I echo Melanies sentiments and I for one would like assurances that any of our clients who have suffered gambling debts are taking steps to eradicate the illness - I have practical experience of this as my late father lost everything and was made bankrupt in the main because he was a gambler - from cards, horses even betting on two flies climbing up a wall - it is a disease but can be cured with willpower and help.
Regards, David Mond, Insolvency Practitioner for over 46 years. Personal Insolvency Practitioner of the year 2012, Personal Insolvency Practitioner of the year finalist 2013 & 2014 awarded by Insolvency & Rescue Magazine and 2015 finalist for Personal Insolvency Firm of the Year.
Fortunately i have never had a gambling problem at all apart from £1 on the grand national occasionally. I undertsand IP's would be concerned that a gambler is cured before entering into an iva but could David and Melanie perhaps give some guidance on what they would expect (i.e councilling and for how long)so that people affected could get this sorted before they approach firms for an iva. It would be nice to think that the forum could help somebody with problems so they are in a stronger position to enter the iva in the first place.
IVA.co.uk The best place for debt advice. Thanks to Melanie Giles, David Mond, David and J (Elv5) Kallis, Dand, Skippy, Andy Davie
In this area we have a GP who specialises in gambling addiction and the Health Authority has a clinic for such people - no names - they just turn up I think. The Local Health Trusts may advise if they run clinics or where the nearest would be.
Thanks again for your advice & support. As I said before I did not rate GA. Last time I contacted the local health authority they were no help at all. I really need advice as to whether indications of gambling on my bank statements would cause major issues. If this is the case I will seek help with the gambling & wait 3 months before contacting one of the companies again. Please help.
I note your comment re GA - some are run by doctors who have been addicts themselves - they are probaly better - don't give up on finding help. The local sammaritans may know of someone
You need to start addressing the problem before going for an IVA.
I don't know whether or not the entries on your statement would cause problems, but if you have not done anything to try and sort it out, then I think that would.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I think you have done the right thing by admitting the problem which is usually the biggest hurdle to overcome. The next step is to get some help to cure the gambling addiction and when you are comfortable you can start to address the finacial issues through an iva. There is no reason why in the meantime you can not contct your creditors and offer to pay something towards your debts that you can afford.
IVA.co.uk The best place for debt advice. Thanks to Melanie Giles, David Mond, David and J (Elv5) Kallis, Dand, Skippy, Andy Davie
Will contact one of the recommended companies on Monday. Suspect they will tell me to wait until there is no signs of gambling on my statements. Suppose in the long run 3 months will not make a great deal of difference. This will also spur me on in my fight against gambling. As I said before GA was not for me due to the religous aspect of it all.
I've just typed into Google - Help with Gambling - it has brought up a lot of different websites.
Don't know if any of those would be any good for you Mark.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I would simply want assurances from my client that they had stopped gambling. Every time we take a new client on, we take a risk that the IVA may not work out, or our client may renage on his/her obligations, but the vast majority come to us because they seriously want to sort their debts out, and I am pleased to say that I have only been caught out by a bad apple occasionally.
My firm would also check the clients bank statements to see that there have been no further receipts/payments from gambling as well as ascertaining what counselling and other help has been started AND seek assurances from the debtor that the matter is now under control. Help from relatives and friends is important as gambling is an addiction (like drugs) and this illness has to be dealt with by compassion, understanding and self help in the end.
Regards, David Mond, Insolvency Practitioner for over 46 years. Personal Insolvency Practitioner of the year 2012, Personal Insolvency Practitioner of the year finalist 2013 & 2014 awarded by Insolvency & Rescue Magazine and 2015 finalist for Personal Insolvency Firm of the Year.
This is good info from both Melanie and David and I hope now it gives Mark and others in the same situation some guidance to now be able to sort out thier problems in the right sequence. Good luck Mark, let us all know howyou get on.
IVA.co.uk The best place for debt advice. Thanks to Melanie Giles, David Mond, David and J (Elv5) Kallis, Dand, Skippy, Andy Davie
I agree gambling is often stigmatised as being reckless and nothing else. It often becomes the poor relation of addictions with drink and drugs etc often being treated more sympathetically. All adictions affect others and need support to overcome. I still find it astonishing that credit card companies have been allowed to encourage people to withdraw cash etc. one company even wrote to cardholders to tell them that the their card was a good way to buy casino chips online or to make sports bets!! What is more galling is that they then often take a moral high ground when the individual has run up gambling debts on their cards. These companies want it all their own way.
Hopefully anyone affected will find a sympathetic IP who is not judgemental and seeks to ensure that the individual is getting the support they need to address the issues. It is in no ones interest for an IVA to fail because an addiction has not been adressed.
What a good letter Paul - the bookies and the two casinos where I live not only take all major credit cards but (bar one who has stopped it because he got into trouble allowing a lady in her eighties to run up a large bill)offer personal credit accounts too.
