A UK mortgage advisor has revealed banks based in the country have recently declined housing loan applications from solvent individuals over soccer bets, even if it’s the occasional wager.
even if it’s just the odd flutter”
According to Sky News, Right Choice Mortgages advisor Joe Childes stated he’d recently seen banks nixing applications based on betting transactions on clients’ bank statements, “even if it’s just the odd flutter.”
Childes said he’d seen applications declined not only where applicants have separate accounts for placing wagers, “but even just those who bet on the [soccer] at the weekend.”
“Gambling transactions can be questioned by the underwriter, or in some cases we have seen straight declines with no grounds for appeal.”
Childes cited a case where his clients had made a joint application: “had no forms of credit in the background and were asking for a mortgage of less than 50% loan-to-value ratio, but were declined twice.”
The mortgage advisor said the pair never applied for a bank overdraft and had £5,000 ($6,511) in their current account. Childes added the refusals were based on soccer bets only. “Affordability for the level of transactions seen is not a concern.”
The advisor posited if banks would nix applications by applicants who “excessively drink or smoke” or even clients who pay cash at sportsbooks to place bets.
“If the client can afford the spending, is it right to dictate how they use their hard-earned money?”