A EuroMillions player says he’s “done” with the lottery after a 52-day wait for his winnings left him on the breadline.
Pete Daly scooped £582.20 on the EuroMillions draw back in July but claimed he had to eat “out of foodbanks,” while waiting for his payout. The 71-year-old told the ECHO he was promised his winnings within 10 days. But almost two months later, there was still no sign of the cash.
Due to the delay, he said he couldn’t afford a haircut and desperately needed new shoes because he’d used his monthly pension to pay off his car insurance banking on his winnings to tide him over.
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Pete, from Pensby, Wirral, said: “When I found out I had won I paid my car insurance off with my entire cash for the month because I was thinking this money would come in to keep me afloat for the month.
(Image: Megan Banner)
“So, I’ve been living in food banks all month because it hasn’t come in, I can’t afford a haircut, I need new shoes. I can’t afford anything because I paid for the car insurance thinking I’d get this money within 10 days.
“I’m stuck in the house, I can’t afford to go anywhere, I can’t afford the waste of fuel. I need this money, I’m struggling, money is the difference to being able to live, it sorts me to be able to live, not living well, but living.”
Lottery operator Allwyn’s spokesperson apologised, saying: “We’re very sorry to hear the concerns raised and colleagues have now called Mr Daly with an update. We successfully process hundreds sometimes thousands of prize claims every week.”
They added, “This is following the introduction of a revised claims process that we had to bring in earlier this year following the Post Office’s decision to no longer pay National Lottery retail prizes between £500.01 and £50,000. Unfortunately, a small number of these claims are delayed for various reasons. However, we’re continuing to work on new ways to help further improve the claims process and would like to reassure our winners that they will definitely receive their prize.”
After EuroMillions finally coughed up, Pete could enjoy his windfall.
He said: “I’ve spent half my winnings already, the other half has to last me until I get my pension in a fortnight. It has been a relief since I got it, I’ve got my new shoes and a haircut.”
Pete, who’s been religiously playing EuroMillions for a decade, is now snubbing the lottery after a lengthy wait for his prize money. He vented: “I’m staying clear of the Euromillions now. I’m not doing it anymore after this, it’s not worth it. I’ve been doing it for 30 years. £1,040 a year they are losing out on.”
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