Bitcoin Forum

So I have this huge cell phone bill due to an online class I had to take for work.  I logged into Gox and sold some BTC to pay the bill.  I go to withdraw to Dwolla like I have done many times and I get "Your account is currently pending review" and I need to verify.  WTF Gox?  So I decided to buy back BTC and go to another exchange to cash out.  I try to withdraw BTC and I get "Your account is currently pending review".  WTF?  I can't get USD **or** BTC out of Gox?  You have got to be kidding me.  What happened to BTC being anonymous?  So I upload photo ID and read on the forums it could take 2 weeks to get verified.  I'm pretty sure it is illegal to let me deposit money but not let me withdraw it.  Time for a class action?

Will they tell you why it's under review?

How much were you trying to withdraw? If you exceeded their limits you would be put up for account review. Its not very well documented on their website but it has been discussed here.

"All methods below are subject to a withdrawal limit of 1000 USD per 24hr period and 10000 USD per 30 Day period:"

Way under the limits.  Months ago it used to be that you only had to get verified to move large amounts.  Now it seems they are requiring verification on all accounts.  My friends at work have the same verification message and they all have done under $100 in withdrawals.

That's rather disturbing. I have some money on there and plan to withdraw it to buy a new gfx card to supplement my mining rig. MagicalTux do you care to comment on this?

Is it possible that you or your friends was connected through the TOR network or through a proxy? This would trigger a verification request.

It would be helpful to answer if you have logged onto your MTGox account while on TOR or a proxy. It could very easily be done and would explain the verification request. If you do not answer then I am unsure of whether or not I should be worried by your predicament. It is unfortunate nonetheless and requires a little more than photocopied ID's.

Also, if it was "for work", then I would assume that your employer should reimburse you for the bill.

The gox verification is getting more and more onerous by the day though.

I figured this was coming when Gox first started hinting at some kind of ID stuff, and got out while I still could.

Even huge ponzi schemes like Brian Marsden's ended up doing all this paperwork crap so it was pretty obvious Gox was going to have to eventually.

It didn't help the ponzis but maybe it will help bitcoin exchanges.

-MarkM-

They denied 2 sets of expense reports related to that online class....  Polishing up my resume this week, selling my truck, bought a motorcycle to save money, etc.  They bankrupted me.

Oh, and to answer a previous persons question.  I have never accessed Gox with Tor or a proxy.

I added your post to the AML thread and that is definitely strange if you haven't accessed it through those means. As far as schools go I learned a long time ago that they are businesses first and educational institutions second. I hope you can make it through your school  and get whatever it is you are working towards.

I know MagicalTux is on these forums as a user (the MT in MTGox). It would be nice if he could comment on why this seems to be happening more often and perhaps even on a specific basis in your case. You could always try messaging him to see what the response is.

Lol. MTGOX means Magic The Gathering Online eXchange. MagicalTux (Mark Karpeles) is not the guy that started it, but rather is the guy that bought it out.

Color me embarrassed. I guess I haven't been involved with Bitcoins long enough to learn this. I always assumed it was because of the MagicalTux and will no longer refer to it as that. My cousin is actually a huge Magic The Gathering enthusiast and this might help to draw him and his friends to Bitcoins.

GOXED hard

Finally got around to submitting a help desk ticket on Gox.  We will see how this goes.

My original verification submission was denied because I don't own the house I live in and rent a room in, so I don't have utility bills.  The response email contains CRITICAL information that is not listed on MtGox.com during the verification process.  Apparently they have relaxed the AML requirements and will take something such as a cell phone bill, of which I have and it matches my photo ID address.  Let's see if I can push this through now.

E-mail sent to me below:

Hello,

Please submit your phone bill that has your name and current address which has been issued within the last 3 months and we will make sure that the AML team reviews your documents again today.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation. 

Hello,

We see that your documents have been approved by the AML team.  If you require any further assistance, please feel free to contact us again.

Submitted my cell phone bill with a matching address to my photo ID.  And within a couple minutes I'm golden.  Thanks Gox, that was fast.


P.S. You can close my help desk ticket  ;)

I am glad to see you were able to resolve this issue.

If I were to be required to submit AML  documents the only thing I have with my address is a credit card bill. I would want to black out my number obviously and probably my transactions since that is no one elses business. Would that be an issue?

I don't know about Gox, but I was setting up a Paxum account and they have stricter AML/KYC rules.  They said if you black anything out it will fail verification.  They (Paxum, again) also go total nazi on the requirements and say it has to be in full color, can't touch the edges of the document, has to be centered, has to be ultra high resolution, etc, etc.

Well that would just be completely unacceptable. There is absolutely no way I would scan a document and send it to someone with my credit card number on it. My ISP sends bills through email and they are also my phone company. I do not own a cell phone so I do not have a bill for that. Therefor I would not be able to "verify" my identity without compromising my identity.

hi ,interesting thread- I use MtGOx for buying small amounts of BTC and transfering to my wallet-BUT wanted recently to convert to gbp- can't do ! I can only send gbp to another BTC usser. I am not verified as I wish to remain annonymous so my use of MtGox is limited and getting close to being of little use. maybe your point of being "known" to the authorities is the main drive behind MtGox and I would get out now if I had any significant funds in there! . reg

Yes, this pretty much breaks all anonymity once you interface with the exchange and allows governments local and foreign to track your BTC and USD/GBP/EUR/etc.  This also allows them to send you tax forms for capital gains tax if you cash out to Dwolla or something.  Just did my taxes for 2011, do you think I put down capital gains on/with official forms?? lol  I'm not saying Gox is going to do that, but that is the next step.  They must be getting legal pressure from some government(s).

where is gox located?  is it a registered business? 

Japan, and yes - http://www.tokyo-cci.or.jp/english/ibo/2353440.htm (http://www.tokyo-cci.or.jp/english/ibo/2353440.htm)