NEWSLETTER # 5 14/04/2007
Newsletters also available on the Website
https://www.bridge4money.com/A/newsletters/newsletter.asp
Dear Members,
Here is an update of many changes both small and large on our site to keep you
up to date. You can always check your Members login page for any significant
changes we’ve made by looking at the right hand panel where links are provided.
LOW COST CLICk2PAY CHARGES
As from April 12th we are now operating on a new low cost mode with Click2Pay whereby the inward charges are only 2.95% + $0.26c per transaction. This has been negotiated for ALL members so I am sure you will feel far more inclined to use their services on this basis. Nothing else changes in the way you setup or fund your account with Click2Pay. Full details HERE.
AMERICAN PLAYERS WIRE FUNDING
We
now accept payment from anyone, anywhere, via direct bank to bank wire,
subject to the legal limitations imposed on USA members who reside in certain
states.
PAYPAL & OTHER FUNDING
METHODS
We
are continuing to explore alternative/simpler methods, such as PayPal for
intial funding of your playing account and will advise you as soon as these
become available.
BONUS ACCOUNTS
Following
the Click2Pay improvements, we have now activated the Bonus Account
mechanism such that on each INWARD funding to your playing
account, any bonus funds you have built up with us, will
be transferred in full to your playing account as well! Remember, the bonus
account gives you back the stake room level ( eg $0.25,
$1.00 or $5.00 for every 100 boards you play. The purpose of the bonus account
is to help defray or cover your transaction costs in full.
WAITING TIME INDICATOR
This
is provided as an Indicator and many have been put off by the seemingly
erroneous signal it gives. The occurs usually around the low usage times as the
system averages over the last 10 boards played and of course doesn’t know when
the next one will be played and assumes the average will be maintained. During
active hours this in fact can be pessimistic instead and over estimate the time
needed to wait, so be aware and use this as a guide only. We are endeavouring
to improve the way we can advise you on waiting times.
Following
user feedback, we are looking at providing a single waiting room whereby the
server will seat you as fast as possible in any stake room you have selected
you are willing to play in. This optimises the distribution of players to make
up full tables wherever possible as quickly as possible.
PRACTICE ROOM
We
are removing the practice room now and ONLY opening it at defined/peak times as
so often, players are getting a bad impression because of the wait. Those times
will normally be for three 2 hour slots each week. The times of opening will be
announced continuously on the website and updated so that you will normally
have a number of times a fortnight or so ahead which you can choose from to
suit all time zones. At those announced times, you will be normally be
guaranteed practice games with very little wait as hosts will be online to
assist when necessary. Also, we are
providing a live video screen replay which can be run instantly at any time
that shows a hand or two in action, so that a new user will see the card table
and bidding controls in order to familiarise themselves before they play. This will
increase the activity in the stake rooms, particularly, in the $0.25c/100 low
stake room.
$5 ROOM OPENS
The
$5 Room will be open next week, on a daily basis between the hours of 1900
- 0001HRS GMT.
This room requires, like all other rooms, a minimum funds in your playing
account of 30 times the stake level plus the hand fee($0.35c)
plus the arbitration fee contingency ($5.00), namely at least $155.35. We
recommend a higher level of around 100 times the stake level to ensure
sufficient funds are available for continuity of play over a long session.
SECURITY PIN
Originally
this was an added security step to ensure that you were in control of your
computer when moving money around. However, based on experience to date, we
feel this may be overkill and most people are happy to take full responsibility
for their computer and what goes on it, once logged into the Bridge4Money site.
It is good practice to "LogOut" of the web site ( thus forgetting
your membership codes should anyone else use your computer) when
you are not using your computer for any length of time. In future
we will make this security step an OPTIONAl EXTRA for users to select if
they feel their operation could be compromised in any way. The default will
be WITHOUT the need of a PIN number, but it is available should you want
it. See HERE.
Nick Justice
Managing Director
www.bridge4money.com