Monthly Archives: January 2020

LORRY driver Leon Ray was crippled with anxiety after maxing out 3,100 overdraft with Bank of Scotland where he was charged almost 5 a day in interest.

The 29-year-old from Sutton Coldfield initially took out a 1,000 overdraft with the bank in 2016 when his car broke down - but the following year he easily increased it to 3,100.

Leon used the overdraft to help pay for everyday essentials, like food and bills - but he also spent thousands of pounds on gambling to try and pay back the debt.

The charges left him anxious, depressed and feeling hopeless about ever paying it off.Because I couldnt pay the money [back] I started gambling to try and pay it off and then that became a problem, Leon told The Sun.

Ive now been under the doctor for quite a while for depression and anxiety because Im just in a rut.

At the minute Im living on the reduced aisle and stuff that goes off on the day. I cant use the food bank because I work full time. Its just a nightmare.

The bank increased its overdraft fees in January 2019 and Leon soon found himself saddled with daily bank charges of up to 4.61 a day when his overdraft was maxed out - equivalent to more than 1,682 a year.

Leon, who has struggled with a gambling addiction over the last ten years, also claims that the bank acted irresponsibly knowing he was struggling for money.

What were they [Bank of Scotland] doing increasing my overdraft, knowing that? he told The Sun.

In hindsight it was the worst decision they could have made at that time. I just think they were really irresponsible.

Its a day to day battle - but Ive got good friends and family around me and my friend changed the passwords on my online gambling accounts.

I just want to shed light so that other people dont get into this situation themselves

Its a shame really, as I do enjoy a football bet but I just cant trust myself so I wont. Id rather just stay away from it. It would mean the world [to me if I overcame my addiction].

Earlier this year Leon vowed to sort out his finances and kick his gambling habit - but when he asked his bank for a loan to pay back the overdraft, as recommended by Money Magpie, he was refused.

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Leons salary of 400 a week before expenses and tax - around 1,600 a month, left him with hardly any cash once his bills and rent had been paid.

While his bad credit score also stopped him from getting accepted for a loan or credit card elsewhere.

Instead Bank of Scotland offered to freeze the interest on the account for 30 days and recommended a 280 a month repayment plan - which Leon could not afford.

But after The Sun stepped in and asked whether the bank had acted responsibly, customer services called Leon and offered to cap his overdraft at 600 and offered him a refund of 2,516 in fees as a gesture of goodwill.

HOW TO PAY OFF YOUR OVERDRAFT

There are lots of ways you can start chipping away at your overdraft. We've listed some simple steps below.

Budget, and spend less create a budget and take a proper look at what youre spending. It can be really easy to bury your head in the sand but being honest with yourself about where you can save can mean paying off your overdraft quicker.

Switch energy bills - It's worth doing research into how much cash you could save if you switched energy, insurance or broadband provider. You could save 100s or even 1,000s over a year and put that towards paying off your debt.

Change your bank account - there are plenty to choose from and you can end up saving money if a competitor offers a better rate.

Move your debt -It might be cheaper for you to pay off your overdraft with a loan or a credit card. But remember - applying for credit can impact your credit rating, and you must pay it off.

Make sure you're getting all the money you are entitled to - If youre a low income household then you might be entitled to benefits and discounts on things like bills. You can visit entitledto.co.uk to search what you might be missing out on and put any extra savings towards your debt.

For the first time in years, Leon can now see an end to his money troubles.

I just want to shed light so that other people dont get into this situation themselves, he told The Sun.

This all started in my early 20s - so can you imagine what theyre doing to people aged 18,19, or 20? No wonder this country is in such a mess - kids are just getting into debt.

Yes, I took out the overdraft- but youd think theyd monitor things like this, especially when people are in their overdraft for that length of time. Its very hard to get out of it.

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From April, new Gambling Commission rules come into force that prevent people from gambling on credit cards - but there are no set rules that prevent banks giving overdrafts to problem gamblers.

The majority of the UKs biggest banks have also revealed they are hiking up their overdraft fees this month.

And while banks do have a responsibility to protect vulnerable customers and help them reduce persistent overdraft debt, its unclear how this works in practice.

A Bank of Scotland spokesperson told The Sun overdrafts had an important role to play in supporting customers who had short term or unexpected borrowing needs.

They added: When a customer applies for an overdraft, we undertake a thorough review of the customers' finances to ensure that it is affordable.

"However, we do understand that customers circumstances can change and we do all we can to support them.

In the case of Mr Ray, we immediately agreed to stop all charges from being applied for 30 days to give him breathing space.

"After further review of factors specific to Mr Ray's individual case, and as a gesture of goodwill, we have offered to refund some of the charges applied and use them to reduce the outstanding balance on his overdraft.

Customers who have been charged overdraft fees which have contributed to financial hardship are encouraged to try and claim them back.

If you dont know how much youve been paid then you can check your online banking or ask for your old statements from your banks.

Some banks charge a fee for this - so you should ask for a list of charges youve been paid to avoid paying the levy more than once.

If you have an overdraft then be aware that new rules on overdrafts that come into force in April could see customers hit with fees of up to 39.9 per cent.

If you're struggling to pay it off then read our handy guide on where to start.

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If you have an overdraft then be aware that new rules on overdrafts that come into force in April could see customers hit with fees of up to 39.9 per cent.

If you're struggling to pay it off then read our handy guide on where to start.

Hard up but want to start saving? Then watch money expert Martin Lewis explain how you could get a savings account with unbeatable interest if you're on benefits or Universal Credit.

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Bank of Scotland charged gambling addict almost 5 a day interest on 3,100 overdraft - The Sun

IN todays Scotland, gambling is everywhere. In the 25 years since John Majors Conservative government introduced the National Lottery, and the 15 years since Tony Blairs Labour government radically liberalised our gambling laws, the gambling industrys reach has spread into most areas of life. Spaces in society where we are not encouraged to take a punt are increasingly rare: at the football stadium and the museum, in the corner shop and even the local primary school where school lottery schemes are often used to prop up underfunded state education we are prompted to gamble. Each year, across the UK, we now give 14.4 billion of our money to the gambling industry.

This vast sum, of course, is not supplied equally by all. Rather, about half of the population gambles and more often than not, those who gamble do so regularly, and are from lower-income backgrounds. While the gambling industry presents itself as an instrument of positive economic redistribution you might win big, or your good cause might receive a donation the money moves in more than one direction. Those who run the industry enjoy the benefits of unimaginable profits thanks to the regular offerings of the average Scottish gambler.

In 2020, the wide reach of the gambling industry is part and parcel of a society in which income inequality continues to grow. Social mobility has all but stopped for some segments of society. For all that the big gambling industry casts the poor and worthy a few crumbs from its table, it is hard to see that industry as anything other than part of the problem of poverty, rather than part of its solution. The widespread promotion of gambling remains, in effect, an implicit tax on the poor, whose money often goes towards making the worlds of art and culture more affordable to the middle class.

Many of us are aware of this. Indeed, the Gambling Commissions own most recent surveys have shown that 79 per cent of us even of those who do gamble think that there are too many opportunities for gambling nowadays. I agree. Perhaps it is time more of us did something about it. Where might this fight for economic justice begin? We could take note of Greta Thunbergs campaign for climate justice, which began in a school a social space imbued with symbolic value, in so far as the school environment represents the hopes and dreams that we pass on to our children. Gretas school strike has changed the world.

Perhaps a renewed fight against poverty might also begin in our schools, which are increasingly turning to school lottery systems to paper over the cracks in an underfunded state school system. Given the symbolic power of our schools, what does it say to our children about the aspirations we pass on to them if their access to textbooks, music lessons, or computers also becomes dependent albeit often in small ways on a system that reinforces poverty?

As a parent of children who receive a gambling-funded state school education, at a time where 340,000 British adults (and 55,000 children) are problem gamblers, I find it painful when my children ask me where their schools money comes from. If enough parents (and children) were to say no thanks to a gambling-funded education, society would only lose one opportunity to gamble but in teaching a new generation to dream of a more equal society, that one loss could change everything.

Dr James Eglinton is Meldrum Lecturer in Reformed Theology at the University of Edinburgh

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Agenda: Let's say no to a state education that is funded by gambling - HeraldScotland

It was surprising to see such little reaction to the fact suspicious match alerts in tennis have fallen to their lowest levels since the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) began reporting the figures for 2015, according to its 2019 report. In total, there were 138 suspicious matches reported last year, with none at Grand Slam level, three from the mens ATP Tour and five from the womens WTA Tour.

This is welcome news for both tennis, but also of course, the gambling industry. Had the number of alerts risen, then you can imagine how sections of the press would have swarmed over the report to pick it apart and somehow blame regulated gambling for potential match-fixing.

The figures are staggering: the number of alerts totals more than 100 less than any other year since and including 2015, and while it does not necessarily mean less matches are being fixed - the statistics are only alerts, nothing more - it points to a positive trend. The alerts are provided through memorandums of understanding with regulated betting operators and data companies and it shows how such co-operation can be a real force for good.

The reverse is also true: the high numbers in the previous years was not necessarily a negative. High numbers shows potential issues are being highlighted and put into a position where they can be addressed. Perhaps after four years, it was inevitable there would be a drop in alerts, as more work is done.

This is also supported by the number of players and officials that were subject to sanctions, which was actually at its highest number (26) since the reports began, although the numbers are somewhat skewed, with players provisional suspensions and actual suspensions sometimes listed in different years.

Reading between the lines, it is possible that a higher number of players being sanctioned, yet lower levels of alerts, could indicate that betting companies and the bodies within the sport are becoming more efficient at determining the signs of suspicious activity. It could also be that people are being put off the idea of trying to fix a match or part of a result: past convictions of players like Nicols Kicker, a top-100 player, and Oliver Anderson, a junior Grand Slam champion, would have sent shockwaves throughout the sport.

It is no secret a lot of betting companies co-operate with the sport when it comes to integrity, particularly when a strange amount of bets come rushing in on a particular match, so it could just point to people not using legal or mainstream/regulated markets to avoid risk.

But the TIU's report is not a one-off. Promisingly, the International Betting Integrity Associations most recent report, for Q3 2019, reports similar findings. The report says there were 30 tennis alerts reported in that quarter, which represented a 40% reduction on the 50 tennis alerts reported in Q3 2018. The report also says the fall in tennis alerts was predominantly caused by a reduction in alerts at the ITF Tour level.

More convictions and fewer alerts point towards the problem diminishing, or at the very worst being driven away from legal markets. For the betting industry, this is very good news. Yes, fixing is always going to be an issue, especially in unregulated gambling markets, but that is more of a problem for tennis authorities to work out how to combat. From the gambling industry's side, it is doing something helpful, but is of course unlikely to be given credit for this by mainstream media.

The co-operation between betting companies and the sporting bodies are producing good results and this is real evidence of this, and all involved should be satisfied. The threat of fixing is not over though, and unless prize money rises staggeringly at the lower levels, then I dont think it ever will be, but in terms of results, this is a pretty good set.

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Why the gambling industry deserves more credit for its work with tennis - Gambling Insider - In-depth Analysis for the Gaming Industry

Now that all the dust has settled, we finally have our NFL final four. The Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs battle it out this Sunday afternoon to decide who will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, while the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers play Sunday night for the last spot in the Super Bowl.

Both home teams are favored this week, and the spreads of both of these matchups have been hovering out seven to 7.5 points. Below, we will analyze which bets I'm high on, which bets you should avoid and then some long shots I'm interested in.

Let's jump in now. All odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

Henry rushed for 182 yards against the New England Patriots in the wild-card round and 195 yards against the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round. Both of those defenses are two of the best in the NFL, and I have no reason to believe that Henry will not be able to replicate his success on the ground against Kansas City. When the Titans played the Chiefs in Week 10, Henry rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Take the over here.

Rodgers has thrown for over 240 yards six times this season. He only threw for 104 yards against the 49ers in Week 12, but if this game goes how many think it will go, the Packers will need to be throwing the ball a lot. Rodgers also has a personal vendetta against the 49ers for passing over him in the 2005 NFL Draft, and there is no better way to get some revenge than by preventing the 49ers from reaching the Super Bowl with a big performance. Whether the Packers win or lose this game, I think Rodgers will pass for at least 240 yards.

The Chiefs appear to be the best team remaining in the playoffs and are on a seven-game win streak, but they are running into a team of destiny. There aren't many people who expected the Titans to be in this situation -- one game away from the Super Bowl. Hardly anyone expected them to beat the Patriots and then the No. 1 seed Ravens, both on the road. I'm going to take the Titans to win this game, and if they don't, I think they can cover 7.5 points.

Wondering which teams will wind up in Super Bowl LIV? Pete Prisco and R.J. White join Will Brinson with their picks, gambling advice and more on the Pick Six Podcast. Listen below and be sure to subscribe for daily NFL goodness.

There is a lot of money coming in on the Packers and 49ers to score more than 45 collective points, but I think there's a possibility that will not happen. It's interesting that 45 points is the exact point total both teams scored in Week 12, when the 49ers blew out the Packers, 37-8. This game could end up being a defensive showdown. Both teams have incredible pass rushers who can get to the quarterback in a hurry, and both have been spotty when it comes to putting up big points. Even if the 49ers blow out the Packers again, I think it won't be as bad as Green Bay's Week 12 showing.

I was surprised to see that Hill's under for receptions was favored by that much. The last time Hill played the Titans, he set a new career-high in receptions with 11 for 157 yards and a touchdown. He only caught three passes last week against the Houston Texans, but I think Andy Reid will try to get his star wideout going with a Super Bowl appearance on the line.

I'm going to have to explain this Packers' moneyline pick, because I also have it ranked fairly high when it comes to ranking moneyline value. I like that people are ready to throw it all on the moneyline for the Packers, but don't throw all your eggs in one basket. I say this because I think there's a better possibility of the 49ers winning this game but not covering the spread than the Packers winning straight up.

Jones has scored two more more touchdowns in seven games this season, including last week against the Seattle Seahawks. I think there's a good chance it happens again this Sunday against a 49ers defense that ranks just 22nd in preventing TDs in the red zone.

Williams scored the first touchdown for the Chiefs last week, and it was just the first of three he would score against the Texans. There's no way the Chiefs start off as slow as they did last week, and I think they strike first -- and strike first with Williams.

If the Titans beat the Chiefs, then the game is going to go how Tennessee wants it to go. That means that Henry is going to have another magnificent game and the Titans are going to control time of possession. If the Titans win, then I don't see the over hitting.

1. As my colleague R.J. white points out -- though there hasn't been a clear ATS advantage for the home team (better seed) in the conference title games over the last decade, we should note that over the last 20 years, there have been 13 conference title matchups with a spread of seven points or greater. The underdog went 10-3 ATS in that stretch, most recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars covering in Foxborough two years ago. That makes it pretty difficult to lay the points in both matchups this week; I'd say at best you should think about taking either one or both 'dogs.

2. My good friend John Breech -- who was the only media member in the country who went 4-0 on his straight-up picks last week -- brought up this nugget in his picks piece: The good news for the Titans (and the 49ers) is that over past three years, teams that played on Saturday in the divisional round have gone 5-1 in the championship round. That's not a recent trend, either: Saturday teams have also gone 15-5 in the championship round over the past 10 years. Apparently, one extra day of rest can go a long way in the NFL.

I think it's very possible both underdogs could flat out win on Sunday. I even threw a little money on a parlay that includes Titans and Packers moneyline. Everyone is very high on the 49ers because they crushed the Packers in the regular season, but I'm just not convinced. Rodgers has won a Super Bowl while Jimmy Garoppolo is making his second ever postseason start.

Advantage teaser players are going to make the obvious play here and drop the favorites down through the key numbers of 7 and 3. But I would abandon that strategy this week, as I believe we're going to see at least one upset on Sunday. To me, the safer play is teasing the 'dogs both up to around two touchdowns, as I don't see either of these matchups being a blowout by the home team.

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NFL playoffs gambling guide: Locks, props, trends, what to avoid, more for the 2020 conference championships - CBS Sports