Gambling Transactions when blocked

RRLOC88

Hi all

hope this is the right place

i have 2/3 bank accounts and I always have gamble block on. My TSB account has it this on for months, however I tried to deposit money into live score bet (it’s commissioned by gamcare etc) and low and behold it went through, I’ve not lost a lot of money but surely the bank needs to get better as I’ve lost all faith in them. Is there anything I can do? I highly doubt they’ll help to refund me even though there offering a product that doesn’t work??

Thanks in advance 

DRS1

It sounds like you have a problem.  Are you getting help?

aroominyork

DRS1 said:

It sounds like you have a problem.  Are you getting help?

Can we stick to the issue about the bank? The OP seems aware of their need to control their gambling or would not have a protection facility on their account. 

eskbanker

RRLOC88 said:

Hi all

hope this is the right place

i have 2/3 bank accounts and I always have gamble block on. My TSB account has it this on for months, however I tried to deposit money into live score bet (it’s commissioned by gamcare etc) and low and behold it went through, I’ve not lost a lot of money but surely the bank needs to get better as I’ve lost all faith in them. Is there anything I can do? I highly doubt they’ll help to refund me even though there offering a product that doesn’t work??

Thanks in advance 

What have they said?

Their website is vague about exactly which sites are blocked but doesn't claim to block them all:

It takes just a click or two to activate this feature in the app or Internet Banking. If you’d rather, you can also do this in branch or over the phone.

The block instantly stops TSB debit card payments to most gambling websites, casinos, and betting shops.

https://www.tsb.co.uk/help-and-support/gambling-support.html

singhini

RRLOC88 said:

Hi all

hope this is the right place

i have 2/3 bank accounts and I always have gamble block on. My TSB account has it this on for months, however I tried to deposit money into live score bet (it’s commissioned by gamcare etc) and low and behold it went through, I’ve not lost a lot of money but surely the bank needs to get better as I’ve lost all faith in them. Is there anything I can do? I highly doubt they’ll help to refund me even though there offering a product that doesn’t work??

Thanks in advance 

You should politely let them know.

As for getting a refund, would they then be implicit in peoples gambling addictions? (my point is if they give people their money back, people are more likely to keep doing it and compounding their addiction). 

Therefore, in cases such as this [where a block filter has been switched on] are the banks not fined and the money goes to some sort of anti gambling organisation / support group)?

DRS1

aroominyork said:

DRS1 said:

It sounds like you have a problem.  Are you getting help?

Can we stick to the issue about the bank? The OP seems aware of their need to control their gambling or would not have a protection facility on their account. 

Perhaps the OP could try something like this? 

Get The Support You Need to Quit Online Gambling. - Gamban

singhini

Apparently switching the block filter on should be blocking Merchant Category Code 7995 (MCC7995), however if the gambling operator misclassifies the transaction then the filter won't work. 

OP have you called all three of your banks and explained that you are a vulnerable customer and asked for gambling transactions to be blocked? (better to call aswell as switching the filter on). Also worth using the third party tool Gamban mentioned previously (others are GamStop & Betblocker).

Here's a useful NHS link Help for problems with gambling - NHS

singhini

Perhaps ask the bank for an explanation and if your not happy with what they say, escalate it to the Financial Ombudsman

If a Bank Fails Systematically, There Could Be Fines

If a regulator (like the FCA in the UK) found that a bank:

- Was negligent or misleading about its gambling blocks.

- Failed to protect vulnerable users.

- Ignored complaints or repeated failures...

...then fines or enforcement action could follow — but this would be due to a broader pattern of failure, not just one transaction slipping through.
Search results | FCA

RRLOC88

Thanks for the info. Not that I have to explain myself but I will as it seems a lot are very quick to judge as I only asked for some information on maybe a subject expert

1- I am well versed in gambling struggled for years
2- Go for help and it helps
3- I’m in control of my money because I only get “pocket money” to live with the rest of my wage into a joint account to give me family a good live pay the mortgage etc.

But in a moment of weakness I attempted to deposit even though blocks were in place. Revolut declined, Monzo declined and TSB went through. So did it again and again over 2/3 days. Yes my fault as I clicked deposit but the banks need to do more, if I was a builder and I never build a wall on the house the customer wouldn’t be happy abd simply put the banks not done there job.

this won’t happen for another 5 years as I’m back on gamstop but I still feel like I have been miss led in a way 

MattMattMattUK

RRLOC88 said:

Thanks for the info. Not that I have to explain myself but I will as it seems a lot are very quick to judge as I only asked for some information on maybe a subject expert

1- I am well versed in gambling struggled for years
2- Go for help and it helps
3- I’m in control of my money because I only get “pocket money” to live with the rest of my wage into a joint account to give me family a good live pay the mortgage etc.

But in a moment of weakness I attempted to deposit even though blocks were in place. Revolut declined, Monzo declined and TSB went through. So did it again and again over 2/3 days. Yes my fault as I clicked deposit but the banks need to do more, if I was a builder and I never build a wall on the house the customer wouldn’t be happy abd simply put the banks not done there job.

this won’t happen for another 5 years as I’m back on gamstop but I still feel like I have been miss led in a way 

Well done for getting help and GamStop is a far better system than the bank system. As others have said banks cannot see what you actually buy, they only ever see the MCC which in theory says what the transaction is for in broad terms, groceries, general retail, leisure centre etc. and these feed into various things, business cards often have a lot of blocks on them, under 18 cards different blocks etc. but it it relies on the business choosing the relevant MCC, so if they chose "Online entertainment provider" rather than "Gambling", or they use an intermediary, then there is little the bank or card provider can do. In the same way that GamStop only works with legitimate gambling websites, the scam sites still take people's money (and would never pay out even for a win), the dodgy guy down the pub will still take a bet etc. The systems are imperfect, they can help, but they are not an answer in themselves, you cannot seek to make the bank responsible for your actions. In general only either an epiphany of some kind, or therapy, seem to work long term.

RRLOC88

Thank you for the reply. But if revolut and Monzo block it as gambling and TSB don’t that means TSB are doing something wrong surely?