACT 3....Anybody you have ever used to make a purchase from with a debit card has access to your account at any time.

Presumably the OP used a debit card.........if that is the case the recipient of the funds can go in as and when they like.........even for money they are not entitled to.The banks deny it but it is exactly this slackness that allows your car insurers etc to put you on perpetual cover.

And are now asking for it back *

He states he got all "his" funds back and does not deny that he owes them................he is at fault as it stands at this moment in time.

The fact they returned funds to his account suggests they confirm a technical fault and acted in good faith and not because of any law.

More Welching punters than bookies FACT..........and 1.01 the OP had money paid back into his account and knew the circumstances.........so guilty of theft if he wants to Welch.nap

They would hold onto the money until the outcome could be established.
If law is on their side they would not return the money. WTF should they?
You do know these are bookies right? They produce nothing. All they do is move money back and forth.
It is absolutely preposterous to think that with the law on their side that the money that was owed to them anyway, would go anywhere.

OP here. Thanks for the responses. I can assure you the situation is legitimate. I'm surprised there aren't  more people who this happened to, given that there must be lots of customers using AIB cards to bet with stanjames/betpack, and as far as I am aware, everyone who that applies to will have had this happen to them last year. Two people I know had the same thing happen, but for both it was only for 40-50 euro so they never bothered with the hassle of the bank chargeback in november to claim back their funds. Just to clear a few things up: I am Irish and use an Irish bank/ laser card. Some of the bets won and some lost. I'd estimate that I broke even overall on the non-charged bets. The winnings were returned to my bank a/c as normal during this period. 

I'm not at all pretending the money is rightfully mine, but to be honest, it's an amount that's significant to me so if I am in any way legally entitled to keep the money, I will. There are some firms who I would act differently with, but given my experience with Stanjames, I would feel little guilt if I didn't repay them. Their limiting policy on customers they think might have an edge contrasted with their glad acceptance of mug/problem punters gives me little sympathy for them. I spoke to a member of customer services on the day they took the lump sum with no notice, and he told me this situation dated back months, and that they had customers freaking out and raging at them over this, many of whom were fooled into thinking they had more money than they actually had in the bank before it was taken unannounced, and were in financial torment as a result on the runup to christmas. They told me they informed the bank 2 days before the money was taken. My bank said they had not told them this was going to happen. I have contacted a person in the Irish Payment Services Organisation, who told me that while Stanjames taking the money wasn't fraudulent (it was after all their money), it was nevertheless unusual and improper to present receipts for payment after such a long time.

This is another aspect which makes me want to fight the case. Why, after I got the cashback, have they waited a full six months before contacting me seeking repayment? All that time I thought I had much much more funds available to me than it appears I should have, and have spent (and bet!) accordingly. The person at IPSO told me they have no right to claim the funds back through the bank, that option expired after 30 days, but they are free to reclaim their funds by other means if they provided a proper service. If I had acted improperly or placed many more bets during this period trying to take advantage, then I would be more understanding of their case, since it would be evident I was trying to take advantage, but the fact is, they messed up, either them or the merchant they employ to handle their transactions, and the way I see it, they should be held accountable for the c0ckup. Otherwise, what is to prevent the same thing happening again, as homefortea has alluded to?

I have emailed a couple of solicitors who have advertised on their websites that they have experts in Irish and international gambling/gaming law on their websites, and though I'm very thankful for any advice given here, I'll defer to those professionals if they think I have a right to hold onto the money or not.