Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to share my story with you regarding gambling and my soon to be former bank provider.
A few weeks ago i tried to use my card on a trip down to Glasgow and couldn't transfer money into my account. So i called my banking provider and was told that my current account, credit card and savings would all be closed in 60 days time. As you can imagine i was confused and livid at the same time.
After a week of spending time in and out of the branch and on the phone i finally got an answer from my bank regarding what happened. Basically in their terms and conditions they can close any account they feel is in "significant misuse". When i pressed harder i was told it was because i had a lot of money in cash leaving my account and then if i won from the casino, placed back into the account, also big ammounts going in and out to various online bookmakers.
I think this spooked their anti money laundering procedures and triggered a clousure. (I would like to point out that i did request a chargeback for money taken from my account by an online casino that i never made. But that in itself is a short book of misinformation and drama from the bank)
I tired to reason with the bank that i could prove where all my funds came from, but they weren't having any of it. I was just to make "other banking arrangements" within 60 days.
So if all this hassle of having to go to the bank to withdraw funds etc wasn't bad enough. I have also been told that there's a strong chance a Cat 6 CIFAS fraud maker for misusing my account will more than likely be placed even if my chargeback is succesful. (Basically with the banks it's guilty even if you're innocent or the victim....absouletly no romorse or cares to human beings)
For those of you that don't a cat6 marker will stop you getting any credit, car insurance, mortgage, for six years. If that isn't bad enough, any other banks will close your accounts, credit cards, ANY banking facilities you have with them.
Now i am not saying it will happen to YOU. But maybe my story and situaiton will make you think twice on that relapse. It might just be the straw that breaks the camels back with your bank.
Thank you if you've taken the time to read this story. Please send positive energy my way in the hope that they don't hit me with this very harsh cat6 marker. It's a tough enough ride staying straight with the gambling and getting back on my feet without heartless banks crippling me further.
Stay Strong,
Pedro
Hi Pedro did they do this because they suspect you of money laundering? Or are gambling transactions also misuse? I'm sorry this must be hugely stressful and worrying. Can you get advise from debt camel or national debt line? Thankyou for sharing and warning us. It could happen to anyone, my husbands bank accounts were just pages of transactions. I hope they don't issue the cat6. Good luck.
Interesting but Im sure you have rights and how can they prove money laundering unless they have proper proof? Im not defending gambling here but last time I looked it was still a legal activity. I suppose you could show them the transactions or are you paying large cash amounts in
I would have thought they cant accuse you of fraud without a case or you could legally challenge them for slander/libel abusing your rights to a basic bank account. It could affect setting up another bank account elsewhere
Anyway I dont know the full facts here so its conjecture on my part.
At face value it seems very unusual in that the banking industry hasnt really taken a stance against gambling as far as I am aware.
I think you need to see the citizens advice bureau or a solicitor.
I do hope you are going to stop gambling though Pedro as I find it a very seedy world that leads to problems like this.
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
Even if they suspect you, they won't say unless up did what i did and pressed them for a week solid. It's to do with tipping off people that might actually be criminals etc.
I have read a lot online and it's pretty much the hardest marker to get removed. I read a story about a gent who got the met police involved and he was cleared of any wrong doing. Even with the met letter, CIFAS still refused to remove the marker.
The biggest issue, and this is why i am warning folk. Is that it dosen't even need to be that they suspect you of money laundering or fraud. A risk analyst at the bank could look at your account and not like the fact that you're gambling a lot and call it misuse of your account. Close the account and place a marker to CIFAS. A greater risk of this is if you go into your overdraft, transfer money from a credit card and use loan money to gamble. This is actually a breach of their T&Cs.
I am not arguing that the bank that the bank aren't entitled to close my account. But the CIFAS marker is a very harsh penelty and banks are very trigger happy with using them of late. Without expensive legal council or a big news story to add pressure, it's more or less impossible to get removed.
Check out MSE for different stories if you're concerned about it. It certainly put me off gambling, as the stress in dealing with it is immense. I would also suggest that anyone who gambles using a bank who's banking group symbol is a black horse stop right away. It's only going to happen more and more to people as the banks get more pressure to stop illegal funds coming through banks in the uk.
Anyways, just my thought's on it all. Just praying i can avoid it.
My gambling was done using cash withdrawals as I was always worried about what the banks would think of me if they saw any transactions.
The banks are always monitoring us for credit files but it would seem very wrong if they are giving a marker related to fraud. You may have been a heavy gambler but as I said its not illegal.
I dont know the full story though. I dont know if you have loans debts or whatever has been said in the chargeback case
There is help and advice for you out there. I am aware of money laundering but unless they think you are laundering criminal gains there only reasoning can be that they think you are a serious financial risk or a troublecauser to them.
It may be that they consider the chargeback to be unacceptable or you are somehow to blame there. I dont know as they are unlikely to spell it out in plain language to you.
I do hope you can now build on a born again moment and feel you are a good person who doesnt need gambling in your life. You can be honest with those people to the point where you say you did have a gambling problem. There is no shame for you as you are moving on to a better life.
I cant financially advise you but in dealing with this it should focus you that gambling and gambling transactions are nothing but misery
Best wishes
I had this done to me by the worlds local bank. (black and red ) h..c they gave me 60 days to sort out a new bank account i just cleared my overdraft. in time was a nightmare. ive never stepped foot in the since.
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