Illinois lottery winners' checks bounced

Comment #21

jump6702 — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:19:18 GMT

now that was a good move. pay for the check bank fee.

Comment #20

KY Floyd — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:38:26 GMT

Since they were actually paid in 2012 they can claim it as 2012 income. People have trouble collecting money that is reported on W-2's and 1099's all the time, so it will hardly be the first time the IRS has seen it happen. Of course it's probably simpler to just go ahead and pay the taxes on their 2011 returns and be done with it. The average prize is less than $2000, and most winners will probably owe less than $500. If they just leave that in their checking account for a year they'll probably... [ More ]

Comment #19

HaveABall — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:23:58 GMT

Just another 1.5 hours of work for each of the winners to spend obtaining, copying, creating mailing envelope, and mailing their own copy of 'returned check' fees proof by their financial institution to the lottery headquarters for reimbursement.

It's a BIG hassle and time waster for both the winner and the lottery headquarters office personnel.

Comment #18

rad242 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:21:06 GMT

ALL CLEARED UP SIR! lol

Comment #17

butch2030 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:00:35 GMT

Now how do you claim the taxes?????????? FY 2011 or FY2012???????????? The checks were cut in 2011 but you actually didn't get the funds until 2012 because they forgot to validate the checks until 2012.

I guess you will have to talk to your tax advisor....................

Comment #16

dpoly1 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:24:45 GMT

You can't be mean to relatives political hacks.

Comment #15

kapla — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:16:48 GMT

Yea, GOOD LUCK getting anything cleared in Chex Systems!!!!

They are just as bad as the credit bureau s. Both ONLY want to post NEGATIVE items, and will do almost NOTHING to clear/fix incorrect items.

Comment #14

sully16 — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 14:33:01 GMT

Yikes, think they need to train their employees better.

Comment #13

Iesha Kelly — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 10:27:48 GMT

Amen. And even then, you have to be careful. The check can clear, and then be pulled back a month later, two months, three, after an investigation. As for the state paying for bounced check fees, are they are also going to make sure that the chex systems reports of all affected parties are wiped clean? You never know. I'm not sure how that works, but I wouldn't want someone to get on a company's 'List' because the state bounced a check, and it caused a cascading effect.

Also, I can't believe... [ More ]

Comment #12

Guru101 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:40:48 GMT

This is why I don't spend the money as soon as I deposit it. I always wait until the check clears.

Comment #11

time*treat — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 22:12:36 GMT

... in case there was any doubt remaining about cash vs annuity ...

Comment #10

surimaribo24 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:47:08 GMT

looks like the lottery administrative had some jackdaniels going while processing the checks for the winners

Comment #9

OldSchoolPa — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 13:30:07 GMT

Not really. The problem wasn't that the Illinois Lottery didn't have the funds to pay the prizes (now that would be scary). It was simply an administrative or procedural requirement that hadn't been performed that was necessary for these checks to be honored by the receiving financial institution. Jackpot winners don't have this to worry about since the proceeds are wired to specified bank accounts. Non story really as I am sure the Illinois Lottery had proactively contacted all affected after t... [ More ]

Comment #8

psykomo — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:58:45 GMT

KINDA SCARY U got that RIGHT

Comment #7

Cletu$2 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:32:22 GMT

I've always had trouble cashing instant lottery tickets (over $100) in Illinois.I used to play Mega Millions in Illinois.I'm glad that I never had the problem that these folks had.Oh,that's right,you have to win before it's a problem.

Comment #6

dpoly1 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:14:23 GMT

I know something from IL that I would like to return

Comment #5

LottoGuyBC — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:08:27 GMT

kinda scary

I'll take cash money

Comment #4

Stack47 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:06:20 GMT

Didn't the Illinois state government just sell the Illinois Lottery to a private corporation

Comment #3

tiggs95 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:56:18 GMT

Hint....If you live in Ill get your winnings in cash no matter how much it is...

Comment #2

dk1421 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:31:55 GMT

Wow - not cool! But - at least they are willing to pay for any bounced fees. That's a decent thing to do

Comment #1

weshar75 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:26:55 GMT

That has to suck bounced checks what a bummer!-weshar75

Illinois lottery winners' checks bounced

Lottery Post — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:21:07 GMT

Includes audio report

Eighty-five Illinois Lottery winners last week probably thought they were lucky until they tried to cash in their winnings, that is.

Their checks, totaling $159,000 in lottery winnings, were no good.

Two days after Christmas, Maureen Furio of Lake Zurich bought an instant scratch-off ticket and won $1000. The next day, she got a check from the lottery.

I deposited it the same day and went ahead and paid some extra Christmas bills, Furio says. And Jan. 3, it