[lost4]

I have never seen a loyalty program which is changed as often as the from Partybets/Gamebookers.

The most recent change was as of July 1st. I was informed about it by email on July 2nd.
The text was claiming great improvements:
"Fantastic: PartyPoints are now worth up to 50% more than before." (My translation of the German text.

The facts: I have accumulated over 60,000 Points.
With the previous system I would have been able to get $3000 Cash for them. For 150,000 Points I would have got $15000 Cash.

In the new system, they have introduced different levels allowing different amounts to change into cash.
I have been put into the lowest level and can only change 400 points into $10 Cash. That makes only $1500 for 60,000 points. The value of my points has been reduced by 50%.

They claim that I had been informed about the new system on June 4h so that I could have used the points before July.
I have not got any information before the change. And if I had received that email, I doubt that it contained the relevant details about the points value.
Has anyone of you received such an email and can provide the information given in it?


Yes, theoretically the value could become higher: $2000 in silver level, $3000 in gold level and up to $4500 in Palladium level.
But they have made it absolutely impossible for me to reach a higher level:
1. They have strongly reduced the amount they allow me to bet.
2. I made almost all my points with live betting. Since they changed the technique of their livebetting platform I am no longer able to use it.
3. You have to bet much greater amounts to get points now. (They claim the opposite and try to prove it with a $25 bet at odds +1000. Formerly it was worth 5 points, now it's 22.73 points. But you can look yourself what a $25 bet at odds +100 or lower is worth now: Much less than those 5 points from before.)

[Justin7]

I have 3 outstanding complaints against this family. Trying to talk to someone there is like smashing your head into a brick wall.

Fill out a complaint form, and I'll probably be assigned it.
http://www.sportsbookreview.com/Spor...Complaint.aspx

[penstothecup]

Originally Posted by Justin7

I have 3 outstanding complaints against this family. Trying to talk to someone there is like smashing your head into a brick wall.

Fill out a complaint form, and I'll probably be assigned it.
http://www.sportsbookreview.com/Spor...Complaint.aspx

Yes...by all means...fill out a complaint and get Justin involved, he needs another kickback from a book since it looks like he had $8200 taken from him in another thread.

[Justin7]

Originally Posted by penstothecup

Yes...by all means...fill out a complaint and get Justin involved, he needs another kickback from a book since it looks like he had $8200 taken from him in another thread.

I assure you, I don't get any kick-backs from books.

I've been stiffed by books twice.

Cascade
BetOnSports family.

It sucks, but you move on.

[lost4]

Originally Posted by Justin7

I have 3 outstanding complaints against this family. Trying to talk to someone there is like smashing your head into a brick wall.

Fill out a complaint form, and I'll probably be assigned it.
http://www.sportsbookreview.com/Spor...Complaint.aspx

Done.

This book was very fine last year, they even made me a VIP when I still was able to do live betting.

But this year they've become horrible. They had a bonus offer for all NBA playoffs, but after I had done the qualifying bets for the second round they claimed the offer was only designated for the first round - in contradiction to T&C of the offer.

[betpartners]

Originally Posted by Justin7

I have 3 outstanding complaints against this family. Trying to talk to someone there is like smashing your head into a brick wall.

Fill out a complaint form, and I'll probably be assigned it.
http://www.sportsbookreview.com/Spor...Complaint.aspx

not neccasarily

[Justin7]

betpartners... do you have a way to get them to answer? It's enough to make a guy go postal.

[betpartners]

Justin yeah i do, i have contacts there and will speak with you about this via PM.

[johnc]

Hi lost4,

You said you have earned over 60000 in points, but you have been put in the lowest VIP level.

This of course can happen, if you didn’t earn enough PartyPoints in the previous month. So the big question to bring some light in this case: how many points did you earn in April, May and June?

In the end that is the reason for having a VIP loyalty program with levels – rewarding a bit more the players that are active. If you didn’t reach the points requirements in a month to be included to a better VIP level, well you really can’t argue with that.

And it is also be remembered that PartyBets / Gamebookers is probably one of the few bookies out there with a loyalty program on betting, as most sportsbooks do not give you anything.

[lost4]

Hi johnc,

I have earned almost no further points in 2009. As I already mentioned it has become too hard for me to earn points because of limits and not being able to use livebetting any more.

But the point is: Until June 30th the value of points was independent of the current VIP level. I am even unsure if in the recent system there were different levels (systems changed too frequently). 30,000 points were worth $1500 for everyone.

Do you really think it's fair to reduce the value by a new system without announcing that before?

[TJMAXX]

Originally Posted by Justin7

I assure you, I don't get any kick-backs from books.

I've been stiffed by books twice.

Cascade
BetOnSports family.

It sucks, but you move on.

Wha- Where were you with the acesgold fiasco?

[lost4]

From the FAQ:
Has the value of my points changed as of July 1st 2009?
No, but you can spend them for a greater number of items now.
(secure.partyaccount.com/pc/tiers.do)

This is an outright lie.

[lost4]

Originally Posted by lost4

From the FAQ:
Has the value of my points changed as of July 1st 2009?
No, but you can spend them for a greater number of items now.

That was my translation from German.

Now I managed to access the English text:

Have my points changed in value since 1st July, 2009?
No, but you can now spend them on a larger range of items.

[lost4]

Originally Posted by lost4

Have my points changed in value since 1st July, 2009?
No, but you can now spend them on a larger range of items.

Support denies this to be in contradiction to reducing the value by 50%.


Justin, have you been assigned my complaint?

[Justin7]

Originally Posted by lost4

Support denies this to be in contradiction to reducing the value by 50%.


Justin, have you been assigned my complaint?

Sorry, I haven't seen it yet. From what you say, it looks unfair (at least if you didn't get notice).

Have you contacted CS, and asked if they will honor the old exchange rate?

[lost4]

Originally Posted by Justin7

Have you contacted CS, and asked if they will honor the old exchange rate?

They refuse to change anything.
They just say: The new system has more advantages for you, keep betting and you will get a higher exchange rate. But if that was a realistic scenario I would not complain.

(Example:
I would have to bet 12,460 EUR at odds 2.10 per month to reach the previous exchange rate. My limit for such bets is 22 EUR.
At odds 1.30 I would have to bet 104,000 EUR per month - with a limit of 79 EUR)

The only acknowledgement they made is that they forwarded my request to a supervisor, but without any response.

[Justin7]

Partybets is falling fast. They are in the wrong on the other 3 disputes, and don't care. I finally got in touch with of someone, but there was no meaningful dialogue. Just "Our decision is correct" with no real justification, even when unjustified by their own rules.

[johnc]

Originally Posted by lost4

Hi johnc,

I have earned almost no further points in 2009. As I already mentioned it has become too hard for me to earn points because of limits and not being able to use livebetting any more.

But the point is: Until June 30th the value of points was independent of the current VIP level. I am even unsure if in the recent system there were different levels (systems changed too frequently). 30,000 points were worth $1500 for everyone.

Do you really think it's fair to reduce the value by a new system without announcing that before?

I am actually a poker player on their brand, PartyPoker, and the VIP program they have here is similar to one on PartyBets as I have just checked. I am familiar with the previous poker program, was also based on levels of points, but I do not know how the betting program was before this one.

It is best to try clear this in a amiable way with Customer Support - they will come back to you with an answer. See what their supervisor says.

[andrea]

Originally Posted by lost4

They refuse to change anything.
They just say: The new system has more advantages for you, keep betting and you will get a higher exchange rate. But if that was a realistic scenario I would not complain.

(Example:
I would have to bet 12,460 EUR at odds 2.10 per month to reach the previous exchange rate. My limit for such bets is 22 EUR.
At odds 1.30 I would have to bet 104,000 EUR per month - with a limit of 79 EUR)

The only acknowledgement they made is that they forwarded my request to a supervisor, but without any response.

Did you really check your mailbox or spam for the month they have informed you about this issue?

I would say, it's pretty unfair if you haven't really notified by this.. It's hard to earn points most especially if there's a bet limit..
Sighs..

[moonbeam]

their partypoints really sucks nowadays.

But its still a top european book

[lost4]

Interesting:
They have added a new item in the point store for the lowest level customers that is valid until December.
You can now change 150,000 points into $15,000 as you could before July 1st.

Probably they know that there are no non-Palladium members with that many points.
If they added all the other items from the old system for bronze members, things would be OK.

[fixxer]

I have an account there, and I can confirm, no email received from them which informed the customers about this change in their point system.

[lost4]

Originally Posted by lost4

Interesting:
They have added a new item in the point store for the lowest level customers that is valid until December.
You can now change 150,000 points into $15,000 as you could before July 1st.

They have changed this item now from Bronze to Silver level. No other items have been added.

Who has been assigned my complaint at SBR?

[moonbeam]

I earned roundabout 5000 points a month with their old loyality programm.

Now it´s only roundabout 300 a month.

Example:
points earned for a 1000 Euro soccer bet @ -330 BEFORE their new loyality programm: 280 points
points earned for a 1000 Euro soccer bet @ -330 After their new loyality programm: 9 points

They try to sell this as a huge improvement for the players.

What a fugg

[lost4]

Originally Posted by moonbeam

I earned roundabout 5000 points a month with their old loyality programm.

Now it´s only roundabout 300 a month.

Example:
points earned for a 1000 Euro soccer bet @ -330 BEFORE their new loyality programm: 280 points
points earned for a 1000 Euro soccer bet @ -330 After their new loyality programm: 9 points

They try to sell this as a huge improvement for the players.

What a fugg

And they even tell that players asked for such an improvement.

[bergerac]

I had a long e-mail exchange with their customer support about this. They consistently tried to mislead me about the "advantages" of the new bonus scheme, gave false information about the calculation of bonus points and, when I dragged the formula out of them and sent them calculations to show how much they were screwing everyone, basically told me to dry my eyes.

I subsequently attempted to accumulate enough points for the month to reach a level which allowed me to cash in my existing points for a reasonable amount, and they immediately limited any bets at odds above 3.

Obviously feeling the pinch.

[lost4]

Originally Posted by Justin7

Fill out a complaint form, and I'll probably be assigned it.
http://www.sportsbookreview.com/Spor...Complaint.aspx

Two and a half months have passed since my complaint, but there was no reaction from SBR at all. And there has been no rating update nor a solution report of the other outstanding complaints you mentioned.
Even a mail to Bill Dozer remained unanswered.

Has SBR stopped offering support to players?

[Stifter]

Originally Posted by moonbeam

I earned roundabout 5000 points a month with their old loyality programm.

Now it´s only roundabout 300 a month.

Example:
points earned for a 1000 Euro soccer bet @ -330 BEFORE their new loyality programm: 280 points
points earned for a 1000 Euro soccer bet @ -330 After their new loyality programm: 9 points

They try to sell this as a huge improvement for the players.

What a fugg

This is totally insane .

They call it 'the new marketing', I call it SCAM!

[magynuck]

Here is a workaround if you are comfortable playing a little poker. Play to get 1000 points....quite easy. Then buy a $350 bonus at partybets. Not hard to get the 250 points needed to clear. Even major limit reduction you can bet on nfl and major soccer league moneylines. Also a bit on mlb.

[lost4]

Originally Posted by magynuck

Here is a workaround if you are comfortable playing a little poker. Play to get 1000 points....quite easy. Then buy a $350 bonus at partybets. Not hard to get the 250 points needed to clear. Even major limit reduction you can bet on nfl and major soccer league moneylines. Also a bit on mlb.

I have never played poker online before. How much money do you have to stake in order to earn 1000 points? And what is the expected value of loss generated?

BTW: There are limit reductions that don't allow to earn half a point on a NFL game.

[20Four7]

Partybets has gone downhill fast. For MLB they stopped offering 5 inning lines, I will occassionally play poker there but much better games can be found on full tilt and others. The one thing they always have been good at is processing deposits and withdrawals.

[WILD WEST]

HiHi,
I have PartyBets account and altogether I cashed in 3X10$, 400 points for 10$.
I see that you write that their not in good standing regarding PartyPoints, good to notice it.
I never used their bonus promotions, so I can't say regarding bonuses or PartyPoints, but one thing I must say, they never declined any withdrawal I requested and all was done in time, their CS always responded to my e-mail in less than 5-10 minutes and when I wanted a call back they called shortly.
I am not their VIP client, my last year revenue was up to 10,000EUR and I am down about 2000EUR.
Also what I have noticed in the last months, they offer much less sport events and even less possibilities of bets. They are really dissapoint me on this smaller selection on games and bets, for example when most bookmakers already yesterday had bets on FC Basel vs Bayer Munchen, PartyBets only today started offering it few hours before the game. I bet only on football and choices are not as big as at Ladbrokes or William Hill, but as long as they never stole any money from me and never cheated me, I will stick to them for now. Before I had bwin account, it was a hell of experience and they stole my winnings few times, so when now PartyBets pays me my winnings I am really very satisfied, it's easy to complain about good book, but once you had a account with a crook book, then any book that don't cheat you will be a good book.
I am really sorry you had bad experience with them, thank you for this post.