Last week I asked you to design the online payment system called edream you wanted as Here on www.digitalmoneyworld we regularly hear readers complaining about the services ( or lack of them) offered by e payments companies like moneybookers, paypal, e gold, loom, and the rest. In response, Sean over at franchise pick; a blog I never tire of reading, responded with a killah post not to be missed, with his usual wit and humour.

http://www.franchisepick.com/franchisepickcom-announces-esean-payment-processing-system/

So here’s the question, if you were to design the e payments system that you want and need, what would it look like?

What services would it offer that you are missing now?

How would you improve on existing options offered to customers?

What limitations that you presently have to endure would you do away with and what would you replace them with?

Lets call it e dream

The prize? a deposit of seed money into your a paypal account in your name to start your new business. Yes you heard right! seed money into your own account.

Now rumour has it that Sean is pretty confident of winning this are you going to let him? So send yours in today guys, your best ideas for a payment system.

The prize will be awarded at the end of July. get yours in!

So write to Moneypenny under comments below and let’s have your e dream e payments blueprint. The best one will be voted on and will win a prize of seed money into a paypal account!

Moneypenny

Last week I asked you to design the online payment system called edream you wanted as I regularly hear readers complaining about the services ( or lack of them) offered by e payments companies like moneybookers, paypal, e gold, loom, and the rest. In response, Sean over at franchise pick; a blog I never tire of reading, responded with a killah post not to be missed, with his usual wit and humour.

http://www.franchisepick.com/franchisepickcom-announces-esean-payment-processing-system/

So here’s the question, if you were to design the e payments system that you want and need, what would it look like?

What services would it offer that you are missing now?

How would you improve on existing options offered to customers?

What limitations that you presently have to endure would you do away with and what would you replace them with?

Lets call it e dream

The prize? a deposit of seed money into your a paypal account in your name to start your new business. Yes you heard right! seed money into your own account.

Now rumour has it that Sean is pretty confident of winning this and are you going to let him?

So send yours in today guys your best ideas for a payment system.

The prize will be awarded at the end of July. get yours in!

So write to Moneypenny under comments below, or to my soon to launch blog www.wisequeen.com and let’s have your e dream e payments blueprint. The best one will be voted on and will win a prize of seed money into a paypal account!

Moneypenny

Who are we?
The London Gold Exchange is the World’s largest and most established trader of Digital Gold and Silver (also known as e-currency, Digital Currency or e-money). We are a reputable independent international business with offices in Europe and Asia/Pacific.

What do we do?
We are a licensed and accredited Digital Gold and Silver Exchange Provider (or Market Maker). Our service gives you a quick, easy and most importantly, safe method to get DG&S in or out of your account. We have years of e-commerce experience and pride ourselves on our superb customer service. View client testimonials

Why are we different?
We focus only on Digital Gold, Digital Silver and Digital Currency and can offer you an unrivalled experience. We supply c-gold, e-gold, e-Bullion, Pecunix, Web Money and Liberty Reserve. Our unique ‘Members Only’ secure web site is designed to be simple and easy to use. We have a proven track record for speed and reliability and our members return again and again.

Why use us?
Members benefit from our competitive rates and can easily (after verification) send funds to us via domestic Internet bank transfers, International bank wire to our multi-currency International bank, deposit cash or transfer money using Western Union and MoneyGram. We offer a simple, fast & efficient service.

We welcome International orders from all corners of the globe.

Follow our easy steps to Buy, Sell or Convert Digital Gold Currency.

This is but one example I found on the web of digital gold trading,

but I have questions like others have about digital gold. Let’s take e bullion as an example. I sat down with three leading financial advisors and they had these questions  and many others too. So don’t shoot me I’m only the piano player, Yes I’ve read the sites.

Let’s start with e bullion, It’s headquartered in Delaware that rings a bell, the associations are not good.

But maybe that isn’t an issue though.

Next question: what do some of these statements mean? This one for example.

Can I take delivery of e-Bullion^®?
Yes. You may take possession of your e-Bullion^® through the primary funding/withdrawal processor for e-Bullion^®.  Currently that is Goldfinger Coin and Bullion Inc.  There is a small fee involved for converting e-Bullion^® to physical delivery. This is known as a redemption premium and will vary according to the type and amount of metal you wish to redeem.

What does physical delivery mean? That if I want my gold bars you’ll drop them off or DHL them. I don’t think so.

My biggest question however is that my digital shares are not linked to the current market value of gold. Why?

Are ebullion trading gold? Sure they must be, but why use gold to back the digital funds if it has no relation to gold’s current market value on the commodities market.?

Every US dollar was once underwitten by gold in the days of “in gold we trust” now the dollar says “in God we trust”.So this is not a strange concept.

Why are e-Bullion^® services not offered in some areas?
Some states and jurisdictions may require the acquisition of a specialized business license under local law, in connection with some of the services we offer. Rather than bearing the administrative burden of meeting these multiple licensing requirements, we choose not to offer e-Bullion^® services in those areas.

944.09

That’s the current gold price listed on the Londongoldexchange site. I have one question, why link the actual price of real gold to digital gold? Does the investor take delivery of real gold, or shares in real gold or silver held in a vault? This is the question I and other financial brokers have about trading in e gold and others. And what is a market maker? Perhaps Benson or Mark over at DGC who have traded in digital gold, can educate us better.

Have a comment?  want to answer some of these questions from our readers. Please answer below.

Moneypenny

I blogged yesterday about the those that have written into me about a fake moneybookers scam.

http://www.bizzia.com/adding-value/

Adding value read this and comment on it if you have suggestions.

These people were scammed because they received an email identical to the moneybookers one and took it as the original, it was actually a faked page which looked identical.

Today I want to talk about online security with moneybookers, pay pal and others.

What should you expect to receive from them?

Rule number one

Any mail you get, first check the address it came from, that’s the first clue. Mark spam as spam and delete it out of your spam folder daily.

Rule number 2

Never click on a link, but rather type the address www.paypal.com or moneybookers.com straight into your browser window. Then you can’t be misdirected. Check the page you are logging into it should look right, dont rush. Never update your details on a form you’re not certain about. These scams continue because people fail to to do this, they know they will catch someone.

Rule number 3

If you don’t have a bank account with that bank or payment company, don’t open the mail. You don’t get an account by accident.

Follow these simple rules everytime and scams will suffer, not you.

Care to comment? share this with everyone you know.

Be safe online, Moneypenny

This is a kind of unofficial poll to find out which online payment company is rated best.

These are the criteria:

1. ease of use, functionality and options.

2. service level, charges/cost and market share.

3. security, support and reliability.

4. ethical, regulated and financially sound company.

So which online payment company does these best for you.

Leave a comment and tell us your experience for the benefit of our readers.

Moneypenny

I remember as an investment broker not so long ago, my clients and peers talking about ethical investments. Exercising your ethical choice in investments was becoming mainstream and even clients were talking about it.

Contrast this with the Elliot Spitzer case recently. He didn’t seem to care that prostitution and the crimes always linked with it, where being funded by him. He possibly said - I’m O.k. I’m not hurting anyone.

The IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division then started a probe, initially fearing that Spitzer was the victim of either extortion or identity theft.

Screenshot of the website of Emperors Club VIP showing list of prices for escort services

Image from wiki

North Fork’s report in July 2007 went largely unnoticed until HSBC in the fall filed a report that the transactions were going to QAT International and QAT Consulting Group, which were offshore shell companies operating as a front for the Emperors Club.

Later the IRS contacted the FBI to investigate possible political corruption. The investigation led Federal authorities to link the money transfers to the Emperors Club.

On November 19, 2007, Republican operative Roger Stone sent a letter to the FBI saying that Spitzer “used the service of high-priced call girls” while in Florida.

Spitzer announced on March 12 that he would resign his post as Governor effective March 17, amid threats of his impeachment by state lawmakers.

So what’s happened to the ethics questions we used to ask, like: Was the company involved in mining practices that affected the environment? Did that company operate sweatshops in cheap-labour countries. Was the company involved in money laundering, pornography, tobacco, alcohol etc?

Whilst some of this talk and campaigning has been replaced by the fair trade movement, which when it works, I do applaud, what has happened to our own ethics?

Do we care how that money we got out of an investment was made?

Did it involve a pyramid scheme or scams where someone was robbed of their hard earned money, or was the money got from trading in guns, drugs or people trafficking? These are the questions banks have to ask in the bigger picture, and perhaps we should be asking them too in the smaller picture of our choices.

What do you think? Who does your research about where to put your money or what to invest in?

Does it matter to you what the e company/gold company/ web money/ company you use invests in or derives its profits from? Give us your view under comments

Moneypenny

Should we be worried about the financial markets? Well I think so. When companies like Lehman Bros lose 50% of their share value for the first time in their very long history, and then start scrabling around trying to raise money on the stock exchange. When major banks are being bailed out by reserve banks. When many shares are in freefall due to the jittery markets, and when the price of oil is just on a drunken rampage full of its own importance and value. When world powers can’t find a workable alternative solution to the oil producing states having their foot on our necks. Yes I think it’s worrying.

This may be why some prefer holding gold, commodities and digital currencies hoping to hedge against the falling dollar value.

June 9, 2008

locked in to a bank rate 

If you’ve been tuned in over the last few months, you could not have escaped the reports of doom and gloom that spill out daily about the credit crunch.

But what can you do about it?

Do you know how credit worthy you are?

Do you know your credit rating?

If you have a bad credit rating what do you do about it?

What interest rate are you paying on credit cards, house, etc.? 

I hope you can answer some of these questions, but sadly many can’t.

So lets answer some of these.

First of all, have you checked your credit rating?

If you apply for credit they will check for you, meaning you won’t have to pay for it, but you also won’t know all the details and you need to if you are applying for credit. Knowing your rating, is bargaining point that few use.

Let’s say you have bad credit, what can you do? Contact the agency that listed you, perhaps you have paid off an outstanding loan, got a new job, turned over a new leaf. So if they know about it they can take you off the black list. You may have to pay a fee to have this bad report removed, but it’s worth it.

So lets say you have a great credit record.

How much interest are you paying ? Don’t be afraid to ask your bank.

Most people pay around 18% or more. Did you know that if you have a good credit rating you can shop around  and could pay as little as 10, 5 %. That’s a lot of money in your pocket.

Those who negotiated a fixed rate on their mortgage may be well pleased now. Banks don’t like this, and won’t offer it. They want you to take the chance, because they know the odds are stacked in their favor.

 Ask for this, if that’s what you want.  Shop around to find a better rate and ask your bank to meet this. If not, vote with your feet. They may give in, and if not, find a better deal.

Just make sure the better deal is not just an introductory offer, that will be hiked  up after 6 months.

The best deals are those pre-approved loan offers from your own bank. It’s hard to beat those.

READ THE FINE PRINT!

Have a question? ask it under comments, 

Have you had an experience that could help others caught in the squeeze, then share it here.

Yours in money,

Moneypenny.

Photocredit copyright Donna Jackson

Here’s one for  all you gold people.  Just another of the many messages to arrive in my mailbox on a daily basis,

which  make little or no sense.

So the first person who can write in and tell me what this scheme is about or not, will win an all-expenses-paid trip to the moon in 2020. The winner will also be crowned the “smart alec” of the month.

Answers on a postcard.. no rather send me a comment here, as quick as a flash.

Moneypenny

ALLUVAIL GOLD for sale.
To:	jessicabeloved00@yahoo.com

Dear sir

Its with pleasure that I write to inform you of the availability of ALLUVAIL GOLD for sale.

Below are the classification of the goods :

PRODUCT : ALLUVIAL GOLD.

QUANTITY :500 KGS.

QUALITY : +22 KARATS.

PURITY : 92+

PRICE : 30percent below the standard price

TERM OF PAYMENT : NEGOTIABLE.

we do not accept advance payment, the transaction will be done according to the seller and buyers agreement and we expect you to come with your Inspector machines and after checking, the payment will be on bank to bank bases.

If you are interested in the above product please get in touch with me and we will make arrangement on the mode of delivery.

I await to hear from you very soon.

Regards.

Mrs Jessica.

A warm wish to all those on b5media, and of course our readers, remembering the fallen on this Memorial Day 2008. May all those who served and are serving, be remembered. Here’s the link to participate http://www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com   Last week I wrote on web money http://www.bizzia.com/webmoney-online-payments/  and  it seems that every month, there’s a new way to pay on-line. Are these virtual companies using our money held-on-line to trade with? Are they using customers online funds to raise capital to trade with. Ask some finance wizzes or a group of investment bankers, and they will tell you that for the small benefit of giving customers an alternative to using credit cards on line, these payments companies get to hold real money on behalf of the customer, and trade with it? The gold-related payment setups must be doing this. The sites tell you that the gold value is not linked to the current price of gold, but you can bet your bottom dollar, that they care about the fluctuations in the price of the commodity.  A clever scheme, e bullion, and others, convince the public you can create a monetary system outside of the mainstream, and apart from the normal US dollar currency, and they will come. Those who  use them swear by the safety, legality. etc. But the facts behind the incorporation, the location in Delaware, the gold vault stores, all open up many a can of worms. What’s the point of basing the investment on gold, if the investment its not linked to the commodities value? These are the questions I, and others very trained in financial instruments, are asking? Maybe we can because we are not invested and can still see the woods for the trees, or maybe we have just missed something. But I smell a rat, a big rat. Mark Herpel wrote on these gold payment companies like e bullion, a lot, and now writes DGC mag http://www.dgcmagazine.com  So perhaps he would agree to answer some pertinent questions. Are you up for the challenge Mark? Moneypenny