i have gambled all this months payment away.

[unlucky1]

Right!
I have been battling with a gambling addiction for years now and eventually led to me having to go into an iva (started payments 2months ago) unfortunately i got paid on fri and my iva payment is supposed to go out on tue. However i have gambled all this months payment away.
I have been considering bankruptcy for a while as i dont feel i can live in an iva, i know my responsibility is pay back my creditors as much as i can, but i think in bankruptcy i might beable to live.
What should i do now and what is my ip likely to do?
I feel like i have reached rock bottom at the moment as i should be out with all my friends for one of theirs birthday i've also missed two of my very good friends stag do's in the last month and a wedding as i quite simply couldnt afford to go. I have three weddings coming up in the august too and cant see how i can go to them!
What should i do?
fyi total debt 42k plus 15k student loan not included in my iva
iva repayments currently 455
monthly income after tax 1090
Sorry to go on and thanks for your support

[hara]

It is sad to note that, what sort of gambling,i you do not mind?

hara.

[catullus]

I'm not clear whether you are actually now in an IVA or whether you are waiting for a creditors meeting to take place, so I'll assume you are in an IVA.

Most IP's have a policy of not accepting people for IVA's who are clearly hardened gamblers. It's generally very easy to pick this up from someone's bank and credit card statements so either you did a very good job of covering it up or the IP just turned a blind eye. If it was the latter he didn't really do you a favour.

Its highly unlikely that you will complete your IVA with your addiction and one way or the other you are going to have to face up to it and beat it, because you now don't have the money to feed the need.

If you are in an IVA your Supervisor will have to commence failure procedures and basically you are given a month to correct the breaches after which a certificate of failure is issued.

I think that you should admit your problem to the IP now and take steps to go bankrupt. A search of this site will give you plenty of info about how to go about it and what to expect.

Before you do this however you really should get help through GA or other organisations because your Trustee will not be impressed with the main reason for bankruptcy and I couldn't rule out that they will look for a BRO. It depends how much money you have gambled away.

I hope all of this doesn't sound judgemental, its not meant to be, and you have my sympathy that you are gripped by something that you clearly cannot control

[hara]

Dear unlucky1,

Do you think there is any way you can rectify the situation?

If so I suggest you do that, Can any family members help?

Seek help.

At the end of the you and you only can beat the habbit.

If tempted, you have to consider what has been the past history of such temptation.

If you have not been successful over all, it is not worth it.

once again if you do not min what type of gambling is it?

Some in the forum may be able to direct i the right direction

hara

[unlucky1]

thanks both of you,
hara-its been in the past any type of gambling really horses,dogs, sports, casinos,fruit machines internet and in person.
I cant really ask anyone to help out as they have already and i feel it would just make the problem worse. My only hope is that work will give me an advance on this months wages as i have got about 1500 extra this month oweing to me from over time.

catullus- i have been totally straight with my ip about gambling etc all they wanted me to do was stop and that is what i have done since january this year up untill yesterday!
I am determined to give up and i am not going to fall down the slippery slope again!

[hara]

with the type of gambling you have mentioned even if make big money one time you lose other 99 times.

If you remember when you are tempted next tme, THE PUNTER ALWAYS LOSE IN THE END, you amy be able to kick the habit.

if you did gamble walk away afer first loss.

Sey you rules and always abide by them.

Is a life of misery worth a gamble?

hara

[Dominic]

Firstly contact Gamblers anonymous and get support.

Secondly go bankrupt if your gambling addiction is this strong you will not be able to sustain an IVA.

http://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/

[hara]

Nothing is impossible, you controlled for a fe months you can do it.

It is a question of mind over matter.

Just a thought have tried hypnotherapy, to cure it. I do not know but you can always enuire if any hypnotist can help.

hara

[unlucky1]

I am determined to give up and have not gambled this year really apart from on sat and today i'm even more determined then ever to give up. I'm just worried what my ip's reaction is going to be tomorrow when i ring them to tell them what has happened!

[thebear29uk]

Hi unlucky1

If you are only unable to pay this months payment speak to your IP. If he is aware of your gambling, whilst not happy, he may be able to allow you a 1 month payment break with a view to you paying over extra over the period to make up the shortfall.

I would also back up what the others have said. You really should seek some help. I'm assuming you are currently trying to beat this on your own? Any addiction is very difficult when facing it alone.

I wish you well and good luck speaking to your IP.

Dave

[lily]

I just wanted to say, I admire you trying for the IVA route first considering your addiction. I think that you should not be beating yourself up too much about paying the creditors back. First and foremost you must get some help with the addiction and then face the debt demons. Tell yourself whats done is done and try to move on, the worse you feel about yourself, the worse the addiction may be. I cant pretend to understand how it feels but I would imagine the feel good factor is involved somewhere. Try focus on the long term goal and the barriers may disappear.

Good luck

lily

[Adam Davies]

Hi
if you can try and rectify the missed payment by a wage advance then look into a Think bank account.Your salary is paid into the account and your bill money[incl iva payment]is kept and the remainder is transferred to a second account that you have access to.This way it will be alot harder for you to blow your money.
You sound as if you are really trying and have had a relapse.Please seek help and change your account.
Good luck

Andy Davie
IVA.co.uk Spokesperson

About me:
http://www.iva.co.uk/andy_davie_profile.asp

IVA Helpline: 0800 197 4838
http://www.iva.co.uk/iva_helpline.asp

[hara]

That is a very good idea,I did not know such an account existed. Brilliant for those who an controle their urges.

hara

[simon.b]

Take this feeling and think back to it if you are tempted again - some simple things you can do to help:

Cancel your online betting accounts
Throw away your casino membership cards
Tell your bookie, who must recognise you, not to serve you no matter how much you try

Maybe it might help and prevent the relapse.

Good luck with it all

[zoe]

Hi There
If you dont mind me asking how are you finding this gambling?
What helps have you sought for it? x

Zoe
x
Keep your chin up - everything happens for a reason!
View my blog http://zoes.blogs.iva.co.uk/