You may remember that I've recently mentioned my trialling a couple of new football betting services. Each test period was supposed to last a month, but I've made the decision to stop the trial of one of those services this week, just nine days in.
The service I'm referring to is one called Hortis' Standard Picks. Hortis is a tipster who originally "proofed" his tips on the Blogabet website prior to launching a subscription service. Specialising in the South American football markets, asian handicap bets are provided from within the Bolivian, Columbian, and Ecuadorian leagues (amongst others). His website can be found at http://standardpicks.com
When I originally looked at the Hortis service (having been given a tip off by someone whose opinion on football betting matters I hold in the highest regard) I could see some real potential for it to carve a worthwhile niche in the portfolio. The obvious plus point Hortis had going for him were the markets played in. There would be no correlation with any of my other football tipsters at all. On top of that, the guy tips throughout our summer months, and would thus provide some much needed churn at a time of year where things can go a little stagnant, and with a proven track record of a nice 12-14% roi achieved over two years, it looked well worth a go.
So why hasn't it worked out? Why have I pulled the plug so soon? One reason. It has already proven to be completely impractical for me to follow. So far I have received the text/email containing tips mid-morning Saturday (workable), early morning Saturday (acceptable), 3.00 one morning (heh!) and about 6.15am on a Tuesday morning (WTF!). On the occasions where I was simply unaware of a text/email being sent (because I was soundly in the Land of Nod!), I missed the odds to such an extent that it really wasn't worth putting the bet on.
It's a real shame that I can't see a future with Hirtos. He obviously has an edge and the write ups explaining the rationale behind his selections show that his tips are well researched. But his is not a cheap service, and for the money I would want and expect a manageably consistent time for release of bets. As a punter, it makes you realise how good services like Skeeve, Football Elite, Football Investor/Strike Zone, The Football Analyst and The Sportsman are with their fantastically consistent approach to releasing their advice to members. Results for Hirtos are good, but having made enough profit to cover the £40 it cost me to subscribe for the month, I've drawn a line under the service and shall turn my attention elsewhere.
Today's Betting
Erm. I've been a bit of a plonker. In fact, I've been a big bit of a plonker.
I've gone and left my notebook with today's bets written in it in my desk at work. Can't remember which bookies I placed which bets with and with a couple of each way bets coming in placed today, I can't check exactly what I've made or lost. How daft is that!?!
I do know Northern Monkey had a good winner (Confessional - Chester - 5/1), as did The Market Examiner (Mister Hyde - Ffos Las - 4.3/1).
Other than that...???
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Quick update
Just time for a very quick update today.
Great day for The Market Examiner who struck gold with a rare two point bet and Sam secured 10/1 via BetButler! (Royal Curtsy - Fakenham).
Winning Racing Tips the only other service providing action, with a small double unsuccessful and a single returning stakes, finishing second at 5s.
The Market Examiner: Staked 3pts, +19pts.
Winning Racing Tips: Staked 0.7pts, -0.2pts.
There. Short and sweet, eh?
Great day for The Market Examiner who struck gold with a rare two point bet and Sam secured 10/1 via BetButler! (Royal Curtsy - Fakenham).
Winning Racing Tips the only other service providing action, with a small double unsuccessful and a single returning stakes, finishing second at 5s.
The Market Examiner: Staked 3pts, +19pts.
Winning Racing Tips: Staked 0.7pts, -0.2pts.
There. Short and sweet, eh?
Monday, 7 May 2012
The reply.
I have a reply from Boylesports. It has been sent from Linda Gray, nominally at least, although a comment left under the previous post by someone who has an insight into the corporate customer service environment perhaps casts doubt as to whether it does actually come from the Head of Customer Services herself. Let's not be too cynical and instead take it for what it is, which is a simple brush off, albeit a polite one.
Many thanks for contacting Boylesports Customer Services.
Firstly, let me apologise for your having to take the time to raise a complaint following your experience with the customer support team.
On review of the chat, I can appreciate the frustration that you must have felt in light of the contradictory information that was offered. In response to the points that you raise, the agent you spoke to is new to the department and as such this has highlighted an obvious knowledge gap that I will ensure is addressed internally and indeed promptly. I can only apologise that the information offered on this occasion was inaccurate.
Secondly, I can officially confirm that those who were removed from our special offers and enhancements on 10/04/2012 were not informed of such removal. I acknowledge that this was not the information that you were furnished with on your original chat but this ultimately is the result again of a knowledge gap.
With regards to the points raised on the BPG advertisement on the website, this is displayed on the site regardless of whether a customer is logged in or not and is not tailored to a specific group of customers. In addition, you acknowledge that you freely accepted our terms and conditions. Each time the website is used by a customer, they are ultimately agreeing to all terms associated with the operation of their account. In this particular instance, you placed a bet and expected that you would receive BPG on your particular selection however the terms and conditions supercede any information display on the website and as such, as your account had been restricted from special offers you were not eligible for the better return.
Whilst the poor experience you received from the chat support team is regrettable, you have my assurance that this is something that I will focus on in earnest as it is not our intention to mislead or provide inaccurate information to our customers. With regards to the BPG and special offer restriction, I am afraid I cannot offer any additional advise. I acknowledge your complaint however the situation in this respect will not change.
If you are dissatisfied with my response, I would encourage you to contact IBAS. Their contact details can be found at this link http://www.ibas-uk.com/
Kindest regards,
Linda Gray
Customer Support Manager
The issue of whether or not the company's Terms & Conditions of business are superceded by the laws relating to (un)fair advertising is rather neatly sidestepped. It is a legal point upon which I am really not sure of my ground. I remember from studying the law of contract that if a term of a contract is either blatantly unreasonable or runs contrary to statutory law, then that condition is deemed "unfair". I still recall that there is a satute - The Unfair Contract Terms Act - that is specifically relevant to this issue. Unfortunately, I learnt all this back in the dim and hazy days of 1994 and as a typical student of the time, I spent most of that year pissed. Let's just say I don't want to go in there all guns blazing, quoting this statute and that. Not only might I be completely wrong, I'd look a right prize arsehole to boot!
Where I am perhaps to force the issue further is when the time inevitably arrives when the account is rendered effectively useless by severe staking restrictions. At this point I will ask for a copy of all my personal information held on file to be sent to me, and for their copy to be destroyed. I know that this too runs contrary to Boylesports' Ts&Cs, but the laws of data protection I know from my own place of work are not to be dismissed lightly. This is a battleground I am more confident of fighting on.
In the meantime, if anyone has any suggestions as to how I reply to Ms Gray's response, let me know in the "Comments" section.
Weekend's Betting
Not too impressive on the horses. Northern Monkey and On The Nose were in action on either day, and from 13 selections a return was secured from just one, and that was merely for a place. Elsewhere, The Market Examiner found a winner on Saturday that provided a 0.33pt profit, but were unsuccessful with one bet on Sunday.
Northern Monkey: Staked 3.75pts, -2.25pts.
On The Nose: Staked 5.75pts, -5.75pts.
The Market Examiner: Staked 5pts, -0.67pts.
Not that great, but not disastrous either, was the footie. Summer Of Footballl came out just the wrong side of neutral, Strike Zone (homes) the same, and The Sportsman and Strike Zone (aways) dropped a single point each.
With the services I'm trialling pulling in a small profit between them though, the overall loss on the football was less than a point, so really no damage done.
Summer Of Football: Staked 5pts, -0.125pts.
Strike Zone (homes): Staked 2pts, -0.09pts.
Strike Zone (away): Staked 1pt, -1pt.
The Sportsman: Staked 1pt, -1pt.
A couple of people have asked me which services I'm trialling but I'm not going to say at this point. I want to see what happens over the next month or so, see what issues may or may not arise, and then report back. I'll mention the results in passing, but nothing specific. I'm keeping results separate from that of the main portfolio (although keeping a record of the grand total, obviously), so reporting on the blog can continue as normal.
Today's Betting
Not much to cheer about today. On The Nose (0/3), The Market Examiner (0/4) and Summer Of Football (0/2). Doesn't read well, does it?
On The Nose: Staked 2pts, -2pts.
The Market Examiner: Staked 4pts, -4pts.
Summer Of Football: Staked 2pts, -1.5pts.
Back to work tomorrow. Joy.
Many thanks for contacting Boylesports Customer Services.
Firstly, let me apologise for your having to take the time to raise a complaint following your experience with the customer support team.
On review of the chat, I can appreciate the frustration that you must have felt in light of the contradictory information that was offered. In response to the points that you raise, the agent you spoke to is new to the department and as such this has highlighted an obvious knowledge gap that I will ensure is addressed internally and indeed promptly. I can only apologise that the information offered on this occasion was inaccurate.
Secondly, I can officially confirm that those who were removed from our special offers and enhancements on 10/04/2012 were not informed of such removal. I acknowledge that this was not the information that you were furnished with on your original chat but this ultimately is the result again of a knowledge gap.
With regards to the points raised on the BPG advertisement on the website, this is displayed on the site regardless of whether a customer is logged in or not and is not tailored to a specific group of customers. In addition, you acknowledge that you freely accepted our terms and conditions. Each time the website is used by a customer, they are ultimately agreeing to all terms associated with the operation of their account. In this particular instance, you placed a bet and expected that you would receive BPG on your particular selection however the terms and conditions supercede any information display on the website and as such, as your account had been restricted from special offers you were not eligible for the better return.
Whilst the poor experience you received from the chat support team is regrettable, you have my assurance that this is something that I will focus on in earnest as it is not our intention to mislead or provide inaccurate information to our customers. With regards to the BPG and special offer restriction, I am afraid I cannot offer any additional advise. I acknowledge your complaint however the situation in this respect will not change.
If you are dissatisfied with my response, I would encourage you to contact IBAS. Their contact details can be found at this link http://www.ibas-uk.com/
Kindest regards,
Linda Gray
Customer Support Manager
The issue of whether or not the company's Terms & Conditions of business are superceded by the laws relating to (un)fair advertising is rather neatly sidestepped. It is a legal point upon which I am really not sure of my ground. I remember from studying the law of contract that if a term of a contract is either blatantly unreasonable or runs contrary to statutory law, then that condition is deemed "unfair". I still recall that there is a satute - The Unfair Contract Terms Act - that is specifically relevant to this issue. Unfortunately, I learnt all this back in the dim and hazy days of 1994 and as a typical student of the time, I spent most of that year pissed. Let's just say I don't want to go in there all guns blazing, quoting this statute and that. Not only might I be completely wrong, I'd look a right prize arsehole to boot!
Where I am perhaps to force the issue further is when the time inevitably arrives when the account is rendered effectively useless by severe staking restrictions. At this point I will ask for a copy of all my personal information held on file to be sent to me, and for their copy to be destroyed. I know that this too runs contrary to Boylesports' Ts&Cs, but the laws of data protection I know from my own place of work are not to be dismissed lightly. This is a battleground I am more confident of fighting on.
In the meantime, if anyone has any suggestions as to how I reply to Ms Gray's response, let me know in the "Comments" section.
Weekend's Betting
Not too impressive on the horses. Northern Monkey and On The Nose were in action on either day, and from 13 selections a return was secured from just one, and that was merely for a place. Elsewhere, The Market Examiner found a winner on Saturday that provided a 0.33pt profit, but were unsuccessful with one bet on Sunday.
Northern Monkey: Staked 3.75pts, -2.25pts.
On The Nose: Staked 5.75pts, -5.75pts.
The Market Examiner: Staked 5pts, -0.67pts.
Not that great, but not disastrous either, was the footie. Summer Of Footballl came out just the wrong side of neutral, Strike Zone (homes) the same, and The Sportsman and Strike Zone (aways) dropped a single point each.
With the services I'm trialling pulling in a small profit between them though, the overall loss on the football was less than a point, so really no damage done.
Summer Of Football: Staked 5pts, -0.125pts.
Strike Zone (homes): Staked 2pts, -0.09pts.
Strike Zone (away): Staked 1pt, -1pt.
The Sportsman: Staked 1pt, -1pt.
A couple of people have asked me which services I'm trialling but I'm not going to say at this point. I want to see what happens over the next month or so, see what issues may or may not arise, and then report back. I'll mention the results in passing, but nothing specific. I'm keeping results separate from that of the main portfolio (although keeping a record of the grand total, obviously), so reporting on the blog can continue as normal.
Today's Betting
Not much to cheer about today. On The Nose (0/3), The Market Examiner (0/4) and Summer Of Football (0/2). Doesn't read well, does it?
On The Nose: Staked 2pts, -2pts.
The Market Examiner: Staked 4pts, -4pts.
Summer Of Football: Staked 2pts, -1.5pts.
Back to work tomorrow. Joy.
Friday, 4 May 2012
The letter.
Below is a copy of the letter I sent to the Head of Customer Services of Boylesports.
Dear Linda,
Username: ****
I have been moved to write an official complaint for what I regard as being treated with a level of customer service that I regard as negligent.
The incident relates to your removal of your BPG guarantee facility from my account.
Here is the transcript of a conversation I had with one your representatives earlier this week:
Connected to cim.boylesports.com
Session ID: 173727
Cathal has joined this session!
Connected with Cathal. Your Reference Number for this chat is 173727.
Welcome to Boylesports live help. How can I help you?
Hi. Can you please explain why my bet today was settled at the price I originally took and not at the BOG price?
One moment please and I will check that for you.
(after about five minutes of waiting): Any joy?
You placed the bet at the early price this is why you did not receive the bpg.
You advertised BPG - since when have I not been entitled to BPG? I have had no notice.
we offer bpg on the sp. Not on antipost prices or early prices. If the price is better then the sp we offer the better price.
What?!? Best Price Guaranteed means the best price is paid out, whether that be the SP or the early price. That is the way all my bets have been settled up until today.
What you have just typed is just plain wrong!
apologies .
So back to my original question - how come my bet has not been settled at the best price as you took my bet on a BPG basis?
Your account no longer avails of there bpg. You would have received an email in regard to this.
This was a management decision. It is nit just for your account but for numerous account.
I have just checked my in box on my email account - I have received no email. Can you please forward the original email sent so that I can check you have the right address? Please forward the original though, so I can see when exactly it was sent.
The email address I have for you is ****** is this correct.
Yes - but I still want you to forward the original email so I can see when it was sent. I have received no email.
I will organize for the email to be sent out for you.
The original?
That is correct.
Thankyou.
There are two points I would like to raise.
1. How can your representative be so blatantly wrong in his description of the BPG principle? Either he requires considerably more training, or he was attempting to pacify me by lying.
2. You may note that I asked for the "original" email that your representative stated to me had been sent, warning me of the imminent withdrawal of BPG from my account. I asked for this, because I checked my email account and no such email had been received.
This Live Chat conversation took place at approximately 6.00 - 6.15 in the evening. At 7.06, I received an email saying that my entitlement to BPG had been withdrawn. It was not a forwarded version of a previously sent email, rather an email sent for the first time.
The following morning I consulted one of your reps via Live Chat again. During the conversation, the lady admitted that I had been given the wrong information the previous evening, and in fact no such email had been sent to me prior to the removal of my BPG entitlement. In other words, Cathal had, in fact, blatantly lied to me, a customer.
Being lied to is, as I suggested previously, inexcusably poor customer serice. I would like your opinion on this.
The lady I conversed with in my second Live Chat conversation pointed out to me that it is stated within your Terms & Conditions that you may, at any time and without prior warning, withdraw a client's entitlement to the BPG offer you provide. I accept that entirely, as I do the fact that I opened an account with Boylesports having freely accepted those Terms & Conditions.
However, it is my belief that a company's Terms & Conditions of Business are rendered redundant if they run contrary to statutory or common law.
In this context, please note that without prior warning of the withdrawal from my account of the BPG facility, I placed my bet via the Boylesports website because I believed you were providing me with a BPG guarantee. When I placed the bet, the BPG symbol that you use with a tick next to it, advertised the fact that a bet placed on that particular race was subject to BPG, would you not agree? That tick purports to an advertisement and therefore my business was thus secured via a form of false advertising.
Please can you state your position on this?
Many thanks for your consideration on these issues and I await your response.
I'll let you know the response after the weekend. Let's see what they say.
Today's Betting
A marginally profitable day to end the working week.
On The Nose found one to place at decent odds (Honeymead - Musselburgh - 14/1) from their two selections for a little profit and Winning Racing Tips picked an each way double in which both horses placed and another single which also placed to return stakes.
No luck for Northern Monkey (0/2) or The Market Examiner (although TME came close with a 14/1 shot that finished a head second).
The profit was provided by Summer Of Football who had a winner in the French second division (Troyes - 10/11).
Northern Monkey: Staked 1pt, -1pt.
The Market Examiner: Staked 3pts, -3pts.
Winning Racing Tips: Staked 1.1pts, +0.049pts.
Summer Of Football: Staked 1pt, +0.9pts.
Long weekend. Hurrah! No post tomorrow - see you Monday.
Dear Linda,
Username: ****
I have been moved to write an official complaint for what I regard as being treated with a level of customer service that I regard as negligent.
The incident relates to your removal of your BPG guarantee facility from my account.
Here is the transcript of a conversation I had with one your representatives earlier this week:
Connected to cim.boylesports.com
Session ID: 173727
Cathal has joined this session!
Connected with Cathal. Your Reference Number for this chat is 173727.
Welcome to Boylesports live help. How can I help you?
Hi. Can you please explain why my bet today was settled at the price I originally took and not at the BOG price?
One moment please and I will check that for you.
(after about five minutes of waiting): Any joy?
You placed the bet at the early price this is why you did not receive the bpg.
You advertised BPG - since when have I not been entitled to BPG? I have had no notice.
we offer bpg on the sp. Not on antipost prices or early prices. If the price is better then the sp we offer the better price.
What?!? Best Price Guaranteed means the best price is paid out, whether that be the SP or the early price. That is the way all my bets have been settled up until today.
What you have just typed is just plain wrong!
apologies .
So back to my original question - how come my bet has not been settled at the best price as you took my bet on a BPG basis?
Your account no longer avails of there bpg. You would have received an email in regard to this.
This was a management decision. It is nit just for your account but for numerous account.
I have just checked my in box on my email account - I have received no email. Can you please forward the original email sent so that I can check you have the right address? Please forward the original though, so I can see when exactly it was sent.
The email address I have for you is ****** is this correct.
Yes - but I still want you to forward the original email so I can see when it was sent. I have received no email.
I will organize for the email to be sent out for you.
The original?
That is correct.
Thankyou.
There are two points I would like to raise.
1. How can your representative be so blatantly wrong in his description of the BPG principle? Either he requires considerably more training, or he was attempting to pacify me by lying.
2. You may note that I asked for the "original" email that your representative stated to me had been sent, warning me of the imminent withdrawal of BPG from my account. I asked for this, because I checked my email account and no such email had been received.
This Live Chat conversation took place at approximately 6.00 - 6.15 in the evening. At 7.06, I received an email saying that my entitlement to BPG had been withdrawn. It was not a forwarded version of a previously sent email, rather an email sent for the first time.
The following morning I consulted one of your reps via Live Chat again. During the conversation, the lady admitted that I had been given the wrong information the previous evening, and in fact no such email had been sent to me prior to the removal of my BPG entitlement. In other words, Cathal had, in fact, blatantly lied to me, a customer.
Being lied to is, as I suggested previously, inexcusably poor customer serice. I would like your opinion on this.
The lady I conversed with in my second Live Chat conversation pointed out to me that it is stated within your Terms & Conditions that you may, at any time and without prior warning, withdraw a client's entitlement to the BPG offer you provide. I accept that entirely, as I do the fact that I opened an account with Boylesports having freely accepted those Terms & Conditions.
However, it is my belief that a company's Terms & Conditions of Business are rendered redundant if they run contrary to statutory or common law.
In this context, please note that without prior warning of the withdrawal from my account of the BPG facility, I placed my bet via the Boylesports website because I believed you were providing me with a BPG guarantee. When I placed the bet, the BPG symbol that you use with a tick next to it, advertised the fact that a bet placed on that particular race was subject to BPG, would you not agree? That tick purports to an advertisement and therefore my business was thus secured via a form of false advertising.
Please can you state your position on this?
Many thanks for your consideration on these issues and I await your response.
I'll let you know the response after the weekend. Let's see what they say.
Today's Betting
A marginally profitable day to end the working week.
On The Nose found one to place at decent odds (Honeymead - Musselburgh - 14/1) from their two selections for a little profit and Winning Racing Tips picked an each way double in which both horses placed and another single which also placed to return stakes.
No luck for Northern Monkey (0/2) or The Market Examiner (although TME came close with a 14/1 shot that finished a head second).
The profit was provided by Summer Of Football who had a winner in the French second division (Troyes - 10/11).
Northern Monkey: Staked 1pt, -1pt.
The Market Examiner: Staked 3pts, -3pts.
Winning Racing Tips: Staked 1.1pts, +0.049pts.
Summer Of Football: Staked 1pt, +0.9pts.
Long weekend. Hurrah! No post tomorrow - see you Monday.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
War!
I know there is little to no point in fighting against the restrictions that the bookmakers impose upon us. I am aware that resisting their unjust practices is an exercise as futile as attempting to persuade Joey Barton to enter the priesthood. But that doesn't mean that we can't try.
Expressing frustration in forums and on blogs is all well and good, but why moan about something and then meekly accept the status quo? Not much bulldog spirit in being passive, is there?
Let the battle commence...
Here are the facts.
I backed a WRT tip earlier this week at Boylesports. The early price was 7/1, which I took. When I struck the bet, I did so in the belief that Best Odds Guaranteed would be applicable in the event of the price lengthening.
Apparently not! After very strong on-course support for the favourite, the horse I had backed drifted to 14s before running well to finish in the places and entitle me to a return. Checking my account statement, I saw that the bet was settled at the price I took, and not at the longer price that was the SP.
Here is the "conversation" I had with the Boylesports customer service representative using their "Live Chat" facility:
Connected to cim.boylesports.com
Session ID: 173727
Cathal has joined this session!
Connected with Cathal. Your Reference Number for this chat is 173727.
Welcome to Boylesports live help. How can I help you?
Hi. Can you please explain why my bet today was settled at the price I originally took and not at the BOG price?
One moment please and I will check that for you.
(after about five minutes of waiting): Any joy?
You placed the bet at the early price this is why you did not receive the bpg.
You advertised BPG - since when have I not been entitled to BPG? I have had no notice.
we offer bpg on the sp. Not on antipost prices or early prices. If the price is better then the sp we offer the better price.
What?!? Best Price Guaranteed means the best price is paid out, whether that be the SP or the early price. That is the way all my bets have been settled up until today.
What you have just typed is just plain wrong!
apologies .
So back to my original question - how come my bet has not been settled at the best price as you took my bet on a BPG basis?
Your account no longer avails of there bpg. You would have received an email in regard to this.
This was a management decision. It is nit just for your account but for numerous account.
I have just checked my in box on my email account - I have received no email. Can you please forward the original email sent so that I can check you have the right address? Please forward the original though, so I can see when exactly it was sent.
The email address I have for you is ******* is this correct.
Yes - but I still want you to forward the original email so I can see when it was sent. I have received no email.
I will organize for the email to be sent out for you.
The original?
That is correct.
Thankyou.
After laughing at the rep's cackhanded explanation as to what the BPG prinicple is, the important points to note are that a) my entitlement to BOG had been withdrawn, and b) the customer services rep claimed to have informed me of this withdrawal via email. I got the impression that this claim was a lie. I did indeed check my email address and there was no email to be found anywhere from Boylesports. Hence the reason I asked for the ORIGINAL email to be forwarded to me, so that I could see when (if) it had been sent.
This conversation happened between about 6.00 and 6.15 pm. At a time after 7.00pm, I received the following email...
Further to your query,
We wish to inform you that we are making changes to the way we administer your sports betting account. As you are aware, Boylesports.com provides extra value for its customers through regular promotional offers such as Cashback Specials, Best Price Guaranteed and Free Bets.
After a review of your account we have decided that it will no longer benefit from these and other gestures classified as ‘special offers’.
Should you have any queries regarding this change in policy, please contact our customer service team.
Kind regards,
Rachel
Customer Support Team
This was not a forwarded email. This was simply an email that had been sent following the previous Live Chat conversation.
The next day, I engaged Live Chat again. The Boylesports representative admitted to me that in fact, I had not been sent an email warning me that the BOG facility was being withdrawn; that in fact I had been given the wrong information. However, they continued, their Ts&Cs did state that no prior warning was necessary before removing the BOG facility. In other words: tough luck, Buster.
So, I had been lied to, which is simply not good enough when it comes to providing any meaningful level of customer service. I also wonder if a company's Ts&Cs, even if agreed to by a client upon registration, supercede the laws relating to advertising standards. I would suspect not, although I don't know for sure. I would ask that if a bookmaker is advertising the fact that they provide BOG (and Boylesports certainly do so via a BPG and tick symbol next to the racecard that you visit when placing the bet), is that not attracting business under false pretences if subsequently and without prior warning, they do not honour the promise made by their advertising at the time the bet is struck?
These are questions that I am posing in an emailed letter sent to Linda Gray, the Boylesports Head of Customer Service. I look forward to reading her reply.
Today's Betting
Decent day in the end.
Northern Monkey had two each way bets, the second of which (My Girl Anna - Tipperary - 9/2) managed to hold on to third place. No luck today for The Market Examiner (0/2).
The profit was made by this evening's sole On The Oche bet (Andy Hamilton - 9/4).
Here are the figures (those in brackets being the month to date):
Northern Monkey: Staked 1.5pts, -0.745pts.
(Staked 3.5pts, +8.129pts).
The Market Examiner: Staked 2pts, -2pts.
(Staked 7pts, +5.575pts)
On The Oche: Staked 1pt, +2.25pts.
Right. I've decided that the fact that tomorrow is Friday should be marked by enjoying a beer, and there's a nice bottle of Ruddles County sitting conveniently on the top of the fridge. In a bit.
Expressing frustration in forums and on blogs is all well and good, but why moan about something and then meekly accept the status quo? Not much bulldog spirit in being passive, is there?
Let the battle commence...
Here are the facts.
I backed a WRT tip earlier this week at Boylesports. The early price was 7/1, which I took. When I struck the bet, I did so in the belief that Best Odds Guaranteed would be applicable in the event of the price lengthening.
Apparently not! After very strong on-course support for the favourite, the horse I had backed drifted to 14s before running well to finish in the places and entitle me to a return. Checking my account statement, I saw that the bet was settled at the price I took, and not at the longer price that was the SP.
Here is the "conversation" I had with the Boylesports customer service representative using their "Live Chat" facility:
Connected to cim.boylesports.com
Session ID: 173727
Cathal has joined this session!
Connected with Cathal. Your Reference Number for this chat is 173727.
Welcome to Boylesports live help. How can I help you?
Hi. Can you please explain why my bet today was settled at the price I originally took and not at the BOG price?
One moment please and I will check that for you.
(after about five minutes of waiting): Any joy?
You placed the bet at the early price this is why you did not receive the bpg.
You advertised BPG - since when have I not been entitled to BPG? I have had no notice.
we offer bpg on the sp. Not on antipost prices or early prices. If the price is better then the sp we offer the better price.
What?!? Best Price Guaranteed means the best price is paid out, whether that be the SP or the early price. That is the way all my bets have been settled up until today.
What you have just typed is just plain wrong!
apologies .
So back to my original question - how come my bet has not been settled at the best price as you took my bet on a BPG basis?
Your account no longer avails of there bpg. You would have received an email in regard to this.
This was a management decision. It is nit just for your account but for numerous account.
I have just checked my in box on my email account - I have received no email. Can you please forward the original email sent so that I can check you have the right address? Please forward the original though, so I can see when exactly it was sent.
The email address I have for you is ******* is this correct.
Yes - but I still want you to forward the original email so I can see when it was sent. I have received no email.
I will organize for the email to be sent out for you.
The original?
That is correct.
Thankyou.
After laughing at the rep's cackhanded explanation as to what the BPG prinicple is, the important points to note are that a) my entitlement to BOG had been withdrawn, and b) the customer services rep claimed to have informed me of this withdrawal via email. I got the impression that this claim was a lie. I did indeed check my email address and there was no email to be found anywhere from Boylesports. Hence the reason I asked for the ORIGINAL email to be forwarded to me, so that I could see when (if) it had been sent.
This conversation happened between about 6.00 and 6.15 pm. At a time after 7.00pm, I received the following email...
Further to your query,
We wish to inform you that we are making changes to the way we administer your sports betting account. As you are aware, Boylesports.com provides extra value for its customers through regular promotional offers such as Cashback Specials, Best Price Guaranteed and Free Bets.
After a review of your account we have decided that it will no longer benefit from these and other gestures classified as ‘special offers’.
Should you have any queries regarding this change in policy, please contact our customer service team.
Kind regards,
Rachel
Customer Support Team
This was not a forwarded email. This was simply an email that had been sent following the previous Live Chat conversation.
The next day, I engaged Live Chat again. The Boylesports representative admitted to me that in fact, I had not been sent an email warning me that the BOG facility was being withdrawn; that in fact I had been given the wrong information. However, they continued, their Ts&Cs did state that no prior warning was necessary before removing the BOG facility. In other words: tough luck, Buster.
So, I had been lied to, which is simply not good enough when it comes to providing any meaningful level of customer service. I also wonder if a company's Ts&Cs, even if agreed to by a client upon registration, supercede the laws relating to advertising standards. I would suspect not, although I don't know for sure. I would ask that if a bookmaker is advertising the fact that they provide BOG (and Boylesports certainly do so via a BPG and tick symbol next to the racecard that you visit when placing the bet), is that not attracting business under false pretences if subsequently and without prior warning, they do not honour the promise made by their advertising at the time the bet is struck?
These are questions that I am posing in an emailed letter sent to Linda Gray, the Boylesports Head of Customer Service. I look forward to reading her reply.
Today's Betting
Decent day in the end.
Northern Monkey had two each way bets, the second of which (My Girl Anna - Tipperary - 9/2) managed to hold on to third place. No luck today for The Market Examiner (0/2).
The profit was made by this evening's sole On The Oche bet (Andy Hamilton - 9/4).
Here are the figures (those in brackets being the month to date):
Northern Monkey: Staked 1.5pts, -0.745pts.
(Staked 3.5pts, +8.129pts).
The Market Examiner: Staked 2pts, -2pts.
(Staked 7pts, +5.575pts)
On The Oche: Staked 1pt, +2.25pts.
Right. I've decided that the fact that tomorrow is Friday should be marked by enjoying a beer, and there's a nice bottle of Ruddles County sitting conveniently on the top of the fridge. In a bit.
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
He's back!
JP is back! The Don Corleone of betting bloggers. The King Kong. Goddammit, the John Holmes!
JP's blog became an absolutely essential daily read. His was a story that caught the imagination. Certainly it caught mine. From what was - in terms of the size of his betting bank - a relatively humble beginning, JP built his betting up, surfing the waves of strong performance provided at the time by the likes of Equine Investments, Steve Lewis Hamilton and Tipping Legends. There were mighty ups, deep downs, and every night, readers were treated to another exciting installment of what was a compelling story. JP was living what for many of us was the dream.
A series of events conspiring maliciously together though, forced JP to bring a halt to his journey. His last blog post was written two years ago now, although in the way that memory distorts the passage of time, it seems like only yesterday. For those two years, there has been a JP-sized hole in the blogging world. Today that hole has been filled.
I've been fortunate enough to get to know JP a little, and although having only actually met him in person on just the one occasion, I now consider him to be a real friend. I might suggest that after his experiences of a couple of years ago, that he is a little wiser and I for one have benefited from that wisdom. I've got a feeling that readers of his resurrected blog (link to the right) may well do the same.
Welcome back, JP.
After yesterday's triumph, has come today's disasters. I shall do my utmost to treat both imposters the same.
I backed five odds on shots today (three Strike Zone home bets and two The Sportsman Racing selections) without finding a winner amongst them. That kinda says it all.
On The Nose's small bet was also unsuccessful, and the only success today was provided by The Market Examiner and unfortunately that was adversely affected by a Rule 4 (Meet Me At Dawn - Southwell - 3.575/1). Good start to the month by TME though.
The Winning Racing Tips horse finished in the frame so a small return there (Gifted Girl - Kempton - 7/1).
The Market Examiner: Staked 3pts, +1.575pts.
On The Nose: Staked 0.5pts, -0.5pts.
The Sportsman Racing: Staked 1pt, -1pt.
Winning Racing Tips: Staked 0.5pts, +0.183pts.
Strike Zone (H): Staked 3pts, -3pts.
Now, just a little heads up for something that will be on these pages in the not so distant future.
I know we've been moaning about bookmakers a lot recently, but Boylesports have surpassed themselves in reaching new lows in levels of customer service recently. I intend to take them to task a little, not with any great hope of changing the world or anything, but rather to see what their reaction is to certain points that I am making to them. I will shortly spell out exactly what has been going on over the next day or two, and then I shall detail Boylesports' response. By this time tomorrow, I shall have contacted their Head of Customer Services and probably be awaiting their response. Then, by harnessing the power of Twitter, I intend to publicise our exchange as much as possible. I might need you lot to help me out a bit on that.
So in the spirit of Lassie, every one of the 101 Dalmatians, and Shep, may I shout a rallying call to arms...Tally Ho! Let free the dogs!
(PS. If any of you don't know who John Holmes is, please don't google it. Or if you must, make sure you use that "Private Browsing" function you can get now on your search engine. You'll thank me for that piece of advice, believe me.)
JP's blog became an absolutely essential daily read. His was a story that caught the imagination. Certainly it caught mine. From what was - in terms of the size of his betting bank - a relatively humble beginning, JP built his betting up, surfing the waves of strong performance provided at the time by the likes of Equine Investments, Steve Lewis Hamilton and Tipping Legends. There were mighty ups, deep downs, and every night, readers were treated to another exciting installment of what was a compelling story. JP was living what for many of us was the dream.
A series of events conspiring maliciously together though, forced JP to bring a halt to his journey. His last blog post was written two years ago now, although in the way that memory distorts the passage of time, it seems like only yesterday. For those two years, there has been a JP-sized hole in the blogging world. Today that hole has been filled.
I've been fortunate enough to get to know JP a little, and although having only actually met him in person on just the one occasion, I now consider him to be a real friend. I might suggest that after his experiences of a couple of years ago, that he is a little wiser and I for one have benefited from that wisdom. I've got a feeling that readers of his resurrected blog (link to the right) may well do the same.
Welcome back, JP.
After yesterday's triumph, has come today's disasters. I shall do my utmost to treat both imposters the same.
I backed five odds on shots today (three Strike Zone home bets and two The Sportsman Racing selections) without finding a winner amongst them. That kinda says it all.
On The Nose's small bet was also unsuccessful, and the only success today was provided by The Market Examiner and unfortunately that was adversely affected by a Rule 4 (Meet Me At Dawn - Southwell - 3.575/1). Good start to the month by TME though.
The Winning Racing Tips horse finished in the frame so a small return there (Gifted Girl - Kempton - 7/1).
The Market Examiner: Staked 3pts, +1.575pts.
On The Nose: Staked 0.5pts, -0.5pts.
The Sportsman Racing: Staked 1pt, -1pt.
Winning Racing Tips: Staked 0.5pts, +0.183pts.
Strike Zone (H): Staked 3pts, -3pts.
Now, just a little heads up for something that will be on these pages in the not so distant future.
I know we've been moaning about bookmakers a lot recently, but Boylesports have surpassed themselves in reaching new lows in levels of customer service recently. I intend to take them to task a little, not with any great hope of changing the world or anything, but rather to see what their reaction is to certain points that I am making to them. I will shortly spell out exactly what has been going on over the next day or two, and then I shall detail Boylesports' response. By this time tomorrow, I shall have contacted their Head of Customer Services and probably be awaiting their response. Then, by harnessing the power of Twitter, I intend to publicise our exchange as much as possible. I might need you lot to help me out a bit on that.
So in the spirit of Lassie, every one of the 101 Dalmatians, and Shep, may I shout a rallying call to arms...Tally Ho! Let free the dogs!
(PS. If any of you don't know who John Holmes is, please don't google it. Or if you must, make sure you use that "Private Browsing" function you can get now on your search engine. You'll thank me for that piece of advice, believe me.)
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
I'm not complaining, but...
Now, you know aswell as I that this blog is not one that moans about bookies and their shenanigans (*cough*). Today though, took the biscuit. I got an email this morning from Ladbrokes. They've withdrawn my entitlement to BOG. The cads!
I got the email informing me of the bad news at about 11.00. At about 10.00 I had placed Northern Monkey's sole bet of the day, a big 1pt each way selection (Sulis Minerva - Kempton - 11/2), spreading the bet across a number of bookies, one of which was Laddies. I thought I'd got two thirds of the stake on at Best Odds Guaranteed, and one third on at the early price.
You know the rest. Sulis Minerva wins like a Derby prospect in a seller, and drifted on course pre-race to 8/1! 8/1!?!?! I had checked mid afternoon at Laddies and they were trading at 4s! If I was 16 and down with the kids, I'd say something like WTF! As it is I'm 40 and a responsible Dad of two, so I'll say, "Goodness gracious me. What a surprise". Seriously, though. WTF!?!
Great tipping though from Wayne, kicking off the new month in the same "On Fire" mode he had finished April in.
Elsewhere, Winning Racing Tips came up with a trixie. I've never placed a trixie before. I didn't really know what one was and when the bet came through I had to ask Paul for clarification on my staking. To be honest, I still don't really know what a trixie is, but I do know after getting a winner and two placed horses from the three selections that I'd made a wee profit. Enough to cancel out the small losses I'd suffered on WRT's single each way bet that finished in the frame but at odds of 7/2.
The Market Examiner got their month off to a flyer with a nice winner (Border Lad - Exeter - 7/1). Couldn't quite follow up with their second selection, but still, nice start to the month for Sam.
Northern Monkey: Staked 2pts, +8.125pts.
The Market Examiner: Staked 2pts, +6pts.
Winning Racing Tips: Staked 1.6pts, +0.059pts.
No joy from the one football bet tonight.
Strike Zone (h): Staked 1pt, -1pt.
Thirty more days like today, and it will have been a good month. Don't suppose that's likely to happen. Pity.
I got the email informing me of the bad news at about 11.00. At about 10.00 I had placed Northern Monkey's sole bet of the day, a big 1pt each way selection (Sulis Minerva - Kempton - 11/2), spreading the bet across a number of bookies, one of which was Laddies. I thought I'd got two thirds of the stake on at Best Odds Guaranteed, and one third on at the early price.
You know the rest. Sulis Minerva wins like a Derby prospect in a seller, and drifted on course pre-race to 8/1! 8/1!?!?! I had checked mid afternoon at Laddies and they were trading at 4s! If I was 16 and down with the kids, I'd say something like WTF! As it is I'm 40 and a responsible Dad of two, so I'll say, "Goodness gracious me. What a surprise". Seriously, though. WTF!?!
Great tipping though from Wayne, kicking off the new month in the same "On Fire" mode he had finished April in.
Elsewhere, Winning Racing Tips came up with a trixie. I've never placed a trixie before. I didn't really know what one was and when the bet came through I had to ask Paul for clarification on my staking. To be honest, I still don't really know what a trixie is, but I do know after getting a winner and two placed horses from the three selections that I'd made a wee profit. Enough to cancel out the small losses I'd suffered on WRT's single each way bet that finished in the frame but at odds of 7/2.
The Market Examiner got their month off to a flyer with a nice winner (Border Lad - Exeter - 7/1). Couldn't quite follow up with their second selection, but still, nice start to the month for Sam.
Northern Monkey: Staked 2pts, +8.125pts.
The Market Examiner: Staked 2pts, +6pts.
Winning Racing Tips: Staked 1.6pts, +0.059pts.
No joy from the one football bet tonight.
Strike Zone (h): Staked 1pt, -1pt.
Thirty more days like today, and it will have been a good month. Don't suppose that's likely to happen. Pity.
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