Hi all, so I’m new to gamcare but have taken numerous steps over the last 18 months or so to help with gambling.
I have banned myself from local bookmakers, blocked my card from gambling sites and transactions and told my partner / family.
Despite making progress over the last few years compared to my addiction a number of years ago there have still be problems along the way. I have had relapses where I’ve taken cash out the machine and gone into a shop for a bet here and there which has disappointed me but it’s been small amounts and hasn’t caused me financial difficulties.
My latest relapse has caused me significant financial difficulties though. I managed to take out a loan which was paid into my bank account. I then managed to gamble on overseas gambling sites with my bank card that should have been blocked from said sites. I deposited thousands of pounds in a matter of a week or two. When I spoke with the bank they said that the overseas sites were hiding the fact they were a gambling site and coming up as something else which is why the transactions went through.
My query on this is do the bank have a duty of care to me knowing I’ve put this block on my card and accepting I need help to help prevent things like this happening. Should they be contacting me given there are over 100 transactions to these companies that are based in Kenya / Nigeria? I feel like they could have helped prevent the severity of this.
I have since spoken to them about these sites and banned them but am wondering if there is anything I can do to get any money back to try and clear this loan.
Thanks for reading
That is an interesting way to look at the problem. You took out a loan, presumably stating the intention of borrowing the money for a reason other than gambling, you then consciously decided to gamble the money in an overseas betting company and blame the bank.
You made an effort to find these gambling sites, selected which bets to make, and repeated this for two weeks? Maybe you have an argument for them letting you down, or they have an argument for you applying for a loan and gambling the money away in full knowledge about what you were doing, ie to go to such lengths to gamble shows premeditation and planning.
Speak with Citizens Advice if you want a definitive answer. But i feel the best advice is to get help once more for your gambling addiction. Sorry for this harsh post, and I am positive that people will shoot me down for my words, but I am just giving an honest personal opinion
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