How many bank accounts??

stressistheword

have recently discovered my 20 year old sons gambling addiction and the debts he is now in. So far found he has managed to open 7 different current accounts with Halifax and overdrawn them immediately to the tune of almost £4000. He never paid money into any just opened and withdrew.
We know what he has done is wrong but should there be better control systems at the banks to stop this happening?

VXman

Surprised he was able to do this. One account maybe but 7???

friolento

Your son should seek help with his gambling addiction: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/gambling-addiction/

kimwp

stressistheword said:

have recently discovered my 20 year old sons gambling addiction and the debts he is now in. So far found he has managed to open 7 different current accounts with Halifax and overdrawn them immediately to the tune of almost £4000. He never paid money into any just opened and withdrew.
We know what he has done is wrong but should there be better control systems at the banks to stop this happening?

What are you wanting to be stopped?

BoGoF

What type of accounts? Is he in employment?

eskbanker

stressistheword said:

have recently discovered my 20 year old sons gambling addiction and the debts he is now in. So far found he has managed to open 7 different current accounts with Halifax and overdrawn them immediately to the tune of almost £4000. He never paid money into any just opened and withdrew.
We know what he has done is wrong but should there be better control systems at the banks to stop this happening?

Much will depend on the timescales, i.e. how long between maxing overdrafts and being accepted for new ones, as well as what he declared on applications and what showed on his credit files at the time, but on the face of it, that does seem excessive.

stressistheword

Thankyou for your replies, I will seek more information on the dates for these accounts when I next speak to them. He does work and with some effort he will get these amounts paid back and will manage to get himself better. I thought the banks would do better checks before allowing this to happen. They even missed that he had emptied his whole help to buy he had been saving into which was over £7k. Thanks again everyone 

eskbanker

stressistheword said:

I will seek more information on the dates for these accounts when I next speak to them.

Do you literally mean 'them' as in Halifax, and, if so, is there any reason why they'd discuss your son's accounts with you?

GreenScepter

In case you didn't know, some banks allow you to block payments for things such as gambling. This may help in keeping the addiction under control. These won't be 100% effective but it's better than nothing, certainly worth looking into.

stressistheword

eskbanker said:

stressistheword said:

I will seek more information on the dates for these accounts when I next speak to them.

Do you literally mean 'them' as in Halifax, and, if so, is there any reason why they'd discuss your son's accounts with you?

We have been speaking to the bank on the phone together and he has been giving permission for me to talk to them. I don’t want to be a parent giving excuses for his behaviour because in all honesty I am so disappointed and angry with him but he has no clue where to start with this. Some would say it’s wrong for me to try and help but I don’t know how best to move forwards

eskbanker

stressistheword said:

eskbanker said:

stressistheword said:

I will seek more information on the dates for these accounts when I next speak to them.

Do you literally mean 'them' as in Halifax, and, if so, is there any reason why they'd discuss your son's accounts with you?

We have been speaking to the bank on the phone together and he has been giving permission for me to talk to them. I don’t want to be a parent giving excuses for his behaviour because in all honesty I am so disappointed and angry with him but he has no clue where to start with this. Some would say it’s wrong for me to try and help but I don’t know how best to move forwards

Just to be clear, I wasn't criticising or implying anything untoward, just wondering if you perhaps had any formal role in his finances, i.e. if he's legally deemed capable of managing his affairs.