NETELLER Blog

Remembering your Net+ prepaid MasterCard PIN number

Chris — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:17:22 +0000

Today’s post was written by Amanda. She is part of the Card Operations team and is passionate about our Net+ cards. This is the first in a series of posts where Amanda will be talking about the importance of remembering your PIN number.

Do you sometimes get to the ATM and struggle with remembering your PIN like I do? And with the need to use a Chip & PIN card becoming more widespread throughout the world, do you ever worry about remembering your Net+ card PIN?

There are a variety of tricks you can use to remember PIN numbers. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. I have highlighted below a few methods recommended by memory experts, along with some of the pros and cons.

Patterns

Rather than learn a PIN digit by digit, learn the pattern that you need to trace on the keypad with your fingers

Vocalizing

Go into a room on your own and say your PIN aloud several times: just hearing your own voice often helps to deepen the imprint on your memory. However, make sure you are on your own; never disclose your PIN to anyone (not even your family, the bank or the police) or you could be liable for losses.

2 by 2

Some people find it helps to break a 4-digit PIN down into 2 lots of 2 numbers, for example 2852 as 28 and 52 or 1066 as 10 and 66.

Number Shapes

Picture each number between 0 and 9 as something that looks like its shape. This allows you to visualize numbers and makes them easier to remember. For example:

You could picture a 0 as a football, the number 1 might be a pencil or a candle, the number 2 a swan or a snake
Once the associations are made, you create a story to remember the sequence. If, for instance, your PIN was ‘2021’, you could imagine yourself as a snake (2) playing football (0) with a swan (2) writing down the scores with a pencil (1)

Believe it or not, the crazier the story, the stronger the chance of remembering it!

Rhyming words

Use rhyme words that replace the original numbers and facilitate recall, for example: 1 = bun; 2 = shoe; 3 = tree etc. Then as for number shapes, create a story to remember the sequence.

Word method

Can your PIN be linked to a word? For example think about how you sometimes “dial-by-name” in a company’s phone system. If you can link a word to your PIN number, it will be easier to remember. For example, the PIN number 9673 would be converted to the word “word” (the W is on the 9, the O is on the 6, etc).

Addition method

Another way to randomize your PIN number is to add numbers to an easily remembered number. For example, you might add 1 to each number of the base PIN number. If you start with “1234″, you add 1 to each position and end up with “2345″. Of course, this is pretty simple and would equally be simple for someone else to work out. You would have to get more creative for any meaningful security using this method.

Tools and gadgets

If you worry about remembering all your PINs and password there are numerous gadgets and tools for your phone and PC to help you remember them, whilst keeping the information secure.

Have you found another method that works well for you? Share it with us.

Earn more ballots with XChance and Ukash

Suzanne — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:26:26 +0000

Today is a great day because I get to announce the very first winner of the XChance promotion. Congratulations Yukihiro K. of Japan! You’re the lucky winner of 1,000 USD.

We’re all about giving you bonus ballots this time around, so to increase your chances of winning, we’ve added a new way for you to earn ballots. Starting today and until 11 April, you can earn a ballot each time you deposit with Ukash!

Confirm and earn

Don’t forget, you need to confirm your registration to earn your first ballot and qualify for the remaining 9,000 USD prize pot. Increase your chances of winning by racking up the ballots with deposits using Ukash. Check out all of the ways you can earn more ballots.

Check back on 23 March for the next winner announcement (and possibly another bonus ballot offer)!

Today’s post was written by Suzanne. She thinks up a lot of the cool promotions we do and picks the prizes that go with them. She also loves to shop and drive around town in her Mini.

Net+ wins Best Gaming Prepaid Card Award

Nicole — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:00:59 +0000

I am delighted that the prepaid card industry, along with you – our valued members – have really embraced our Net+ prepaid MasterCards®. When we launched the Net+ card services program in 2008, we intended to create the best prepaid card program around.

And thanks to your loyalty and input, Net+ prepaid cards have garnered yet another award! Last month we were thrilled to find out we won the Best Gaming Prepaid Card for the second time. That came on the heels of winning Best New Prepaid Card Product Launch at the Cards & Payment Europe awards last June.

Why gamers love our prepaid cards

It makes sense that our online gamers prefer the cards. After all, the cards are free to get and are linked directly to your NETELLER account. Plus, you can get instant access to your money by using the Net+ card(s) for online and offline purchases without having to wait or even pay a fee. And if cash in hand is important, the Net+ Chip & PIN prepaid card is great for withdrawing cash at ATMs with some of the highest limits plus points on every transaction.

To all you gamers out there, do you agree? Do you use the Net+ cards to get instant access to your winnings? If so, which card version do you prefer?

Today’s post was written by Nicole. She is the Marketing Manager for Consumer Products on our Brand and Group Marketing team.

How to sign up for a free NETELLER account

Gareth — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:18 +0000

If you’re a new visitor to the NETELLER blog, you may not have your own NETELLER account yet. Signing up for a free account is fast and easy. We’ve timed the process and it usually takes less than 3 minutes. Your account will be ready to use as soon as you complete the sign-up process. And did I mention it’s free?

I recently created a video where you can see the sign-up process in action:

Every new member starts with an Express (basic) account. With your Express account you can make deposits and even transfer funds to your favourite merchant, your best friend via Money Transfer or shopping online. There are so many options available to you.

To take full advantage of your account, you’ll want to upgrade to an Extended account. With an Extended account you gain access to Net+ cards, higher limits and withdrawal options. Upgrading is absolutely free. You simply need to provide more information about yourself to us.

Now that you know how easy it is, you should sign up for your free NETELLER account today.

Today’s post was written by Gareth. As NETELLER’s Localisation and Communications Specialist, Gareth manages our translations and multilingual content. Gareth can be followed on Twitter (@Mengkai).

Poker tips from a NETELLER card shark

Todd — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:36:39 +0000

Hey there. Welcome to my first in a series of articles about playing poker online or on the felt.
I have been playing poker for more than 4 years and have turned a hobby into a blossoming career. By contributing to the NETELLER blog, I figured I would discover something about myself, learn more about poker and teach people about the game I love.

Humble beginnings to serious success

I learned to play online, but it took a lot of time and work to grow in the game. Early on, I was fortunate to come across a few video training sites, mainly CardRunners and DeucesCracked, that helped develop my skills. I thank them for some of my successes. But I also studied, researched and talked over hands or plays with friends and other poker players in order to get better at the game.

I have cashed in at numerous World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) on PokerStars and many Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS). I consider my skill to be strong in tourneys as well in cash games. I have Canadian Poker Tour championship wins as well as final tables. I consider these to be a very important part of my growth, but my biggest accomplishment to date has been cashing in at the main event of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2009. This was my first WSOP event. As I continue to play at the WSOP, I will share my experiences and tips.

Tip of the month

My tip for this month is to polarize your range (make your range wide – as in very hard to read so that opponents cannot predict what you have from hand to hand as the game goes on) pre-flop in heads-up play. One thing I learned early on while playing heads-up is that if you only raise or re-raise your big hands pre-flop – like kk, AA, Ak – you will not get the value you really deserve when dealt these hands. It also makes it much easier for players to exploit your tendencies. If your opponents know that you only raise and re-raise with this range, imagine how easy it is for them to see a flop and do a flop or fold strategy. If they flop 2 pair or better they know you have AA and won’t fold.

By polarizing your range pre-flop in heads-up play, you make your range much wider and increase the likelihood of getting value to be paid off. You want to make your opponents believe that you can have any hand in any possible spot. That is what makes it tough to take advantage of and they fear you more. If you only re-raise or 3-bet with big hands pre-flop, you are giving valuable information away to a good player. My advice is to try and balance your big value hands and bluffing hands to make your ranges in any spot possible. This is especially important pre-flop. This skill will not be easy to learn and some of you may be experts, but all I can suggest is start adding it in slowly to your game.

Bonus tips

Maintain a healthy and active mind. It’s crucial to work it out as much as possible. Keeping your mind sharp could give you that extra edge in a game. It’s a big advantage if you’re like me and find yourself at a table for 37 hours. I suggest that you review the history of the hands you have played to learn about what you may have done wrong and what you can do to improve your game. And getting opinions from other poker players doesn’t hurt either. Just keep yourself open to constantly learning, no matter where those lessons come from.

Another skill – and I cannot stress this enough – is to learn to control your emotions. I have seen many great players let the average Joe beat them simply because they couldn’t control their emotions.

I hope what I have shared will help you in your next game. And I’ll be here next month with some more tips. Good luck!

Today’s post was written by Todd. Todd is a Merchant Account Manager and he is a very savvy, successful poker player who spends a great deal of time trying to improve his game. His main goal is to win a coveted WSOP bracelet.

Use NETELLER without paying a fee

Chris — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:22:11 +0000

They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I wouldn’t know. I always pack my lunch in a paper bag. I prefer to save my money for the important things in life, like gaming and hanging out with my friends.

I also like to keep the fees I pay down to a minimum. And with my NETELLER account, that means zero. Zilch. Nada.

Don’t believe me? There are actually lots of ways you can use your NETELLER eWallet that won’t cost you a thing.

Free account

Let’s start with your NETELLER account – signing up for an account is hassle-free and won’t cost you a cent.

Free services

Once your free eWallet is ready to go, there are lots of things you can do with it without paying a thing.*

Fund your NETELLER account using transfers from a local bank or instant bank deposits such as DIRECTebanking/sofortuberweisung, POLi and giropay.
Apply for a Net+ Prepaid Chip & PIN MasterCard® without paying fees
Instantly download and securely shop online with your free Net+ Virtual MasterCard
Enjoy the convenience of free gaming transfers**

Sign in to your account today to take advantage of everything you can do with NETELLER without ever paying a fee. Explore our blog and website for many other great offers and promotions exclusive to NETELLER members.

What free service will you use today?

*Be sure to choose your accounts and services in the same currency
**Availability varies by country

Today’s post was written by Chris. He is one of our web writers, a comic book aficionado, news junkie and sports nut. Sit back, relax and enjoy his posts.

Transform the way you pay and play with NETELLER

Kimber — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:30:18 +0000

I believe you’ve already met the NETELLER app. You’re not likely to forget making its acquaintance.

More than a pretty face

The NETELLER app isn’t just a new skin for an old product. It’s a reimagining of the way you securely shop, pay and play online. By putting your wallet right on your desktop, the money in your eWallet is always at your fingertips, available whenever you want it and whatever you need it for.

Leave your wallet in your pocket

Forget signing into your account to find out your balance. That information will be displayed right on your desktop whenever you boot up your computer. It’s all about saving you time for the more important things in life like:

Checking a flight and knowing you have enough money to book it
Watching the scores online of your favourite match and making a wager
Playing poker and never having to leave the felt

Whether you’re shopping for books, games, movie tickets, music or that rare vinyl album, you can do it all without ever reaching into your back pocket. The only wallet that matters is right in front of you.

Have you downloaded the NETELLER app yet? Let us know what you think.

Today’s post was written by Kimber. She is a Marketing Program Manager and is passionate about building the NETELLER community.

NETELLER rewards with 1 million NETPoints giveaway

Leanne — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:00:01 +0000

Love NETPoints? Then you’re in for a treat. Between 11 March and 20 March, we’re giving away 1 million NETPoints! That’s 100,000 NETPoints a day for 10 days straight. Sounds pretty good, no?

How do I win?

Earn 1 ballot every time you transfer 100 USD (or equivalent currency) to your favourite merchant
Winners will be drawn randomly and announced at the end of the promotion
You can win more than once

What can I do with 100,000 NETPoints?

Redeem for 20 entries (5000 NETPoints per entry) toward our monthly 3,000 USD cash giveaway
Redeem for 100 entries (1000 NETPoints per entry) toward our weekly 500 USD cash giveaway
Redeem for at least 20 entries to your favourite merchant tournaments
Redeem for 10 free deposits if you’re a VIP

Start transferring money to your favourite merchants today to start racking up your ballots. What would you do with 100,000 NETPoints?

Today’s post was written by Leanne. She is a Marketing Manager and works mainly on the VIP program.

William Hill and NETELLER reward with a 1,000 USD Freeroll

Sarah — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:02:12 +0000

If you haven’t already taken advantage of one of our exclusive NETELLER Freeroll tournaments, then now is the time. We have partnered with Williamhill.com to host the 1,000 USD Freeroll tournament on 21 March at 18:00hr GMT, and as always, this one is exclusive to NETELLER members. Plus, it’s free. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, when you join this tournament you gain free entry into 4 additional 1,000 USD Freeroll tournaments hosted by William Hill.

The details

All you need to do to gain entry is use your NETELLER account to deposit to Williamhill.com between now and 18 March, transfer into poker and you’ll automatically be pre-registered for the tournament.

The finer details

Tournament registration will be open 48 hours prior to 21 March at 18:00hr GMT

Haven’t played at William Hill before? Here’s what you do:

Sign up and type in the bonus code: NETFR
Make your deposit
Receive a 150% New Player welcome bonus (up to 600 USD)

Good luck!

Have you played in one of our Freeroll tournaments already? Tell us about it.

Today’s post was written by Sarah. She is a Marketing Manager and currently works to develop business-to-business programs for NEOVIA merchants. She is inspired by a great glass of Syrah and is passionate about seeing the world.

Ukash and MasterCard expands one more time

Suzanne — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:49:54 +0000

Could March get any better for you? In a word, yes! Not only did we just start our XChance Promotion where you can earn ballots to win up to 10,000 USD, but now we’re happy to tell you that Ukash and MasterCard® have been launched in more countries!

Deposit instantly with Ukash

For those of you that like to instantly deposit funds into your NETELLER account, Ukash is a great option. If you’re a member in one of the following countries, you can now join the ranks of those already enjoying instant deposits with Ukash.

Australia
Canada
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
France
Latvia
Norway
Poland
Slovakia
Slovenia
Sweden

If you’re wondering how to use Ukash, visit the blog article on Ukash and it’ll take you through the process step by step.

Deposit anywhere with MasterCard

We wanted to make sure that no matter where you are you’d have the opportunity to take advantage of MasterCard deposits, which is why we offer it in 138 countries. To see if you can deposit with MasterCard, sign in to your NETELLER account, select the “Deposit” tab and look for MasterCard in the list of options.

If it doesn’t show up, any of the deposit options listed work great. So deposit today and don’t forget about XChance. You’ll earn an extra ballot for every 100 USD deposited to your NETELLER account! Confirm your registration for your chance at big money.

What’s your favourite deposit option?

Today’s post was written by Suzanne. She thinks up a lot of the cool promotions we do and picks the prizes that go with them. She also loves to shop and drive around town in her Mini.