Florida grandmother says state agency's mistake cost her lottery winnings

Comment #17

Stack47 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 22:25:22 GMT

The state sent Segel a letter they claimed they sent her back in 1992, to a Tampa P.O. Box.........Segel said she never received the letter, but admits her family moved around Florida a lot.

That makes less sense than using $1000 for vacation and especially when the roof needs fixing. But in her defence it is a feel good story whether it makes any sense or not.And like her, most players never cashed for over $600 and don't know how the systems work.

Cashing over $600 (but under $5000) in F... [ More ]

Comment #16

txwinr — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 14:02:55 GMT

it was an overpayment, and she basically owed the state the money back. So that's what happens, we should all be so lucky to be able to reach back 30 years and get back what ppl owe us. IMO the headline is misleading, it is NOT the agency's mistake . the mistake was the overpayment and her not paying it back, which she probably couldn't. They really should have some kind of statute of limitations/min value or something on this.

Comment #15

Concord — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 17:48:30 GMT

Yes, you are correct about not judging her too harshly from that time ago. We all struggle at various times in our life. I re-read my last post and it does indeed sound maybe a little harsh.

I was only questioning her thinking of a vacation over house repairs. The other part about states trying to get money back from lottery winners. That was more for people winning larger amounts of money ... $50,000, $100,000, $1 million and such.

Maybe the state should just write this one off ... I move... [ More ]

Comment #14

Sorrento — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 17:27:45 GMT

Wow! 30 years later and they still come for their money. That's pretty efficient. Bummer for her but she was paid more than she was entitled to.

Key West is overrated anyway. And overcrowded and overpriced.

Comment #13

rcbbuckeye — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 12:27:17 GMT

The way I read it she won $1000.

She apparently was OVERPAID on her daughter's child support case . The state said it tried to contact her by letter but since she moved around she never got their letter.

I wouldn't be too harsh on her as it sounds like she was struggling to make ends meet 30 years ago, and probably even now. I can remember struggling to make ends meet 30 years ago myself. At any rate, the state admits it made a mistake.

As far as getting a lawyer to create a trust, that... [ More ]

Comment #12

Bleudog101 — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 12:07:59 GMT

Excellent point. So a winner in Key West for instance has to travel way up to Tallahassee to cash in their ticket? Inconvenient.

I missed something despite reading it twice...how much was her alleged winnings?

KY does not play with non-payment for child support. Off to jail you go. My roommate, a former KY Parole Board Member fo 16 years never agreed with that policy. Would say 'how can they pay if they're in prison?' FL sounds like they need to get their computers talking to each oth... [ More ]

Comment #11

Bluegal1 — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 01:20:19 GMT

Couldn't agree with you more! The less people you tell, the less problems you have. Get a lawyer, create a trust account, claim the prize in the trust name, and no one is the wiser unless you decide to spill the beans yourself.

Comment #10

Bluegal1 — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 01:17:43 GMT

Same here in NY, if you win anything over $600 bucks, you can mail in your winning ticket by registered mail return receipt, and get your check back minus anything you may owe and also minus taxes, or, you can go into any NY Lottery Customer Service Center, with your ID and your SS#, and get your check the same way, minus taxes or anything you may owe to the state

Comment #9

sweetie7398 — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 23:35:35 GMT

Wow, interesting

Comment #8

Concord — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 22:42:30 GMT

Just to add, from what the lottery winner said. It didn't make any sense to me:

I thought, 'Woo hoo! Vacation! Party! Key West, Segel said. That was all that was going through my mind at the time of winning that lottery.

She also considered using the rest to help pay for repairs around her Kissimmee home that suffered some damage during Hurricane Irma.

I couldn't get help from anybody to get it fixed, Segel said. So, I need money.

... OK, she is in need of house repairs, ... well... [ More ]

Comment #7

Stack47 — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 22:06:47 GMT

Every time I won a prize over $600 but under $5000 they asked for my drivers license, SS card, filled out a claims form and a W-2G. I've cash in more than one state and each form asked if I owed back child support and any court awards. What is different about my experience is they paid me after I signed everything. Kentucky has cashing agents and in Ohio any retailer could validate and fill out the forms and then took them to a bank and collect. I cashed a ticket at a WVA casino/racetrack and wa... [ More ]

Comment #6

LiveInGreenBay — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 21:39:49 GMT

'Woo hoo! Vacation! Party! Key West, BTW I need money to fix my home. Hello

Comment #5

music* — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 21:20:33 GMT

with you Concord. When you do not tell anyone your good news than they will not know.

Keep quiet. Go slow.

Some winners need to claim immediately because they are living pay check to pay check. Try to slow down as much as possible.

Learn how to say NO.

Comment #4

noise-gate — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 20:12:07 GMT

lt would seem that Bobbi was getting so many checks back then, that this one slipped through the cracks. It may have been the State s mistake in overpaying her, but that is why it s called Karma. Just to think, if Bobbi had never won, the State would not have come calling, Bobbi has been lucky

Comment #3

Concord — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 19:50:18 GMT

I guess there is a lesson to be learned in this article ... no 'Hootin an Hollarin' ... 'Shouting' ... 'Back flips' ... 'Buying drinks for everyone' ... till you have those Benjamins firmly in your hands !!!

...

Comment #2

Bluegal1 — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 17:33:26 GMT

All it takes is a dollar and a dream, and I'd say she at least had a dollar. She wasnt collecting welfare, she was collecting child support, big difference. Usually if you owe money on welfare and hit the lottery, the state takes what you owe and gives you the rest. Apparently her winnings were not much, as it looks like it was less than about 2500 and they took all of it. So I guess it covers the amount they claim she owes

Comment #1

music* — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 17:14:58 GMT

Where does this winner come up with money to play the lottery?

Not enough money to hire a lawyer.

Her Ex will be caught. Think guys, You make a baby at any age and you will be paying for at least 18 years .

Florida grandmother says state agency's mistake cost her lottery winnings

Lottery Post — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 15:49:59 GMT

Includes video report

Bobbi Segel said she can still remember the feeling she had scratching off the winning lottery ticket.

According to my children, I sounded like a teenager in high school squealing at her prom date, Segel said.

Segel said she was hoping to use $1,000 she won on an upcoming family trip she had already planned.

I thought, 'Woo hoo! Vacation! Party! Key West, Segel said. That was all that was going through my mind at the time of winning that lottery.

She also... [ More ]