Major Paypal Negative Balance - Serious

Troubledsoul

Hi
I've messed up big time - earlier this year I was doing really well - had about 4000 in savings - but was suffering from extreme work related stress due to working in a team that was understaffed and having to take on extra work to the point it was about 70 hours a week (no overtime). I also had difficult stresses at home with my son who has Aspergers going through a difficult time and having lots of meltdowns and my mum being diagnosed with cancer.

All of this got on top of me with work bullying and harassment and I got ill and was off work for 4 months - during this time as a coping strategy I was compulsively gambling, I then started to increase my overdraft, then credit card and was using paypal for some transactions. I had overdraft control on so just assumed that any transaction that would take me beyond my overdraft would be declined anyway.

One night after a lot of stressful news of my mums cancer being untreatable I went manic and joined an online casino - I was in a state and didn't even know what was happening, before I knew it I saw a chat representative and asked them to stop me as I couldn't stop myself. They stopped the account but then I saw that paypal had £5400 of payments made to this casino. I has assumed that no payments would have been made and in my mania and illness (I am on medication) I just didn't even see any of it.

Paypal tried to take the money from my account but couldn't as it's in OD Control - and I am trying to discuss with the casino about trying to recoup any of this or for them to understand the problems I have faced.
I have my credit cards to the hilt, overdrawn to the hilt and now PAYPAL will be after me for this huge amount of money.
I am back at work and figure I can pay my debts off at around £650 a month and am under counselling so that this gambling will never happen again.
In six months I went from being in credit of 4000 to now being in debt to £20k

Any advice or what the hell to do please tell me, I know I've been completely stupid and an idiot but also I'm desperate and in pain - I want to sort this all out.

chevalier

So sorry to hear about your mum. It's so to see why you went off the rails. Well done on having the overdraft control on you account.

if you are sure you won't be gambling again then no need to suggest gamblock or similar for your PC.

as to paying it back, then yea you probably will, though I would question why PayPal allowed you to play through that much money.

try looking at stepchange website and give it a call

heartbreak_star

What Chev said. I'm so sorry to hear about the circumstances leading to this and hope things look up for you soon.

Best wishes.

HBS x

sourcrates

Hi,

I would also suggest you speak to one of the free debt advice charities, such as stepchange or National Debtline, they can help you to deal with your creditors at least, and the financial side of things.

I went a bit off the rails a few years ago when my marriage broke down, i drank, and gambled away about 10k on an online casino, couldn't remember doing much of it to be honest, but i feel your pain.

Good luck with it all.

abby1234519

Take a deep breath. You will be okay. I've been where you are because of the same thing.

Speak to National Debtline, they will help you!