Hoping i’ve Posted this in the right forum....or indeed if it’s even allowed to be discussed on here.
Has anyone any experience of dealing with or been issued with a CIFAS (fraud prevention service) marker through problem gambling?
Last year at the height of my addiction, I was using my contactless bank card to buy scratch cards and at bookies, at times there wasn’t enough money in my account to cover the transaction. After a dispute with Natwest they closed my account. I tried to open another basic account elsewhere and was told a fraud marker has been placed on my account. Natwest have reported to CIFAS over my contactless payments, I take responsibility for the debt and I’m paying it back but surely this can’t be classed as “fraud” as it was me using the card,
I’ve written to CIFAS and financial ombudsman but reading people’s stories these markers are nearly impossible to get removed and last for 6 years. TBH at the moment it’s no bad thing not having my own account but I’ve also been refused a phone contract and heard it can affect your car insurance policy but that hasn’t been cancelled.
Just wondered if anyone had any similar experiences or could offer any advice? I’m still waiting to hear back from CIFAS but NatWest have refused to offer any help or advice on this.
Thanks
Hello Leedsfan333,
It would be best to check with your local Citizens Advice Bureau on that.
Best wishes,
Forum admin
Forum admin wrote:
Hello Leedsfan333,
It would be best to check with your local Citizens Advice Bureau on that.
Best wishes,
Forum admin
Thanks I am going through everything with them right now, just wondered if anyone had any experience of getting a marker removed.
I’ve done a lot of stupid things whilst gambling but abusing my contactless card has had massive consequences. My bank won’t budge on this, it’s a nightmare. Even someone with a bankruptcy order can get a basic bank account but if you have this fraud marker you can’t ;/
Hi LF333.
I wouldnt be too hard on yourself as I believe all compulsive gamblers were one short step from the next stage of compulsion and the stories I see could easily have happened to me in the grip of a gambling addiction.
I see your honesty about this as the way forward. It seems very harsh to class it as fraud if you are racking the debts up on your card. I dont know what is allowed on contactless but I would have thought you just went into an unauthorised overdraft and your card should have reached a zero limit preventing withdrawal at some point?
Im thinking that a lot of people have pushed their limits and its such a powerful addiction...I can understand why stop gambling if the card is being accepted...I understand that
I dont know the full facts but The CAB will be very helpful. I dont know how to advise here but I would have thought that if you said look I have had a gambling addiction that should go in your favour in understanding your actions
I really cant see that you have set out to be a fraudster as they are your debts in your name and you havent run away.
Try not to let this stress you and reach out for all the help because people care about you and dont judge you on that basis
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
Joydivider wrote:
Hi LF333.
I wouldnt be too hard on yourself as I believe all compulsive gamblers were one short step from the next stage of compulsion and the stories I see could easily have happened to me in the grip of a gambling addiction.
I see your honesty about this as the way forward. It seems very harsh to class it as fraud if you are racking the debts up on your card. I dont know what is allowed on contactless but I would have thought you just went into an unauthorised overdraft and your card should have reached a zero limit preventing withdrawal at some point?
Im thinking that a lot of people have pushed their limits and its such a powerful addiction...I can understand why stop gambling if the card is being accepted...I understand that
I dont know the full facts but The CAB will be very helpful. I dont know how to advise here but I would have thought that if you said look I have had a gambling addiction that should go in your favour in understanding your actions
I really cant see that you have set out to be a fraudster as they are your debts in your name and you havent run away.
Try not to let this stress you and reach out for all the help because people care about you and dont judge you on that basis
Best wishes from everyone on the forum
Thank you so much for that reply Joyrider, it means a lot. Everyone on here seems to be so good with words and just say the right things!
I am going thru all my finances and my partner has complete control of my finances, so at the moment there’s no real rush to get it sorted. But I am going to fight this all the way. It’s just embarrassing to think I can’t even get a basic bank account but there’s worse things in life. I did abuse my contactless card as a way of getting access so money I didn’t have as you say much like racking up an unauthorised overdraft.
If anything I just wanted to give everyone a heads up on it, I didn’t realise the consequences of what I was doing :/
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