NETELLER arrives at Betsson Estoril LIVE
Posted by Today’s post was written by Leanne. She is a Marketing Manager and works mainly on the VIP program.
In my previous post I was revving up for the 10-hour trek to Portugal. But it took close to 16 hours – with a rain-soaked stop in Amsterdam – and I arrived safe and sound.
The people and places
The people I have come in contact with have been great! My taxi ride from Lisbon to Estoril was amazing. I saw a lot of the city even though it zoomed by at 160 km/hr. While my cab driver didn’t speak much English, he had no problem telling me where to visit, what to see and urged me to go to Cascais for a day trip. And I’ve heard the shopping in Lisbon is not to be missed.
Cascais
I made my way to Cascais this morning. I found a market where the people were so nice and patient as I tried very hard to understand what they were saying. But my search for a good bottle of port will require more research over the coming days before I settle on one to bring home.
A room with a view
There are many hotels across the street from the Casino Estoril and mine is one of them! The flashing bright lights called to me and I had to go check things out. The casino is a lot bigger than I had imagined, with lights inside and out and it looks quite classy from every view.
There are multiple places to visit with people and relax over a few drinks. And, this provides a great chance to talk with many of the players before the games begin at 9 tonight. There’s a lot of action here so make sure you don’t miss out on the start of the tournament!
The Betsson team
Upon our arrival, the Betsson team was setting up the welcome party which has a great living room feel that is both intimate and inviting. And the staff have been fantastic! I have no doubt that everything will be perfect when the players arrive.
NETELLER welcomes you
Our welcome party tonight will have a fun kick-off show so don’t miss out. From there the players will start testing their skills at 9 pm and run until 3 am.
We’ll be sitting with Betsson at the registration table to greet everyone before moving to our booth when the tournament gets underway. We’ll be at our booth until Tuesday signing people up, giving out great gifts and entering anyone who joins into a draw for a chance to win $1,000 on Tuesday evening! The funds will be credited into the winner’s account no later than Wednesday.
Come and meet us
My colleague Pavlina and I are really excited to be a part of this event. It’s going to be a busy one and we hope to have many guests visit our table so we can share and explain everything that NETELLER has to offer.
And finally, Estoril is an extremely beautiful place: poker, the ocean and a great crowd – it doesn’t get better than this!
Been to Casino Estoril in Portugal? Played in the Betsson Estoril LIVE tournament before? Tell us all about it – we want to hear it!
Robert Fagg hits the stages
Today, we have a guest post by Robert Fagg. Robert is a rally racer co-driver or navigator and has emerged as a fierce competitor as he’s raced across Great Britain and as far afield as China. You can learn more about Robert on his website or subscribe to the blog for further guest posts.
In my last event I competed in a type of car I never thought I’d get the chance to take to the stages in. Long gone are the Formula 2 Kit Car days of the mid-to-late 90’s, but following a late call-up, a boyhood dream was realised.
Driving with Andy
I accepted an invite from Andy Fenwick, a local to the UTS Cheviot Keith Knox Stages and last year’s winner of the event. I spent a day competing in an ex-factory prepared and run SEAT Ibiza F2 Kit Car. This car is the same one that was contested at World Championship level and also driven to victory by Toni Gardimiester. Not too shabby.
Since Andy and I haven’t yet competed together, the pre-event recce gave us an opportunity to get to know each other inside the car. This took place the day before and in wet conditions we knew that the event would not be easy in our powerful front wheel drive car.
The main event
Our goal at the start of the event was to match the times of another local, Michael Glendenning, which we did by passing him with two miles left to go. Andy’s confidence grew with each stage, both in his new car and co-driver, resulting in us climbing to third place! During the middle of the rally we enjoyed a close battle with seconds being exchanged in every stage, but even though we held a 17 second lead at the time, a third place finish still wasn’t a lock.
The final 4
At the start of the event Andy and I would have been happy with a top 10 finish, however, our final result was more than stellar! The final 4 stages were exciting and when it came to the finish we were ecstatic to learn we had done enough to take third!
Back to the Isle of Man
I plan on riding the positive momentum from the UTS Cheviot Keith Knox Stages into the final event of my local series on the Isle of Man. The Blackhorse Finance Asphalt Stages takes place November 6th and 7th where I return to the car of my early success, a Ford Escort MkII.
My driver this go around will be Connor Corkill, a young Manxman who has been contesting the British Historic series in 2009. Last weekend we enjoyed a successful reconnaissance for the event and have a good set of pace notes I feel we can do well on.
Night vision
This will be a challenging one as 9 of the 22 stages take place under the cover of night. Connor and I will need the utmost trust in each other from the word go to ensure that we fulfill the potential in this event.
Fingers crossed for a good result.
How do I say “Online Payment Solution” in Japanese?
Posted by Today’s post was written by Gareth. As NETELLER’s Localisation and Communications Specialist, Gareth manages our translations and multilingual content.
Did you know that our eWallet and website are available in multiple languages? One of my tasks at NETELLER is to manage this text. It’s an interesting job with an international flavour. I get to learn more about different languages and cultures, plus speak to people from around the world on a weekly basis.
However, translation can be challenging at times. It’s more of an art than a science. When successful, a good translation will capture all the meaning of the original text. At best, the words will include enough local context and resonance to make a good impression on the reader. If not so successful, the meaning will still come across, but it won’t look pretty.
Say what?
Sometimes funny mistranslations come across my desk. We may have even published a few by mistake. Fortunately, I feel like we’re in good company. The web is littered with famous mistranslation bungles. One classic is the Japanese video game intro for Zero Wing, a.k.a. All your base are belong to us.
Another is Pepsi’s 1970’s slogan “Come alive, you’re in the Pepsi Generation,” which in Taiwan was translated as 百事使你的祖宗重新活了過來: “Pepsi makes your ancestors rise from the dead.” Whoops!
Machine translation
See the flag icons on the top right of this page under the heading Google-Translator? Our blog has taken a new direction when it comes to translation. We now use machine translation (MT). With this approach we can publish articles instantly, rather than waiting a week or more for text from a professional translation company, which uses real people to create the text.
With MT, a computer program renders the text in other languages, without human checking. It’s fast, but the quality is not always great. That’s why sometimes the translated text you see here may look strange, funny or even incomprehensible.
Your thoughts
I would love to get your feedback on a few questions:
- Have you been using the MT links we offer?
- How good or bad is the translation quality?
- Do you think having MT is better than nothing?
- Do you try to figure out the English first?
- Do you turn to another (better) MT provider that’s popular in your own country?
I hope this has given you some better insight into the way we look at translations and I look forward to reading and responding to all of your comments.
Put your luck (or skill) to the test with NETELLER’s latest promotion
Today’s post was written by Suzanne. She is the Marketing Program Manager for member communications and promotions on our Brand and Group Marketing team.
I never know if it’s luck or skill that wins the game. This has been a serious topic of debate around here, which is why I think it’s fitting that it has taken form in our latest promotion, the Luck or Skill Giveaway. We’re giving you a chance to win big!
6,000 EUR up for grabs
Between November 2nd and 30th you’ll either leave it up to chance or put your skills to the test to win up to 6,000 EUR over 4 weeks. A winner will be announced each week and awarded a cash prize into their NETELLER account. And as each week passes, you’ll get the chance at a bigger stake in the prize:
- November 9: 500 EUR (This could be you)
- November 16: 1,000 EUR (This could be you)
- November 23: 1,500 EUR (This could be you)
- November 30: 3,000 EUR (This could be you)
How it works
Some of our members already know what to expect in a promotion like this but for you newcomers, it’s really easy to get in on the action. The first thing you need to do is confirm your registration and voilà, you’ve officially earned your first ballot!
For those of you who like to leave it to chance, you may be happy with just 1 ballot. On the other hand, why not take matters into your own hands and use your skills to tip the scale in your favour?
You can start gaining the upper hand by earning extra ballots. How do you get more ballots, you ask? It’s simple─just use your NETELLER account. After confirming your registration, any of the following activities on your NETELLER account between November 2nd and 30th will earn you an extra ballot.
Check out all the ways you can sway the balance in your favour
- 1 ballot = every 100 EUR deposit
- 1 ballot = every 1,000 EUR you transfer to merchants
- 1 ballot = every Money Transfer transaction
- 1 ballot = participation in Twitter re-tweeting promotion (Copy & paste the following text into your Twitter feed for your chance to win up to 6000 EUR with NETELLER: “RT @neteller: Follow #neteller and retweet (RT) this before Dec. 1 for a chance to win up to 6000 EUR! #luckorskill”)
- 1 ballot = Net+ physical card application
- 1 ballot = Net+ virtual card application and download
- 1 ballot = Net+ virtual card transaction
- 1 ballot = referring a friend through the NETELLER Refer a Friend program
- 1 ballot = Take out money with VirWox or deposit at PartyPoker, Betfair or Everest Casino
- 1 ballot = transacting with a merchant for the first time
On top of that, every ballot you earn will carry over week by week, so as the prize gets bigger, so does your chance of winning.
I’ll be updating you weekly on winners so check back here or on promotions.neteller.com to see if you’re the lucky (or skilled) winner.
So there you have it: luck or skill─what’s your strategy?
NETELLER at Betsson Estoril LIVE
Today’s post was written by Leanne. She is a Marketing Manager and works mainly on the VIP program.
If you’re anything like me then you’re pumped that there are only a few more sleeps until Betsson Estoril LIVE, our first sponsored tournament! My bags are just about packed (with an endless supply of vegetable bars and soy snacks) and I’m ready to begin the 10 hour adventure to Portugal.
Meet and greet
When we arrive we’ll have a day to put things together before the welcoming event on November 6th. And I’ll be there to meet you guys and listen to all of your feedback.
The event will kick-off with registrations at Casino Estoril (one of the largest casinos in Europe) with a welcome show, shoot-out tournament and single table satellites and sit-and-go after demand. If you decide to walk around, come see me and I can help you register for a VIP membership!
From there on out it’s an endless array of tournaments, events and activities until 3am on November 10th. I may even try to sneak away for a bit to catch some sun and work on my tan.
If you’re going to the event please stop by our booth in the hospitality lounge of Casino Estoril. If you can’t make it we’ll be blogging and tweeting from the event so stay tuned for updates.
What part of Betsson Estoril LIVE are you looking forward to?
Hassle-free travel with my Net+ prepaid cards
Posted by We’re excited to welcome guest blogger Niclas Aarestrup from Denmark. He is a travel writer and he uses his Net+ card everywhere. Follow him on Twitter today (http://twitter.com/niclasaa) and keep up with his latest travels.
As a travel writer, I need to book numerous hotels, sightseeing tours and tickets depending on where I’m traveling. Like many of you, I end up paying for all of these with credit and debit cards.
Protect your cash and pay with plastic
From a consumer standpoint, it is better to use plastic to pay, since you’re usually better protected than when you pay with cash or use a wire transfer service. Also, many hotels require a credit card upon check-in, though some will accept a cash deposit instead. But having your fun money tied up in a costly deposit may limit daily excursions or the number of times you dine out.
In most cases you’re not punished for paying with plastic, however, in some European countries like Denmark, Sweden and the UK, customers can be charged for paying with credit or debit cards, regardless of the issuer. National laws in these participating countries require stores to clearly display the added fee and are limited on how much extra they can charge. Rest assured, tourist-friendly stores rarely add any fees.
So what do you do if you aren’t able to get a credit card, or like me, don’t feel entirely safe spending on a card that comes with a high limit and interest charges?
Benefits of a credit card minus the risk
This is where the Net+ physical and virtual prepaid cards come in handy. For one, the physical prepaid card is accepted worldwide and protects you with chip and PIN secure technology. Plus, I have first-hand experience that NETELLER does indeed keep an eye out for suspicious transactions and thus minimizes credit risk even further. It also gives you the same benefits as a credit card that you would use in the “real world” to buy airline tickets, shop or book hotels.
The Net+ virtual prepaid card has added security in that it generates a one-time use number that can never be used again. That means your virtual card number is always protected and it becomes unusable or worthless to anyone who attempts to intercept your information online.
Traveling and transacting with my virtual prepaid card
I’ve really been enjoying the convenience that my Net+ virtual prepaid card offers me. For instance, it works well for reserving hotel rooms, although its expiry date means it’s only valid for around a month.
It’s also great to pay for tickets and tours online, but be careful as you may be required to show or swipe the physical version of the Net+ card you used for payment when picking up your tickets. The virtual card also works well for buying guidebooks online that you might want for your next big trip.
First class acceptance
I have used the Net+ prepaid card to buy several airline tickets and have had absolutely no problems. With that said, you should be able to buy tickets anywhere else the card is accepted. Hotels are more than happy to accept the card, as are most stores and ticket vending machines for public transit that you might come into contact with as a tourist.
Why cash is still good
Using a credit or debit card on your holiday can almost eliminate the need to carry cash, but not completely. The main reason is that not every store, restaurant or office accepts credit or debit for payment. For example, in Denmark some merchants won’t accept international credit cards, only the national DanKort.
When it’s time to make a payment, some online payment systems that handle credit card transactions may be temporarily offline. Again this has happened a few times in Denmark, as well as in other places, so always have some cash on-hand. With that said, still feel safe with your Net+ card in your wallet, knowing it’s a widely-accepted, secure method of payment and will enable you to carry less cash.
Tell me where you have used your Net+ physical or virtual prepaid cards.
NETELLER heroes on Facebook
Posted by Today’s post was written by Kimber. She is a Marketing Program Manager and is passionate about building the NETELLER community.
Have you ever thought about the best talks you’ve had at work? And were they about work or something completely unrelated? Lately, most of my chats with colleagues are work-related and take place around the “water cooler.”
We’ve been talking on end about some of the entries we received for the “Be a Hero” contest. In my last post I revealed that Iury was our big winner. And since many of the “water cooler” chats I have end up on Facebook, what better way to showcase Iury, our 2 semi-finalists and all of the hero submissions in a new album? It’s located on our fan page under Be a Hero Contest Photo Album. While you’re there, take 2 seconds and become a fan of NETELLER.
Keep the submissions coming
There’s been way too much fun to stop this contest now. That’s why we’re making it an ongoing promotion with a winner chosen 4 times per year. So keep those submissions coming in and keep voting for your favourites! Plus, I would like to once again thank everyone who made a submission – especially to Brendan for one of the most “imaginative” submissions.
The evolution of the credit card
Posted by Today’s post was written by Nicole. She is the Marketing Manager for Consumer Products on our Brand and Group Marketing team.
Years ago, you’d see people listening to their favourite music on clunky, over-sized portable CD players, but over time we saw tiny MP3 players emerge and take their place. Technology definitely revolutionized how we listen to our music – from playing songs off our computers to listening to tunes on a 1-inch player.
Virtual security
A similar comparison can be made about credit cards. Their technology is continually advancing to help protect your money. For instance, the major credit card brands recently introduced virtual prepaid cards that contain next-generation security features and are especially designed to protect you from fraud and identity theft whenever you pay online.
Embrace your online world
Security in “real world” transactions is knowing that your physical card is always protected from shady individuals, thanks to the added security of chip and PIN technology.
In the online world you don’t have the same protection, which is why virtual prepaid cards have their own unique security features. Most generate a one-time use number, CVC and expiry date each time you make an online purchase, thus keeping your card details safe from hackers or thieves.
There are various incarnations of the virtual prepaid card out there. For example, PayPal only offers a virtual debit card accessible from the toolbar, whereas NETELLER offers up two convenient options of its Net+ virtual prepaid card. You can either access your virtual “web card” from your NETELLER account or the desktop version that notifies you when you can use it at a checkout page. With cards like these to choose from, you can pay online to your heart’s content.
Have you ever used a virtual prepaid card? Tell us which one and what you thought of it.
NETELLER launches Ukash in 9 countries
Today’s post was written by Suzanne. She is the Marketing Program Manager for member communications and promotions on our Brand and Group Marketing team and she’s got some exciting stuff brewing for November so stay tuned.
For years NETELLER members residing in Ireland, Spain and the United Kingdom have been instantly depositing into their NETELLER accounts using Ukash. Today we have expanded our offering of this great deposit option to more countries. Members in the following countries can now instantly and conveniently deposit using Ukash:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Greece
Depositing with Ukash is simple. Follow these steps and you’ll have instant access to your funds:
Step 1: Purchase a Ukash voucher
Ukash offers a number of ways to purchase vouchers. Click here to choose your preferred method.
Step 2: Sign in to your account
Step 3: Choose Ukash as your deposit method
Under the deposit tab in your account select “Ukash,” then select “Continue”.
Step 4: Enter the amount of your deposit
Important: An 8% processing fee will be applied to your deposit amount so be sure to take this into account if you are cashing the entire balance of your Ukash voucher. For example, if you purchase a Ukash voucher in the amount of 100 GBP, you will enter 92.59 GBP in the “Amount” field. A 7.41 GBP processing fee will be added to your deposit — your final deposit will therefore total 100 GBP. If you choose to deposit only a portion of your voucher value you will receive a new voucher in the amount of the remaining balance in an email addressed from NETBANX.
Step 5: Confirm your deposit
The amount you enter in the “Total withdrawal from Ukash” field should not exceed the value of your Ukash voucher. If it does exceed the value, select “Change Details” and re-enter the proper amount.
Step 6: Enter your Ukash voucher details
Enter the following details and select the “Pay Now” button:
- Email address
- Voucher number
- Voucher value
You’ve just completed the deposit process and the funds are in your account. Now you’re free to securely and privately spend anywhere online.
Have you used Ukash with NETELLER? If so, tell us what you think!
Secure online payment services with your NETELLER account
Today’s post was written by Graham. He worked in our Financial Crime Department as a Risk Analyst.
Everyone likes to know know that their account is protected. And NETELLER wants to help you keep it that way. Check out the top 6 list we put together on how to keep your account (and computer) secure.
6 tips to keep your NETELLER account safe:
- Check for viruses and malware. Run a scan on your computer with a trusted anti-virus software program on a regular basis. If a scan detects any suspicious programs or applications, remove them immediately.
- It’s your account, keep it that way. No matter how much you trust your friends, don’t trust them with your money by sharing your NETELLER account. Plus, if you sign up a friend we’ll give you a bonus.
- Update your operating system and browser regularly. Whether you use Windows or a Mac, we recommend enabling your automatic update settings, and updating when you get a notification.
- Change your password frequently. Make sure you choose a password that contains a combination of numbers, characters, and case-sensitive letters to strengthen the security of your account. The more often you change it, the more secure you will be.
- Protect your password and Secure ID. Never enter your password or Secure ID after following a link in an email from an untrusted site. Always go directly to www.neteller.com. NETELLER will never email you to ask for your password or other sensitive information.
- Use your own computer. It is much safer if you use your NETELLER account on your own computer. If you do use another computer, be sure to delete your “Temporary Internet Files” or “Cache” and clear all of your “History” after you log out.
Do you have some tips too? Feel free to share them here.
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