Bookmaker Winnings - when does money become mine ??

sparkovic

Apologies if this is not the correct place to post :-

I placed a winning bet + was due to be paid out £300. Can anyone advise when this money becomes mine ? - To pay me out the staff would have had to empty a gambling machine which I requested but they did not make enough effort to obtain authorisation from their manager (bit of dubiety as to whether any attempt was made) to do so.

I required the money + knew I would not be able to make it into the shop the next day which they requested. I believe at this point the money was mine + I shouldn't have had to go back to the shop if it did not suit me. I refused to leave the shop + the police were called. I left as soon as the police advised that it was a breach of the peace not to leave when asked to do so by them.

Could anybody please advise what me consumer / legal rights are in this instance as I believe it is at least very poor customer service + their investigation was not very fair or transparent. I would also like to complain about this company using the police as a personal security service (i.e. one phonecall to a manager in a hour + then phoning police) but not sure who to complain to ??

pcombo

If you were playing the machines they print tickets out for you to collect your winnings.

They cant empty machines just to pay customers. Plus im sure you can cash the winnings voucher at any of there shops.

What exactly is the problem are they refusing to pay you?

dacouch

Could they not put it onto a debit or credit card for you

sparkovic

No I did receive the payment 2 days later - but I made my bet in cash + expected to be paid in cash when the money became mine. They would not allow me to bet on credit so why should they have an extended period to pay me back especially when the money was in the shop ?

arcon5

By winning the money, the company now owe you £x, they money in the machine doesn't necessarily belong to you.

Well done & congratulations on your nice win, now stop acting like a baby and nip back and collect your money when it is available. They are not being unreasonable by not stopping everything and emptying the machine!!!

pcombo

be good to know what time you won the £300 at.

texranger

arcon5 wrote: »

By winning the money, the company now owe you £x, they money in the machine doesn't necessarily belong to you.

Well done & congratulations on your nice win, now stop acting like a baby and nip back and collect your money when it is available.

it was a bet and not a machine win.

i know my local betting shop will pay you in cash to £100 anything above that is a cheque.

sparkovic

arcon5 - what do you mean stop everything - i was the only customer in the shop with 2 staff members ? - It was my assumption that the staff were there to take bets + pay out bets, I'm not really sure what you would see their role as other than serving customers ?

arcon5

texranger wrote: »

it was a bet and not a machine win.

i know my local betting shop will pay you in cash to £100 anything above that is a cheque.

Read op:

To pay me out the staff would have had to empty a gambling machine which I requested

They are not being unreasonable by not emptying machiens on demand (infact it could be considered a security risk!)

pcombo

Well you cant expect them to shut a machine down and take the cash drawer out count out £300(providing theres even £300 in the machine), load it back in to the machine reboot it.

Winnings slips can be cashed at any chain of the bookmakers.


p.s the winnings will probably end up back in there tills in a few weeks.

arcon5

sparkovic wrote: »

arcon5 - what do you mean stop everything - i was the only customer in the shop with 2 staff members ? - It was my assumption that the staff were there to take bets + pay out bets, I'm not really sure what you would see their role as other than serving customers ?

You can't seriously expect them to empty machines on demand :wall:

It isn't just a case of open up and give you the cash, they have to account for it all -- it all takes time and could be considered a security risk and against company policy.

Pick your toys up and put them back in the box.