Ridiculous cash out flagging. Empire won't give me my money?

[wdeadwyler]

Dear WDeadwyler,
>
> While approving a cashout request of yours we see
> that you are cashing out an amount transferred to
> you by another player on our website via the
> Inter-Account Transfer feature.
>
> Please note that the Inter-Account Transfer feature
> is a privilege for all Real Money Account Holders
> who wish to help their friends on the site who go
> broke, or want to convert Play Money Players to play
> for Real Money.
>
> Using this feature for any purpose other than those
> mentioned above is not encouraged, so please write
> back to us with a clarification about the same for
> us to verify the cashout.
>
> We thank you in advance for your cooperation and
> patience.
> muralikrishnap
>
> Investigations Team for Poker
> alerts@empirepoker.com
> http://www.empirepoker.com
>
> NOTE: Please do not disclose your password to any
> individual/organization claiming to represent or
> representing "EmpirePoker.com".If you receive any
> email or phone call from anyone requesting you to
> provide your password please report it to us
> immediately. Our Customer Care Department is
> available 24/7 to assist you via email.
>
This is a rakeback payment that I cannot cash out? WTF? Anyone heard of anything like this. I wrote them an email along the lines of its my money and I can do what I want with it.

[HopeydaFish]

You should have just told them whatever it is that they wanted to hear to let you have the money. The site is worried about people using it for money laundering, and by acting all defensive you end up looking suspicious.

Remember, these sites basically make their own rules and aren't subject to US laws. If they decide to keep your money, you have very little recourse. You shouldn't give them an excuse to keep your money.

[Tzak]

How much?

[Nick-Zack]

You are going to have to play some. The first problem you have is that rakeback is not allowed. The second problem is that Empire is a poker site not a bank. I think they explained it pretty well when they told you the feature is to send money to people to play poker with.

Play a few hundred hands this afternoon, wait until tomorrow and cash it out.

[Synergistic Explosions]

Ask them how many raked hands you need to play before you can cash out.

[phish]

Actually, since they have control of your money, it's apparent you cannot do whatever you want with it.

[Synergistic Explosions]

The price of their stock has gone from 280 to 65 in the last several weeks. They are getting testy because the insiders in that company have lost hundreds of millions in equity. Players have abandoned them in groves and they feel very little compassion to those that remain, figuring they will abandon them also.

They are screwed and they know it. They lost a fortune because Party altered course. They must be going bananas.

[Hornacek]

I've run into this problem before.

If I get sent $1000 by a friend, and $1000 by another...

Instead of cashing out $1000 twice, or $2000 once, I cash out $1100, and cash out $900 a week later.

It seems to circumvent their system. But now that I've posted this, I'll need to think of something else.

[dibbs]

They could get screwed if people start using them as a way to launder money, it's far from ridiculous.

Check the website transfer page, theres an x amount of hands you have to play for x amount of money I believe, just cover that and you should be fine. TOS.

[FlFishOn]

"I wrote them an email along the lines of its my money and I can do what I want with it. "

BZZZZZZT. Wrong!

It's their money and WTF can you do about it!

This reinforces my oft stated position that every online cent is at risk all the time.