Bankers, can "we" trust them???????

INTERNET gamblers in Ireland may not be successful in their mortgage application due to their betting activities with some banks taking a negative view of regular gambling outgoings a report in Wednesday's Irish Times claimed.

Michael Dowling, spokesman for the Independent Mortgages Advisers Federation (IMAF), told The Irish Times that "banks" now regarded online betting very negatively.

Dowling said that while any such activity appearing on a current account submitted to a bank as part of a mortgage application would not automatically disqualify someone from being granted a loan, it was one of the criteria being applied "in a market where they are looking for any excuses" to reject applications.


"I don't think online gambling is to be encouraged if people are making a mortgage application," he said, "in particular if there are regular amounts going out.

"Banks are paying a lot more attention to bank statements now, and if they see even €150 going into an online gambling account each month they frown on it."

Despite the reports in Ireland, a similar situation has yet to become common practice in Britain it appears.

Various consumer groups were surprised by the news when contacted by the Racing Post on Wednesday, while Sarah Robson, spokeswoman for the Council of Mortgage lenders, the trade organisation for the residential mortgage lending industry, said: "It is not something I am aware of."

Bookmakers were also shocked to learn that their online customers could have problems in securing a mortgage due to their betting activities.

Coral Spokesman Simon Clare said: "Although I am not familiar directly with the issue, it sounds bizarre to me to single out people who place bets on the internet as opposed to people who buy a CD from Amazon or bid on eBay as it is a legitimate registered pastime.