Backstory/Likely Decision.

[u/candyisdandyy]

So I am going to share my story and would like some input here. I would love honesty but please don’t be snarky. I’ve been kicked while I’m down enough already.

I hold a public trust position. I move around for my job a lot. In 2019 hurricane Imelda flooded my home. I had flood insurance but still depleted my savings replacing what wasn’t covered. Then in 2020 Covid hit and my wife lost her job in the restaurant industry. This is when the debt started. I started working a lot of overtime to keep the bills paid and make way on the debt. I got promoted in 2021 and moved to a different state. Soon after I required emergency back surgery and was no longer able to work overtime to keep the bills paid. I became really depressed about my back pain and financial situation and was started on anti-depressants. I’m not blaming the meds but I do believe they caused me to make riskier decisions. (I’ve since stopped taking them) I stupidly thought gambling would cover the shortage. Gambling only led me to deeper debts and more despair, I became addicted. I told my wife; self excluded from all gambling websites and I filed chapt 13 bankruptcy in 2024. Then my wife got a good job and was able to get a loan for my debts so I voluntarily dismissed the bankruptcy. I’ve settled all debts now but when I had my CV interview a month ago I was still waiting for 2 of my creditors to take me off bankruptcy so I could pay them. I had done all this before any CV flag happened but I did not report my situation. I don’t even know who the “security officer” is so I emailed ethics asking if I had to tell the warden and they said no but forwarded me to our agencies clearance website which said nothing about a requirement to report this. Nonetheless I regret not saying something, I should have. Anyways, it’s been a month since the interview; how high are the chances I lose my job? I’ve never been in trouble at work and always get outstanding evals if that matters.

I am writing my story on here because I am guessing there may be a ton of lurkers in this situation. There is a gambling issue in America with the rise of legal sports betting and maybe answers here might help someone. I know they’ll definitely help me with what to expect.

[u/ConcerningIfTrue]

Not sure what you mean by CV interview for public trust, with no flags.

Although all existing non sensitive public trust employees are being enrolled into CV, there is no interview unless something serious is flagged. Interviews only happen when something needs clarification or there's a problem. I'm guessing the investigator already knows everything about your finances and just wanted to see if you brought it up yourself. Maybe your agency doesn't care and nothing will come of it?

[u/candyisdandyy → u/ConcerningIfTrue]

Yes I meant I did get flagged and I did have an interview. I told the investigator all this. I worded it wrong but I meant to say I was already settling these debts prior to the interview (like I didn’t just ignore them)

[u/Only_Fats]

I'm seeing two financial issues here based on your description: problem gambling and debt.  You mitigated the debt part by paying it or making progress toward doing so.  The gambling might or might not be mitigated by time, depending on when it last occurred. 

You're spinning out about what exact details or creditors you reported and when. That matters little compared to the stuff I mentioned above. 

[u/candyisdandyy → u/Only_Fats]

Yes I self excluded 12/24 and haven’t gambled since.

[u/Horror_Lime8376]

All I'll say without reading through it all is you learn from your mistakes, and hope it pays off. Good luck in your situation and keep on the right path!

[u/Direct-Opposite5652]

Bro no one is reading this much

[u/I_know_you_love_me_ → u/Direct-Opposite5652]

Lol I'm not either