Hi there,
It would be great to get some advice.
I know I’ve had a gambling problem for the past 4 years. After the first year of gambling I called my bank to tell them I had a gambling problem and I requested that all transactions to any gambling sites could be blocked. However, they told me they couldn’t do that but I asked for a note to be put on my account so they are aware of my problem and spending. Anyway... fast forward to 2017 and I basically got the urge again and started gambling and most gamblers will know that your so embarrassed and ashamed you don’t want anyone to know. Further down the line in 2019 I applied for a personal loan in May which they accepted as they obviously did all the checks financially and I passed in that sense. However, after a few days I called the bank and said I wanted to cancel the loan and as I was in the 14 days period so I could cancel. I paid the bank back and didn’t gamble it (I wish I wish I wish I stopped there)... then in September 2019 I requested a 15k loan which I was accepted for. I then gambled this away.Â
I am so angry at myself but I’ve luckily now admitted to my mum that I have a problem and I’ve also told my manager at work. In September i really wanted to end my life because the feeling of guilt that I’ve let everyone down.
Now I know i’m only on the first steps but i’m not going to let this defeat me .
i did also complain to the bank to see if I had a chance in retrieving the loan they gave me due to irresponsible lending to a vulnerable customer. When I complained to the bank that I feel they lent to me irresponsibly. I complained because I raised back in 2016 to the bank that I had a gambling problem as I was trying to stop myself from any actions again. The bank admitted that when I raised the complaint that they didn’t give me the correct information or any information of what charities to get in touch with at the time. I feel that I also raised the fact I had a problem and this was noted on my account I feel that when I was requesting the loan for the second time that the bank should of looked into this further before allowing me to have the loan. The bank have gave me £150 compensation for the distress.
However, I wanted to have your advice on if anyone thinks I have a grounds to stand on? I feel angry at Lloyd’s bank as they are so big why on Earth don’t they have a system in place to help customers who admit they have a problem and want help. Luckily I have people around me who stopped me from commuting suicide but other people don’t and i’m worried not enough is being done for vulnerable people. Any advice is appreciated.
Yes, I have had similar things happen to me. I remember telling my then bank that I had a gambling problem which was noted on my account. I then applied for an over draft which was declined BUT my then bank decided anyway to allow me to go hundreds of pounds overdrawn.Â
After a while I started paying them back at a few pounds a month but recently I stopped. I wrote to them explaining why and said to them that they will have to write the rest of it off... because whilst I was irresponsible for gambling the money away they were also irresponsible for lending me the money in the first place... especially as i had very bad credit rating anyway. I haven't heard from them since.
Remember that at the end of the day your just an account number. There computer algorithms are examining your spending patterns to see how they can make some profit out of you. That's it.
Hi Td94
I am really sorry to hear what has happened to you.
Unfortunately I think it is highly unlikely you will get any money back from them. In their eyes you borrowed it and you gambled it away - most of the banks seem to be quite happy to turn a blind eye to the issue of people getting into problems with gambling. Social responsibility is a lot further down the list of priorities for them compared to shareholder profits. There are a few who will block gambling transactions but too late for you and me. I still find it astonishing that they let enormous amounts (more than my annual salary) flow through my bank account to gambling sites over the period of a couple of weeks without so much as a telephone call or email whilst I have regularly got a phone call from them to check other credit card transactions for fairly small amounts because they were out of the ordinary for me.Â
By all means go through the complaints procedure if you think you have any small chance of getting some of you money back but don't let it divert your focus from fixing yourself. You are the priority, and whilst they did not help protect you from your addiction when they could have, it is still your addiction you need to battle.
Good luck
Muststop123
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Hi everyone,
I really appreciate your comments. Like you guys have said we are just a number.
I can’t wait to defeat this battle and feel myself again.
Hopefully banks in the future will actually take notice of what is happening as it’s happening now to too many.
thanks again.
Hi,
I've taken a loan from the bank too. When you applied for the 15K loan, didn't they ask you what it is for? They asked me, and they wanted me to be specific.
Lee
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