A Nottingham man's lucky scratchcard win quickly turned into a frustrating and costly ordeal after his local Post Office refused to payout, forcing him on a 200-mile round trip to collect his £86 prize.
Michael Snedden, 36, was initially thrilled to discover he had won the money on a National Lottery scratchcard. However, his excitement was short-lived when staff at his local Post Office branch informed him they were unable to process the payout.
'They told me the system was down and that I would have to post the winning ticket to Camelot's headquarters in Carlisle to claim the money,' Michael explained. 'I couldn't believe it. For the sake of £86, I was expected to trust the postal system with my winning ticket.'
Unwilling to risk losing his ticket in the post, Michael made the drastic decision to drive to Carlisle himself. The journey from his home in Nottingham to Camelot's HQ and back was a gruelling 200-mile round trip, taking over four hours and costing him significantly in fuel.
'It's absolutely ridiculous,' he fumed. 'The whole point of buying a scratchcard from a local shop is that you can get your winnings there and then. This was a complete nightmare and the travel cost almost wiped out my winnings.'
A spokesperson for the Post Office later stated that while they aim to pay prizes instantly, 'very occasionally' technical issues can prevent this from happening. They confirmed that in such rare cases, customers are advised to send their ticket to the National Lottery's central team via signed-for delivery, which is fully insured.
This incident has sparked outrage among other players, highlighting the potential pitfalls and hidden costs that can come with a seemingly small win. It serves as a stark reminder to always check the terms and conditions and to be prepared for the unexpected, even when you think you've hit the jackpot.
