I've read a few comments on here about bank accounts and credit files. It never occurred to me that my credit file might be affected by my gambling.
As it happens my credit file is rubbish anyway and that's not to do with gambling but I recently applied for a small overdraft on my current account. This is where most of my gambling money came out of. My request was declined and one of the reasons was 'in particular the way you run your account'. Reading between the lines I can only assume this was about the amount of money that went out of my account to online gambling sites.
It's only been 12 days (I think, I'm losing count already!!) so when I log into my account online I am still reminded of my last horrendous gambling session when I spent £900 in one night.
It will only be a few weeks for these transactions to go out of view on my online statement but I suspect it will take a whole lot longer for my credit file to be repaired.
This if nothing else is another reason for me to stay away from gambling.
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Interesting thread mjpsmummy and Redeemed:
I can't wait to start seeing 'clean' bank statements for my account. I've always refrained from asking the help desk at my local branch to look up anything on my account as I was ashamed of their seeing how much I was spending on gambling sites. When I do have a few months 'clean' I am going to ask for my overdraft limit to be reduced - the rot started when the bank offered to raise it from £500 to £1000 after £600 was fraudulently taken from my account via e-Bay. Thus I started blithely spending money I didn't have, knowing that I could go up to a grand - as Redeemer says - absolutely mad. How come I was pleased to win say £25 on a Premium Bond, yet could spend the same amount in just a few seconds on slots? I don't think I will ever understand.... Good wishes to you both.
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You are right Redeemed about the early largeish wins at the beginning spurring you on to spend even more. There is no doubt that these sites 'fix' things to enable you to win large amounts when you join, yet they are at great pains to explain the utterly fair randomness of all their games. Obviously being registered in non-UK locations they are unaffected by the Trades Descriptions Act....
I get what you are saying about credit files etc but when you are dealing with people who look into their mother's eyes and say they won't gamble again then do the next chance they get or steal their children's pocket money, future credit problems probably don't count for much.
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For me seeing 'normal' spending on my debit card is really satisfying! it has also been nice the last few times I've been to the supermarket to know that my debit card will work as any money in my account hasn't been swallowed up by gambling.
We are half way through the month and I still have money in the bank!! Not much, but enough to see me to the end of the month I hope! I have fuel in the car, food in the fridge and have paid my bills so not looking too bad for me!
Hopefully in another few months my credit file will be looking better too 🙂
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Just to add into what i know,
i was told by a financial advisor that having 3 months clean bank statements is enough to get you a mortgage as thats all you would need to provide.
It was through buying a new house that got me on here and finally facing up to my problems.
Despite the amount of money i was spending (losing) on gambling every month, with an average 100 transactions in and out , as i wasnt using an overdraft or using a credit card to withdraw cash or us online sites, i was deemed an ok risk as i luckily had a good credit rating and i was granted the mortgage.
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