spouse liabilities and gambling

Worried_Husband

Hello all,

I don't know if this is the right forum - if a board guide wants to move it to the right one then I have no issue with that.

Anyway... need some advice here.

My wife has had some mental health problems.
As part of this, she has ran up some large gambling debts.
WE managed to fight that fire, and I took over the managing of her finances with her full cooperation, but unfortunately there has been a couple more instances since. She maxed out the credit card and her bank overdraft - thankfully we can sort it this time but another instance will put us in trouble.

I am about to close the stable doors (sadly after the horse has bolted), including cancelling the (joint) credit card, closing her paypal account therefore stopping an easy payment avenue, and nailing down her iPhone so she cannot install new apps or use gambling sites.

Up till now, I have been dealing with this myself,

We do not have a joint bank account (thank goodness), I own my home outright and that is just in my name as I was here long before she came along.

My questions are these:

AS she is a vulnerable person...

1. Is it possible to obtain an industry-wide ban on her opening any betting/gambling accounts under her name and address?

2. Is it possible to apply for/put a block on her obtaining any credit without at least having a guarantor?

3. Could I be made personally liable for any of her debts as we are married and she lives at my address? What liabilities could I face?

(obviously I know if things went really bad, we could have bailiffs come a-knocking, but we are a ,long way from that position, thankfully)

Thanks in advance for any useful input anyone can offer.

Grumpelstiltskin

She needs a basic bank account that doesn't have overdraft facility, so that stops her going overdrawn.

Worried_Husband

We have already reduced her overdraft to a nominal level, and I am now monitoring it.

Grumpelstiltskin

I'm sorry but the only overdraft level she needs is nil. A basic bank account is simple to open and you will have no worries on that, one less thing to worry about.

sourcrates

Hi,

I`m not sure about the universal ban on gambling sites, but you have the right to add a 200-word note to the information on your credit report and you could use this to ask lenders to refuse any applications you/she make for credit.

Having a note on your credit report will certainly put the scuppers on any instant credit decisions because it will mean that an application would be referred to an underwriter causing a delay and they would then see your note. Of course, youd be free to remove the note, but I suspect what youre looking for is a deterrent against future impulsive behaviour and in this respect I think your plan might just work.

You wont, or can`t, be made liable for any debts solely in her name.

Worried_Husband

WE can remove the overdraft altogether if we need to.
We've just left a very small buffer to prevent an unauthorised o/d costing us dear.

WannabeFree

Download K9 .. There is better blockers out there however K9 is free. You set the password and don't give it her. At all.

I downloaded it and got someone I trusted to set the password. I know they won't give me the password.

I haven't placed a bet in 9 months now.

Does she speak to GA? Totally recommend it.

Can I just say how amazing it is you've stood by her and are there to help

x

Worried_Husband

Sourcrates,

Thanks for this.. yes it's the impuslive behaviour that I need to prevent/mitigate etc.

So how do we go about getting a note putting on her credit report?
Is there any suggested wording we should use?

Worried_Husband

WannabeFree wrote: »

Download K9 .. There is better blockers out there however K9 is free. You set the password and don't give it her. At all.

I downloaded it and got someone I trusted to set the password. I know they won't give me the password.

I haven't placed a bet in 9 months now.

Does she speak to GA? Totally recommend it.

Can I just say how amazing it is you've stood by her and are there to help

x

I don't think GA will help - she is under the care of the local mental health services and is under medication.

What is K9?
I have her phone locked away until I can sus out how to nail it down.

AS for standing by her... not easy after several years of at times poor mental health - we have a young baby and she has been home on ML which has not helped.. time on her hands.
I just have to control elements of her life to an extent I never ever wanted to, or feel comfortable with, but I dread to think what would happen to her if I abandoned her.

WannabeFree

I too am under several other services for MH and other health issues. GA is still the best answer to the gambling and you'll find most others who have/still do receive support from GA will say the same. I have tried many times before (over at least 9 years) to stop with the help of relatives and mental health services and this is the only time I can honestly say I haven't had a bet in 9 months.

K9 is a download you can use to block all gambling sites (on several devices) for free. Like I said their is better out there but you need to pay. Also contact the places she gambles. Explain the situation. They will put a block on her even trying to re-sign up.

I have a Santander basic account that my 'spending' money is kept in. The card cannot be used online at all so another thing that helps prevent me being tempted.

sourcrates

Worried_Husband wrote: »

Sourcrates,

Thanks for this.. yes it's the impuslive behaviour that I need to prevent/mitigate etc.

So how do we go about getting a note putting on her credit report?
Is there any suggested wording we should use?

You contact the three main credit reference agencies and ask them to add a notice of correction to her credit file, either she will have to do it, or you, posing as her, by post.

A simple note is all you need, something like :

"Please decline all credit applications made in my name until further notice, (you could add the reasons why, but this should suffice)."