PayPal gambling debt

Hi thank you for posting on the forum, I am sorry to hear the situation you are in. If you come through on our helpline we will be able to support you with this, there are also a few debt/ financial organisations I would suggest you reach out as well.

https://www.stepchange.org/

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/

www.gamcare.org.uk/self-help/money-management/#banks

Hey,

Well done for asking for help.

I was in the same situation too with PayPal at one point. I would be paying using my bank account so that the money would be deducted via direct debit at a later stage. Same as you, I thought I’d win enough to get it back, but I didn’t. I cancelled the DD from the bank and they couldn’t take the money, this then resulted in my balance being in negative - £1200!! 
I was really worried about it and didn’t know what to do. They give you 60 days to get your balance back to zero before taking further action. 
Maybe it would be best to get in touch with StepChange debt charity and organise a payment plan or something? I’ve had to do this (although my debt is a HUGE amount) and they’re very helpful. 

Don’t feel alone, get some advice and help and don’t worry about the debt - it can be sorted. 

Claire x

@cpparch thanks for responding.

What happened with PayPal after the 60 days, what did they do?

Thank you 

Good evening,

Can second what forum admin and Claire responded. 

I used Stepchange to clear a large debt and once over the initial stage of shame they helped greatly 

My best advice would be to contact them as soon as possible.

Best

Hello 22CA and Welcome

A recovery is about facing the addiction within you so you deal with this by talking about it and telling the people that need to know.

A gambling addiction will make you do things like that so it's not a stupidity issue. You may feel ashamed or embarrassed but getting the words out is essential.

Yes it's hard but you will realise it's not compared with an addiction that has many more blow out sessions in store for you with all the horrors on the spiral downwards

Fundamentally you are not a bad person trying to be good.....you are an ill person trying to get better! 

Now PayPal should not be allowing gambling transactions or money they haven't fully verified BUT the responsibility is yours to face this and heal your mind

Let them do the worrying and you should seek some advice and help to deal with them

I'm stating that it's helpful if your financial advisor knows you have a gambling problem because all the help you get is to remove temptation and block you from gambling

In the light of day you know gambling is a mugs game so therefore you know that the cravings to do it are based on mental illness and its delusion that it's all going to be won back

The drug is the act of gambling.....you have no idea if you can gain money. Luck and leprechauns are all part of the crazy drug trip often to escape from anxiety or depression..the odds are stacked well against you and the odds are always that you will lose rather than gain especially on slot machines

It's NOT an income scheme or a get it back later scheme.....its called a flutter because that's what the soup of drugs is doing to your bloodstream and it quickly alters minds to a zombie addict

Get help..... reach out for help and someone will help you deal with PayPal in an ordered way

Your main issue is that you must not gamble again and get the help to realise you've been an addict that can never be complacent about gambling again

Best wishes from everyone on the forum

@joydivider thank you so much for your advice.

I’m just so scared, worried, feeling stupid. I should have known better but it was like watching someone else not me.

Thanks again 

@22ca 

Because I got in touch with StepChange, I’m now doing a Debt Management Plan through them, so PayPal are receiving a fraction of the money each month. 

I highly recommend talking to them and getting something in place. If you cannot afford to pay it back, which is the usual scenario during gambling, then you need to get the stress out of your life. What has happened has happened, but there are people out there to help and support you. 

How do you feel about talking to your partner?? You will probably be surprised and he’ll be very supportive. I came clean to my husband 6 weeks ago and it was the best thing I did. I accumulated £25k worth of debt!!!

Claire x

@cpparch absolutely terrified about telling my partner, I expect he will be so angry. I'm angry with me, should never have happened. Can't get over how stupid I've been.

What did PayPal do when they realised, did they hound you?

Sorry, this PayPal thing is such a worry. Did they ask the whys and wherefores of how the negative balance came to be? 

@22ca no they didn’t. Creditors are really good at accepting if you go through a debt charity, they know that it will only make things worse if they don’t accept it: 

Please contact StepChange! Honestly it will really take the pressure off. 

How much do you think you will owe them? Is it just PayPal or elsewhere too? 

Cliaire x

Thanks @cpparch

Need to work it out. 

I have others but agreed payment plan myself with them. This is what is so frustrating, annoying, sickening - I was getting sorted with others and ruined things. Can't get over my stipidity.

Appreciate you taking the time to reply, thank you 

Stupidity even! 

Hey

The advice everyone has giving you regarding contacting Step Change etc is great advice. You will get sorted with PayPal I'm sure but please make sure you have blocks in place to stop this happening again. I'm not sure if this is your first ever diary on here I'm not long back myself however some times when we get sorted and the pressure is off that's when we are most vulnerable to gamble again, it's like we forget the weeks of worry we have went through. 

Take care 

@jamie122813

Thanks, first time on here. First time I've gotten in such a mess due to gambling.