Initial advice - Duty of care

NeverGoEuropcar

Hi All,

So I have read the latest status on reclaiming bank charges, my story is a little different to a financial hardship case and as such i wanted to get advice before I did anything.

To cut a long story short I found out a few days ago my wife has a relative size debt and a gambling problem, the gambling has led to a snow balling effect on her account, as a result she is constantly over drawn and seems to have been paying bank charges to the tune of £150 per month for at least the last year.

She has a £100 overdraft on the account in question, just one standing order for her phone, but as her wages went into the account the addiction with gambling soon pushed her back over the overdraft so with in a few days £300 - £500 overdrawn.

The gambling deposits were made online, so depositing £10 or £20 maybe 6 times a night, what I can't understand is why the bank allowed the deposit to be taken, when she was already beyond her overdraft? How does that work as it wasn't a standard order or direct debit taking the money it was a request similar to a cash withdrawal from a cash machine (or clearly not as the case maybe).

We aren't in financial hardship I have a well paid job and we cope comfortably each month, but for me I just can't understand the lack of a duty of care. Incidentally her debt is around £4k in total, but i'm guessing that due to my situation that rules out a financial hardship case.

We have caught the problem now and its knocked on the head, but do we have a case to follow up? thanks for listening

angel_snowfey

i have finnished reading your story. and feel sorry for your situation， gambling can destroy your family's happiness. hope your wife will quit gambling and have duty and care for you very soon. hope everything goes well with you. regards!

JournalGirl

Banks will allow agreed overdrafts but also 'informal overdrafts' which have not been agreed in advance. The second carries much higher charges than the first.

I saw an interview with a guy this week (high up in the banking industry, can't remember his name) who said that banks were soon going to launch accounts which would not allow withdrawals outside of the agreed limits. Maybe you could consider getting your wife one of these accounts when they happen.

Also, professional advice from Gambler's anonymous or similar.

I am sorry for your situation, but at least you have found it before it got to a level you couldn't manage it. Good Luck!!!

NeverGoEuropcar

JournalGirl wrote: »

I saw an interview with a guy this week (high up in the banking industry, can't remember his name) who said that banks were soon going to launch accounts which would not allow withdrawals outside of the agreed limits. Maybe you could consider getting your wife one of these accounts when they happen.

Also, professional advice from Gambler's anonymous or similar.

Thank you to both for the replies, I will definitely follow up on the new accounts, it surprised me reference the unagreed overdraft, but anyway water under the bridge.

Have also started to seek advice from gamblers help org's.

zppp

I am very sorry to inform you, that a bank has no duty of care in respect of what someone uses ther overdraft for. If the gambling is online, I would suggest you purchase and install Gamblock on your compluter. Support can be obtained as previous posters have said, from Gamblers' Anonymous and Gamcare UK.