Hello all. My first post.

Hello Trueman7. Congrats on the 5 days without the gambling monkey on your back! I found the first 3 days the hardest, so you're already winning!

It's hard, but with people who love us to focus on (family, friends, etc) instead of a cheap, dirty gambling buzz we can stay righteous and free.

Best wishes to you, keep strong.

Molehole x

Thanks for your kind remarks Molehole.

Long hard road ahead but I WILL win.

All the best to you

PS/ I'm in no position to give financial advice regarding debts but what worked for me because my debts were under £15,000 was a "Debt Relief Order".

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/

I can vouch for these people - totally free and saved my financial life at the time with talking through my options.

M

I was told by the CAB that a DRO wouldn't be feasible as I'd gambled most of the money away.

That's not necessarily true. (Like I say, I'm not a debt advisor), but from my personal experience a hefty chunk of my debt was from gambling and I got a DRO back in 2012. Maybe the rules have changed, but I was advised at the time that debts through "gambling" were only an issue if I was going for bankruptcy - DRO not a problem unless you really went out of your way to show them bank statements/credit card statements ramming the point home.

Anyway, CAB were c**P for me personally, call national debt line to get a second opinion. Being debt free (or at least seeing a future debt free) helped me break free of the cycle of gambling long term. (Despite a couple of relapses - but 3 or 4 one-off relapses in 6 years clean I can just about live with)

M

Thanks for the info mate. I've an appointment with CAB so will let you know, also start GA next Wednesday.

Looks like I've got through day 6 without gambling, don't feel any better though, full of self loathing today, feel like the damage is already done.

Anyone else get these feelings?

Well I've done a week without a bet, some feat for me.

Damage is already done, turned down everywhere for a bank account as my passport is out of date.

Now nowhere to get this month's wages paid. Looks like there's no way outta this mess.

Congratulations on a week free of betting. Allow yourself some respect and kudos for that. The first week is the hardest. You can now build on your success.

Regarding bank accounts - you can open a "parachute account" with any bank you're not already with. A simple basic bank account which can be opened with photo ID (driving licence), or two forms of ID verification like utility bill, council tax bill. Then email AND put it in writing as well as verbally telling your employer ASAP after you've opened the account Monday.

For any other debts or defaulted bank accounts just send an email saying you are in financial difficulty and will pay them £1 a month until further notice. Sure, they'll send threatening letters and try to add charges to your accounts - but most of these are unlawful and are unenforceable.

Money comes and goes anyway - sometimes we have it, sometimes we don't. Our own peace of mind is more important, and that's not possible if we don't stay gamble free.

M

Hi Trueman

As Molehill has already said, in a very good post, you should be able to get a basic bank account with any bank. As long as you are not requesting an overdraft facility or any other credit. You are legally entitled to a bank account. Can you take your birth cert as ID? Plus household bills etc as proof of address?

I wish you luck. Let us know how you get on.

BowWow

Also, well done on a week gamble free 🙂

Thanks for your replies . Really appreciate it.

I need a current passport or driving licence, problem is my passport is outta date and my lience is my old address as I've just moved.

Getting that sorted today would have given me extra motivation and a real sense of getting somewhere.

Ridiculous situation, can't change my address with DVLA without a valid passport!!!

That would have provided me with the ID I needed to open a new basic bank account.

Somebody not looking down on me at the moment!!!

......