Obopay scam, credit card fraud, deceptive practices Internet
A Google search for "fast money transfer wire" lists Obopay as the first site. The reality is that they take your money fast, even deceiving you into paying a credit card fee to make it happen, then sit on your money for 4-5 business days (and counting). There is only one reason to use the obopay service - to transfer money fast. Snail mail is faster.
I eventually discovered that the site provides information about this needless delay, but this information is very deep in the support area. This is the most commonly asked question in the support area. The obopay FAQ, linked to the front page, does not mention the 4-5 day delay.
In fact, here is a quote from their site: "The recipient will be notified via a SMS text when the money has reached their account, letting them spend it or transfer it right away." While I suspect the intended recipient in my case will receive a text in 4 or 5 days, so they can now spend their money "right away," this is certainly not how site visitors would interpret this site.
Here is another quote from the obopay site: "My daughter needs money . . . she's in New York and I'm in Los Angeles. No problem, I pick up my cell phone and send her money using Obopay. She gets it immediately, and can spend it right away." This is a lie.
I was trying to help a family member and was ripped off by obopay. My son needed help and believed his parents, with the help of obopay, provided that help. The site told me they would help in exactly such a situation. Instead, the deceptive business practices of obopay made the situation worse.
Obopay is a useless service. Legitimate wire transfer services are faster. FedEx is faster. Driving across the country to deliver the cash is faster.
The obopay site is deceptive. Don't trust obopay.
Obopaysux
internet ripoff
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Obopay
Redwood City,California,
U.S.A.
ACH accounts
#3UPDATE Employee
Fri, February 06, 2009
Goodtogo, that is correct, thank you for clarifying that point. Yes, it always takes a few days to load via your checking account. This is made clear in Obopay's TOU and FAQ.
Obopay is working on ways to move money faster in the future.
Maria,
Consulting Online Community Manager
Goodtogo
Belmont,California,
U.S.A.
ACH/credit card processing
#3Consumer Suggestion
Mon, December 22, 2008
Sir or Ma'am,
Surely you understand that whether it be credit card payments or bank ACH payments the system works as it is and no company unless they are willing to give you provisional credit can give you instant access to money off of a bank account or credit card.
If you sign up for an account like Obopay there are rules called Terms of Use or the User Agreement. I just read Obopay's TOU and they spell out their limits, the time frames for transactions etc. I see nothing that could or would be considered unfair business practices or deceptive practices as you claim.
I work for an internet company and have work this part (ACH and CC processing) of e-commerce and due to fraud rates companies have to take measures to protect themselves and in addition to that when it comes to ACH transactions that system and the time frames are controlled by the banks first and foremost and secondly by the time of day. If you do it on Friday for example it may not even begin processing until the following Monday.
As I said I read the TOU and I was able to see that instant transactions are from stored value or balance transfer type transactions.
In this world we need to plan for things so if for example you want money to be available to instantly send money to someone you need to fund the account first. Let that transfer settle. And THEN if you want to send money it would be instant.
In other words there is a huge difference between sending money and funding your account. Those are clearly two different operations.
It would be irresponsible of any company to just take money off of a credit card or a bank account and immediately make it available to the sender.
Internet fraud is a fact of life and I for one and glad to see when companies do things in a responsible way. So in fact your accusations are unfair and wrongful.
Respectfully
Goodtogo