Irresponsible/unaffordable lending

Hello Andersong1dog,

Thanks for sharing your story.

You have been through so much, with your health, and with your gambling.  Well done for opening up to your family, and sharing here too.

It sounds like your love for your family is a protective factor for you, and you feel keen to take an active approach to your recovery.

If you like, you could start an online journal in the 'Recovery diaries' section of the forum, as a way to get into a routine of regularly posting on the forum. You would also be welcome to attend the chatrooms, so you can get immediate peer support.

You might be aware that free 1-2-1 appointments are also available, if you would like a regular support session with a practitioner. Please call us at any time on freephone 0808 8020 133, if you would like to discuss support options. We can facilitate your referral to your local support service, if you would like that. 

If you don't feel like calling us just now, here are a few links to browse:

https://www.gamcare.org.uk/outreach-and-training/womens-pathway/

https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/find-local-support/

https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/online-support-services/

https://community.gamcare.org.uk/forum/welcome-to-the-gamcare-forum/talkbanstop-access-a-free-gamban-license-now-through-the-gamcare-forum/#post-1993231

Take care,

Adam.

Thank you Adam. I joined chat on Friday and really felt good about it. Yeah ill defo look at diary. I do have short term memory loss since chemo so defo need to set reminders. I'm glad I've opened up as it's honestly took that heavy load off

I am really sorry to hear about your health issues and can understand how easy it id to get wrapped in all of this, i cant offer any legal advice from ethical point of view the banks should offer better protection for its customers to ensure their safety, the funny thing was i actually got a call from the bank when i purchased something over few hundred pounds yet when i was lossing my wages to gambling and taking loans out i didnt once get any calls to ask if i had any issues. What i can suggest putting all blocks in place and handing financal control  thing can surely improve am on day 574 g/f so it surely is possible to improve, i was fortunate enough my debt wasent huge however throughout the years i have been gambling i have lost over £150k and i will have to live with this, what worked for me early days was checking this site and using the chatroom regularly which helped me understand i am not alone the only people who understand this addiction are the people who are addicts themselves so dont be too hard yourself i use to be very selfish person it was all about me, now my outlook is to help myself and others who are starting this journey and if it means to spend abit of time coming and listening to other people i have to push myself to keep me going

@tazman I am the same, online purchases held and queried but big transfers to paypal or in from PayPal or gaming sites were not challenged.

I feel good about speaking out here as no judgement. Even though I've told my family it's hard to explain how I gambled away over 200000.00 in 2 years.  My husband will say but would you walk in bookies and put 200000 on bet, I'm like it doesn't work like that I wish it was that easy and answer.  Im trying to explain you just get wrapped into the buzz, excitement when you get big win so you think put enough in to get another big win and before you know it you've borrowed, used everything on many sites chasing your losses but thinking I'll get that big payout soon.

You sound like you have got to grips with everything and I'm happy for you.  Im still at start and I'm totally skint paying a remortgage that I didn't need and debts. I can't even say I'm in good health. My debts probably making my health worse but my 2 kids keep me going. My son plays football u15s for big club in Glasgow and looks like he could go all the way and my daughter with her studies so that all keeps my motivation going.  

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to share something in case it helps someone here.

I recently went through a claim for irresponsible lending with a law firm and I’ve just had a successful outcome. It took some time and patience, but I’m really glad I did it. I genuinely didn’t realise how many checks lenders are meant to do before approving credit.

If you’ve had loans, credit cards, catalogue accounts or similar that you struggled to repay at the time, it might be worth looking into. I know how overwhelming it can feel, especially when you’re already under financial pressure.

I’m not selling anything and I don’t work for the firm. I just know how stressful it is dealing with money problems and wanted to mention it in case it helps someone else.

If anyone wants to know what the process was like or how I started, feel free to reply or message me. Happy to share my experience.

Hope everyone’s doing okay.

Hi Rob, I’d be interested in hearing more. This is something I’m thinking of pursuing at the moment although I didn’t intend to get a solicitor involved, I was going to do it myself.

Thanks

Hi, I'm really sorry to hear of your addiction and your illnesses - it all sounds so tough.

I'm also an addicted gambler and was active for over 20 years (half my life)  I also lived a life in huge debt and it's pretty incomprehensible that I did not fail more checks etc.  I 'won' a substantial amount, changed my password multiple times and emailed asking them to not let me reverse the withdrawal. It's all went, never even hit my bank account.

I did get some money back through redress schemes for payday loans etc but this was several years ago.

I also raised complaints against some of the casino's which were almost instantly rejected.  I was still actively gambling at this point.

I share the above because I get it, I really do.  This next bit is my own reflection, my own opinion, no judgement or criticism intended towards you, we each have our own stories.

I chose to gamble.

I had my reasons, my rationale.  I have my backstory that means I had vulnerabilities.  People got wealthy because of that, people exploited me. I became desperate, isolated, fearful.  I was convinced I had to keep gambling to win my way out.

I chose to gamble.

The harsh reality for me is that had I made a different choice, at any point, had I chosen to face the consequences of my choices earlier then my journey the other side would have been quicker and easier.  But I didn't.  I chose to gamble.

Today I am making a choice to not gamble.  I have stresses, pressures, I'm fed up of being way skinter than ever should have been.  I have huge guilt and regret that my wife works harder than she should have needed and more than anything, my children's choices are limited because I chose to gamble.

Do I think it's wrong I was allowed access and allowed such shocking gambling patterns - I once gambled online for three days straight, no more than an hour's break - how is that not a sign of a problem gambler.   Yes I do, I think it's wrong and appalling and I think there should be better legislation to protect gamblers like myself.  But I chose to gamble.

The bookies, the casino's beat me. They won.  In a football match, they beat me 15-0.  All the money I had earned, borrowed, has all gone, they have it all.

I thought about legal routes, I thought about my anger.  I then realised that I don't have the energy or capacity to fight that fight, there is a seed in the back of my mind that hopes one day I get a knock at the door and someone says, here we go, here is all your money back.  I know it's daft, it's never going to happen but I do sometimes drift off to that place and dream about it.

Back to reality and my own journey, I have chosen to say they won. I lost.

The only way I can win now is to look forward and to live my life, as best I can. to be the best and most present dad and husband that I can.  I still have anger, tiredness, I still make a lot of mistakes, a lot of mistakes.  But I did clear my debt (which was similar to yours).  I understand that I drive an old vehicle and have very limited fun money, wear second hand clothes and I know that people get confused as they think I'm in a small house and don't do much but on paper earn reasonably (c.£50k)

But I am alive, I am present with my children.  We have been on holiday(s) and I do have a chance to be the best version of myself from now on.

My name is Dan, my last best was 8.9 years ago, (3,250 days), I am an addicted gambler but just for today I will chose to not gamble.

My best wishes to you with both your health and your addiction

Hi Dan

What a great piece and gives some thoughts to other people on here. You are obviously a GA man as you have quoted Just for today ? GA and this site changed my life after 44 years of gambling. Congratulations on the 3250 days GF and still have the foresight to know it never goes away fully. Whether you are on here for recovery medicine or to help others it's commendable and I have no doubt keeps you grounded.

Saying goodbye to the past and financial losses is the hardest thing to do in recovery. From my experience I was angry in the first few weeks and could not understand how someone didn't stop me. But that says it all. I chose to do it so why would I let someone stop me through responsible gambling. I would have just opened yet another account. I also don't think any of us have the fight left in us to tackle these organisations. It's a broken system of tick boxes created by the operators not the gambling commission and they don't care as compulsive gamblers make up 90% of their profit so it's never going to change. If they admitted any wrong doing then they would be fined large amounts and have to pay everyone their money back. 

Like you did many years ago, I have decided to concentrate on my recovery and not tackle the operators. That's worth more to me than any refund

Hi

Thanks Dan.

Ive won no interest on 2nd mortgage and 9500 back on 1st. That's at appeal as I provided further proof it went on gambling.

I have grouped all by bettings under their main groups and I have followed every process. One claim alone is over 72000.  I have proof of their systems failing to stop me gambling and I will be pursuing the legal route.

I have 2 lawyers who are perusing the first claim at present and both think I have really good case.  Because I used my own money under husband and mums names I haven't committed a crime against another person as I didn't gain anything. My mental health and medication has been proven to make you addictive to things therefore once I get paid I will be commencing the first part of my legal case thereafter the lawyer will do on no win no fee.

I feel I have to do this as its keeping my mind occupied.  The amount of hurdles and commission etc no help I am also writing to mps as further needs to be done.  I have not gambled since starting this process as I think my addiction is now fighting for justice. Now it may not get anywhere but I need to try and could be a major test case. I wish everyone best on there journey and I know people say past is in past but not for me. I dont have urge to gamble I just went through a really bad time and medication etc I lost control so for me I need to pursue if I win great if not im glad I tried

@compulsive-gambler mate everything u said is the truth and i have noticed this same way of thinking from people who are actually long term bet free at the end of the day the gambling establishment never threatened or blackmailed me to gamble i made those decisions so u have to take responsibility what i dont agree on people telling me money doesnt matter tell that to the self made millionaires if that the case what the point taking promotions and better jobs when any minium job will do just fine am sure their an eliment in terms of reward that like saying a bugatti car is the same as a toyota this illlogical way of thinking is plain old stupied unless u have lived a luxury lifestyle your simply not going to understand its fine to have this life style the purpose should be to understand gambling isnt the way someone become rich any self made millionaire would tell u money doesnt bring u happiness it make life alittle simplier money used in the correct way has it benefits that all it is

People fail to understand some plights. I don't gamble now don't have the urge i was going through a mental breakdown. I sat in a room in constant pain from chemo. In and out hospital.  My daughter is my full time carer as my memory problems are so bad and because I struggle to do my own personal care medication has caused my bones to rot I know have osteoporosis in spine and parts of my body. I was playing through loneliness but then not realising I was doing it.

Just 2 of medications im on and need to take have been medically proven to enhance addiction. There's a lot more factors to consider 8ts not just I chose to gamble so its my fault. If it wasnt for my daughter taking over my accounts I'd still be in situation through medical intervention and family support it was apparent I was not in control.  Organisations have a duty of care and these were not carried out hence why ive started getting funds back. One gambling operator offered 2500 but ive refused as I lost 9000 in 30 days. So its not about I want my m9ney back its about whats right. If any agency followed correct procedure fair enough and some did but most didn't therefore they need to be challenged 

460 days no gambling. I got some good news today I won of my cases with financial ombudsman in relation to two credit cards. It was deemed unaffordable lending to vulnerable person which has wiped out just over 12000 on those 2 credit cards. I am over the moon. My credit file will also be updated to reflect accounts were never in debt.  Im taking this as a really big win and will keep pushing forward with rest of my cases. 

That's amazing Anderson on both fronts. I managed to get one bookmaker to refund 3k, it wasn't of course any of the 100k ones and one payday loan company didn't admit responsibility but agreed half of the interest back which was 1k. The payday loan company lent me loans between 300 and 600 40 times over 4 years !!!! Utter joke and charged nearly £2100 in interest. It's worth trying 

@lp5vut869c 

You should go to financial ombudsman they are looking at all my loans credit etc. Ive been using Google Gemini to respond to all letters I've put paypal and banks statements in and it works out losses with casinos too the letters are really good as it also put the fines they've been used with. I used it to appeal against ombudsman response and it has now finally went to an appeal. It's best way until I need to start court action against casinos.