The Estonian Kroon to be replaced by Euro on January 1, 2011

Hi members,

We just wanted to let all of you know that as of January 1, 2011, the Estonian Kroon will be replaced by the Euro. Yes, that's right -- the Estonian Kroon will be no more.

You can read a little more about it in the Wall Street Journal.

And if you have A LOT of time on your hands, don't forget to pay your respects to the Kroon by reading this obituary by Fredrik Erixon, Director and co-founder of the European Centre for International Political Economy.

Best of luck to our Estonian members in the adoption of the Euro.

Some "Boxing Week" shopping tips and the most popular online purchases of 2010!

Hi members,

This week is probably one of the biggest shopping weeks of the year. Boxing Day, December 26, has evolved into Boxing Week (in some countries, especially Canada), extending from a mere one-day event to 6 or more crazy days of specials, discounts, two-for-ones and other promotions.

If you haven't started checking out the sales online, you probably will soon because there are many sales to be had as active online shoppers will tell you.

To help you stay focused as you scour the online universe for the latest electronic gadget or perhaps some high demand Justin Beiber paraphernalia or the latest Box Office hit (anyone seen "Inception" yet?), please peruse our list of tips to help make your Boxing Week worth the chaos:

1. Make a list.

Making a list of the stuff you want to buy will prevent you from spending money on things you don't really want and will help you resist the naughty impulse-buying monster lurking in us all; it's known to breed "buyer's remorse" in its victims -- a most vexing condition.

Write everything down from small electronics all the way to books and little knick-knacks. Try your best to avoid buying stuff not on that list. Keep that monster at bay and save yourself some money you will not regret saving.

2. "Window shop" first... then make your purchase.

Try to avoid buying the first thing you see; don't fall prey to the bright and shiny newness of the thing. Check out the competition's sales and do some research to make sure you're getting the best deal you can find. A good way to do this is to sign up for email newsletters from your favourite online stores to get notified every time something goes on sale.

3. Plan your budget.

This should be self-explanatory. If you don't have a budget, you're spending will go unchecked, leading to major buyer's remorse and everyone's favourite -- DEBT! If you carefully plan your budget and stick to your list, you will be relieved rather than horrified when you get your next credit card and/or bank statement.

4. Follow your online stores on Twitter or Facebook.

If you have not yet jumped on the social media band wagon, now is the time to do it. Following your favourite online stores on Facebook and Twitter will make you privy to exclusive sales reserved only for social media followers.

If you want to check out Twitter for the best deals, search with the following terms: #deal, #save or #coupon.

Read this article for more information on using social media to find online deals: 6 Easy Ways to Score the Best Deals with Social Media

5. Don't settle for less or for substitutes.

Just because it's Boxing Week does not mean you have to spend money just for the sake of spending money. If you can't find what you're looking for at the right price, wait a little bit, pay attention to newsletters and Facebook updates from your fave stores, then make your purchase only when you've found what you're looking for.

Extending your search for that perfect New Year gift to yourself may save you some money and grief (again with the buyer's remorse...).

~~~

If you're looking to spend a little money online but don't know what to buy yet, here are some of the most popular items sold online in 2010 according to All Things Digital:

Kindle Books: "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" (Stieg Larsson)
Electronics: Kindle Wi-Fi
Computer: Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/13.3-inch laptop
Software: Microsoft Office 2010 Home and Student
Video Games: "Call of Duty: Black Ops"
Toys: Bananagrams
Wireless: AT&T's Samsung Captivate (Android)
Amazon MP3: "I Gotta Feeling" by Black Eyed Peas
Amazon MP3 Album: "Speak Now" by Taylor Swift
Amazon VOD: "Sherlock Holmes"

If none of these hot items of 2010 appeal to you and you still have no idea what to get for yourself, there's no rush. Start a list and look for your items at a later date -- there are always sales online if you know where and how to look.

We hope this has been helpful. Have a Happy New Year, and may 2011 be year full of even cooler things to buy!

Image: Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

New Year's Eve Office Closure

Hi members,

We just wanted to remind you all that our offices will be closed this Friday, December 31, 2010 (New Year's Eve). Although you can still submit support tickets, we will only be able to start replying when we get back from the holiday on Monday, January 3, 2011. Phone support will not be available this Friday, but feel free to leave a voice mail -- we will get back to you as soon as we can.

It's also important to note that all deposit and withdrawal transactions, especially those initiated with bank accounts, will be delayed by one business day.

For example, if you initiate a bank transfer deposit into your AlertPay e-wallet on Thursday, December 30, it will only be complete the following Friday, January 7, 2011.

Thank you for your understanding.

Wishing you the best for the New Year - 2011!!!

The AlertPay Team

AlertPay named Quebec Technology Company of the Year!

Hi members,

We are very happy to announce that AlertPay has been given an award for Quebec Technology Company of the Year by bénéfice.net.

All together now: Wooo-hooo!

This is our first award so we are VERY EXCITED!

You can read the article in French here, but keep reading for the main points in English.

- The article states that AlertPay has always worked on distancing itself from the competition (see article for the actual name of our competitors, but we're sure you can guess), and has focused on online banking to achieve this.

- AlertPay allows members to securely shop online, pay employees, send remittances, issue email invoices and more, by credit card (Visa and MasterCard) or e-wallet which can be funded by bank account or check.

- 2010 was a year of major innovation at AlertPay! After a re-design of the website, payment platform and checkout, daily sign ups ballooned from 3500 to 5000.

- The platform has been very successful in the United States of America and the United Kingdom, but it is available to people in over 190 countries.

- AlertPay has some other exciting projects in the works: They have been working with an organization to accommodate migrant workers to ensure that they have a reliable way to get paid no matter their whereabouts. AlertPay has also been working with some companies in the Parking industry on a mobile payment platform.

- PrePaid cards are the next big thing for early 2011!

- bénéfice.net also named Groupon as their International Technology Company of the Year award-winner.

We would like the thank bénéfice.net for giving us this award, our hard-working team for making all of this innovation and exciting productivity possible, and YOU, our members for your loyalty and continuous support.

Holiday office closure reminder for tomorrow

Hi members,

We just wanted to remind you the our offices are officially closed tomorrow, December 24, 2010, and will re-open on Monday, December 27, 2010; Customer Support will not be available by phone or email until then. But feel free to submit a ticket and we will respond as soon as we can.

You can still use your AlertPay account, but depositing and withdrawal transactions -- especially those done with your bank accounts -- will be delayed by one business day.

Wishing you a very happy and healthy holiday!

The AlertPay Team

Shopping safely online during the holidays

Hi members,

It's that time of year again, and you're probably scrambling to buy all of those last minute gifts for friends and family. Like most holiday shoppers, you might have your mind on what to buy and cook for the holidays and have not yet even considered the safety measures everyone should be taking when shopping with credit cards online and in stores.

Here are some things to look out for and what to do if you come across any of them:

1. Links in unsolicited emails

It's important to be very suspicious of links that appear in any email you did not sign up for as they can allow malware on your computer, such as fake anti-virus software. Malware can also turn your computer into a spam-generator which is a great way to annoy friends and family unlucky enough to receive said spam.

When dealing with unsolicited email, everything sounds too good to be true because it is. If you really want to know where a link will lead you and you just cannot live a normal life until you know this information, just put your cursor over the link (DO NOT click), and you will see the true URL to which it will whisk you away at the bottom of your browser.

2. Deceiving search engine results

Search Engine Optimization attacks occur during the holidays and other special events, such as the Super Bowl or NHL playoffs (practically a religious ritual here in Montreal). What happens is that cyber-criminals manipulate SEO algorithms to put their malicious websites at the top of search engine results.

To check if a website is safe and what it appears to be, just put your cursor over the search result and you will see the URL at the bottom of your web browser.



Also, keep an eye out for nonsense content that does not form coherent sentences in the search result; that's a dead giveaway that the result may take you somewhere you don't want to go.

3. Unknown online merchants

There are a lot of merchants out there on the web, but not all of them are completely legitimate, so it is your personal responsibility to do your homework first.

One way to deal with this is to make sure that your anti-virus software is up-to-date to prevent malware installation on your computer and identity theft through "phishing".

Also, only deal with merchants you trust. Get onto forums and see what people are saying about this particular merchant. Do they have a Better Business Bureau logo and accreditation on their website? If they do, then you can trust them.

4. Friends sending unsolicited email

Why is your Aunt Marge sending you emails about online money-making opportunities or pharmaceuticals when she usually only emails you with juicy family gossip? Odds are her computer has been compromised and is now part of an evil botnet responsible for thousands and thousands of spamtastic emails.

One way to protect yourself is to read the subject line and judge whether or not she would send you something like that. That little bit of common sense could save you A LOT (like, I don't know, your identity perhaps, or the security of your computer and everything on it).

5. Unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots

Do not connect to an unknown insecure hotspot since it will allow hackers to capture your sensitive data and use it either with wicked intentions or just for bragging rights. Either way, you do not want to make it easy for hackers to entertain themselves with your online innocence.

Always go to familiar locations and make sure that your connection is secure.

Here are a handful of safety tips to further protect you online:

- Update your web browsing software. The latest versions contain the most recent security patches.

- Shop with a clear mind. Don't shop when you're tired, distracted, stressed out or under pressure. Be vigilant and "cyber-aware" at all times and never let your guard down.

- Pay attention to details. The website's checkout page should start with "https" and/or display a padlock icon in the address bar. This guarantees that your transaction is taking place on a secure server.



- Make a paper trail. Print out all receipts, warranties, guarantees and email correspondences. This is very helpful if you purchased something through the AlertPay payment platform and ever need to file a transaction dispute. We usually ask for proof of purchase before we can issue any refunds. But it's a good idea to do this whenever you make an online purchase.

- Beware of charity fraud. Many fraudulent charities rear their ugly heads during the holidays to prey on your compassion and desire to help those in need. Make sure to research the charity before you make any donations.

- Familiarize yourself with website privacy policies to see how an organization will use your personal information.

- Review shipping policies so you know when you'll receive your merchandise and how much you may have to pay for it.

- Read the item description thoroughly before completing your order so you know exactly what you're paying for.

- Check your credit card statements to make sure you've been charged that to which you agreed.

We hope this blog will help you shop as safely as possible during the holiday season and any other time of year.

Happy Holidays from the AlertPay Team!

Image: Suat Eman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Holiday office closures

Attention AlertPay members,

'Tis the season for holiday office closures! We just wanted to let you all know that our office will be closed on Friday, December 24, 2010 for Christmas, and again on Friday, December 31, 2010 for New Year's.

This means that Customer Support will not be available by phone or email on those days. You can still submit your tickets, but will only receive a reply the following week. Furthermore, depositing and withdrawal transactions will also be delayed by one day.

Please note that you will still be able to use your AlertPay account without issue.

Thank you for your understanding. Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season and New Year!

Cheers,

The AlertPay Team

Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Bank transfer withdrawals now available in New Zealand and Switzerland!

***This blog post is relevant to members in New Zealand and Switzerland***

Hi members,

We are very happy to announce that bank transfer withdrawals are now available to our members in New Zealand and Switzerland.

We have been working diligently with our banking partners to make this possible, so it is with great pleasure that we can offer this service to our members in New Zealand and Switzerland just in time for the holiday season.

If you have added a bank account to your account already, you're good to go. If you have not yet added a bank account to your AlertPay account for localized bank transfers, follow these simple steps:

1. Login to your AlertPay account.
2. Click on "Profile".
3. Under "Financial", click on "Bank Accounts".
4. Select the country where your bank account is located and click on "Next".
5. Choose bank transfers (deposits and withdrawals) and click on "Next".
6. Enter your bank account details and click on "Next".
7. Review details and confirm.

Please note: Micro deposits are only sent to American and Canadian bank accounts. If your bank is not located in the United States or Canada, you do not need to wait for micro deposits to be sent as your bank account has already been added to your AlertPay account.

Thank you for choosing AlertPay!

Withdrawal Delays due to Holidays

Hi everyone,

Please note that credit card withdrawals initiated between December
24th and January 3rd may be delayed by a couple business days due to
bank holidays. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Scheduled Maintenance

Hi members,

***********************************************************************************
Update: Maintenance has ended. Thank you for your patience.
***********************************************************************************

We will be performing maintenance on our database between 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. EST on December 14th, 2010. The website will still be available at this time, however you will not be able to login to your account or complete transactions until the maintenance has been completed. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Soft release of AlertPay PrePaid Cards to selected sellers

Hi members,

As some of you may have heard, we have finally launched our long-awaited AlertPay PrePaid Cards. However, we only did a soft release which means that they are available to just a handful of sellers at the moment. Before we release it to the rest of you, we want to make sure that everything runs smoothly.

AlertPay PrePaid Cards will make withdrawing money from your AlertPay account easier and more convenient than ever before, especially for members who do not have localized banking supported in their country. When you withdraw money from your AlertPay e-wallet to your AlertPay PrePaid Card, you can make a payment on another website or in a store – once the money is on your Card, it's yours to spend anywhere that accepts MasterCard.

This is by far the most exciting news we've had to share in a long time. We hope to release the AlertPay PrePaid Cards to our entire network in the coming months. Stay tuned to our blog for exciting updates!