Long-suffering Lock online poker players impacted by what appears to be an ongoing slow-pay policy have a new champion….this week the Poker Players Alliance stepped in to assist in sorting out this frustrating problem for many poker fans.
In firing its first shot in what could be serious confrontation, the PPA contacted Lock management expressing its alarm at the volume and nature of slow-pay complaints and sought answers to several pertinent questions.
Lock’s apparent inability to pay timeously has been a running sore for many of its successful players for months, according to persistent and widespread online media and forum reports. So bad has it become that some players have resorted to selling their account balances at a loss to others prepared to take on the risk, a point referred to it the PPA’s letter.
Exacerbating the situation is poor or frustrating communication, often appearing to be aimed at stalling for time.
The Alliance claims that Lock customer service representatives have warned new depositors that withdrawals can take between 8 and 10 weeks, and that the players’ experience is that the real delay is often considerably in excess of that already ridiculous timeframe…in some cases up to a year.
The PPA invites Lock management to come clean and explain what the problem is. It also asks an answer to the question at the back of most online punters’ minds – does Lock segregate player deposits from company operational and corporate funds, and how is this done?
The Alliance also wants to know whether Lock has a system to ensure that the oldest payment obligations to players are the first to be paid, and whether Lock management is prepared to give a realistic timeframe during which all currently outstanding payments to players will be finalised.
Finally, the Alliance asks for an accurate explanation on the time the company takes to process its players’ withdrawal requests.
Urging Lock’s management to open a dialogue on the points it has raised, the PPA warns that there is a growing perception in the player community that Lock’s “financial solvency” is questionable, and is impacting its ability to meet its obligations to players.
The ball is now in Lock management’s court, and its response will be watched with interest by both players and industry observers.
Rejecting the PPA approach would be ill-advised; the Alliance has flagged its intention to protect players who’s deposits may be in jeopardy, if necessary aggressively, and it has given clear notice that it will not turn a blind eye to this serious situation.
Having left the Revolution poker network under reportedly acrimonious circumstances centred on alleged contractual breaches late last year (see previous reports), Lock is now a standalone online poker provider and one of a dwindling number of operators unlicensed in the United States but prepared to take the risks associated with accepting American poker players.
Since its withdrawal from Revolution, Lock has seen its player traffic decline.