Not all Retailers Pay Out to $599

Reply #93

Tenaj — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:53:05 GMT

NC answered that email fast - I just sent it yesterday - This is the answer. I asked them about getting privvy to pre-test draws as well.

Thank you for your interest in the NC Education Lottery. We can email you a spreadsheet with the test numbers but will needa date range that you re looking at and it will take a few days to compile theinformation.

Retailers are supposed to pay out prizes up to $599, whether or notthe ticket was purchased from their location. Some retailers wh... [ More ]

Reply #92

wantmoney — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 07:21:43 GMT

sounds so sweet. Here are also enthusiastic retailers in delaware

Reply #91

Stack47 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:14:46 GMT

Did you pay for the $4.95

Reply #90

Stack47 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:13:23 GMT

It was only $11, I bought 5 tickets and he owed me $6.

That would be the same as when our grocery total comes $14 and we hand them a $20. Are we suppose to look for items adding up to 6 bucks, see if we have a ten and 4 ones, or should they just give us the change

Reply #89

four4me — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:44:12 GMT

7-11's ................ farm stores some gas stations etc usually drop all the big money in a safe behind the counter. You usually won't get a ticket cashed their no mater what state you live in. Unless the store manage is on site and does it discretely.

If you go into a 7-11 and ask for a money order for 300 bucks and hand him/her the money they will automatically put that money in a safe. 7-11's probably are the most robbed stores in the country their policy is to not have big cash on hand.... [ More ]

Reply #88

sirbrad — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:52:57 GMT

Strange. I got $2600 in cash in my little town for Big 4, tax free! $2500 and $100 for straight and boxed. But separate tickets thankfully, aas I think anything over $2500 you have to claim.

Reply #87

ThatScaryChick — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:19:55 GMT

Wtg!

I'm glad that the lottery rep took you complaint seriously and will be talking to these stores about the contract that they signed and the rules.

Reply #86

Tenaj — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:17:22 GMT

This is the rule in NC from the Lottery Commission and the Retailer contract.

A lottery game retailer will make the purchase and redemption of lottery tickets convenient and readily

accessible to the public. Lottery tickets will be available for sale during the lottery game retailers

normal business hours; the lottery game retailer agrees to provide for the redemption of winning

tickets during the same hours, up to the amount established by the Commission and subject to the

Commis... [ More ]

Reply #85

Todd — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:12:45 GMT

Nice job

Reply #84

EXMECHANIC — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:50:22 GMT

To give an update to everyone, I did call the CA lottery about this situation. I first talked to a CA Lottery rep and told her my problem, and she didn't seem to care to much, but she did offer me a chance to complain if I wanted, and I wanted. So she transfered me to security.

Security was awesome, I told her my situation, and the stores I went to, she explained that if a store can't pay a ticket they should be making arrangements with the winner for when they can cash the ticket, say later... [ More ]

Reply #83

ThatScaryChick — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:55:29 GMT

I agree with Todd and Littloldlady. If the stores can't fulfill their end of the agreement by cashing in tickets, then maybe they shouldn't be selling them in the first place.

Reply #82

Littleoldlady — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 22:49:28 GMT

Report Them to the lottery commission ASAP!! If they don't fulfill the agreements in the contract they signed to sell lottery tickets, they can be suspended from selling tickets or just plain revoked.

Reply #81

Todd — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:00:20 GMT

When stores sign up to sell the lottery, they sign a contract with the state lottery -- a service level agreement. The contact states what the store is expected to do as a retailer.

In order to be a lottery retailer, it's my understanding that stores are required to be in a position to cash winning tickets up to the maximum $599.

Even if they're not, I would recommending reporting your experience to the state lottery, with as much detail as possible about what happened.

Reply #80

BevsPicks2 — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:48:31 GMT

I also had a store to put the money on a prepaid debit card for me. Which means that no cash exchanged hands except for the $4.95 fee for the card and the cash was available to me immediately on the card. I could draw as much or as little as I wanted over a period of time or all at once.

Reply #79

BevsPicks2 — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:45:22 GMT

I have relationships with several stores and have no problems cashing tickets that are $300 and above up to $600. The key word though is relationship. The store manager's usually come up with the money. I've never gotten a money order and I do win on occassion.

Reply #78

justxploring — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:12:21 GMT

Stack says...Let's say last night you won and the ticket is worth $150 so tonight you decide to buy some extra Fantasy5 or Lotto tickets with your winnings. So you go to the store where you bought the ticket, buy the tickets, and hand the clerk the winning ticket as payment and he tells you he can't cash tickets over $100. Hopefully you'll have enough cash to pay for what you bought and take the ticket somewhere else.

Stack, I would never do that. I always ask for my money before purchasing a... [ More ]

Reply #77

time*treat — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:37:15 GMT

The we only cash tickets bought here policy will annoy honest people, but probably cuts down on those stolen scratch-off scams we've been reading about on other threads.

Hmmm, I guess that means it annoys crooks, too.

Reply #76

RJOh — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 19:29:09 GMT

I think these small ma/pa business sell lottery tickets to attract customers and get the commissions. Knowing that less than 3% will win anything and most of those that do will win less than $20, they make no plans to payout the larger prizes and settle for telling their bigger winners to cash their tickets else where.

This works here in Ohio, but when I was traveling in Kentucky, I saw stores with signs posted out front that read Only cash lottery tickets bought here . I know they were main... [ More ]

Reply #75

EXMECHANIC — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 18:58:51 GMT

Wow didn't think this thread would get so much response, cool.

I read it through it all and there were just a few points I wanted to touch on.

To the guy who posted like 8 times about getting a money order, I went to places that had money orders and that was not an option, they needed the money to pay for the money order just the same as they would need the money to pay me. You are from a different state things may be different but that is not an option here in Cali. Nor do I want it, I sp... [ More ]

Reply #74

JackpotWanna — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:44:29 GMT

I too had a hard time collecting cash prizes but now I only go to those check-cashing places. They have loads of cash on hand. I was never denied a cash payout under $600. Yeah, those mom and pop candy stores have very little cash on hand.

Reply #73

ThatScaryChick — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:34:04 GMT

I buy my tickets at a variety of different stores. Mom/pop, gas stations, grocery stores, etc. but if I were to cash a big win, I would go to one of the grocery stores. They tend to have the money to pay out.

Reply #72

lottolaughs — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 14:07:05 GMT

I only buy tickets at my neighborhood mom/pop liquor store. If I win a big amount I usually will go later on in the day to cash in. Good advice here, would definitely report any store who refused to pay me to the lottery,that's just not right

Reply #71

Stack47 — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 03:34:33 GMT

yea the discussion is about stores that dont cash...the reason is that they don't want to let go of their cash...they will never refuse you a money order..

Cashing a ticket means handing it to a lottery agent and doesn t necessarily mean the form of payment has to be cash. The store still needs the funds to pay for the money order and will still have to wait until they sell that amount of tickets.

I know of 5 places that sell lottery tickets within a 1 mile radius of my house and know of... [ More ]

Reply #70

Dead_Aim — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:59:58 GMT

If that is the case, states would not use vending machines that sell lottery tickets either, but they do. The states don't care who's buying as long as they get their money. There may be other factors that could keep them from using ATMs, but that one can't be high on the list of reasons not to.

Reply #69

Stack47 — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:53:19 GMT

It's not about retailers always having the cash; it's about some retailers that never have the cash. It's not about accepting a money order as form of payment, it's about being told they can't or won't cash the ticket they sold us.

Albertson s and Publix cash personal, payroll, and IRS refund checks, but some times run out of cash and will put up sign. There are probably many small stores that keep cash on hand to pay lottery tickets under $600 that run out of money too. And they either put u... [ More ]

Reply #68

Britney — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:52:42 GMT

It is probably the same here in California. Like I said I don't know about Pick 3.

Reply #67

jarasan — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:46:16 GMT

OK. In MD. where the ticket is cashed is where the commission is paid to up to 5K. I KNOW this because I am PERSONALLY involved in two businesses that sell lottery. That is the way it works here. It is not as far as I know , it is a fact here in MD. Only jackpots sold at get credit for the sale.

There would be no incentive for anybody to cash anything if they didn't get commission. Stores that sell lottery are in business for themselves not as a favor or obligation to the state.

Reply #66

benmas — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:34:04 GMT

as far as i know retailers earn their commision based on tickets sold not the # or amounts of tickets cashed at their location...

Reply #65

Britney — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:30:26 GMT

Things are different here in California. The retailer that sells a winning ticket gets a percentage of the win. It does not matter where it is cashed. That is, of course, for the jackpot games. I am not sure how it works for Pick 3. But, from what I have seen nobody is thrilled about paying out the money, so I doubt they get a cut unless they sold the ticket.

Reply #64

Stack47 — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:27:34 GMT

It probably was an owner because his name had to be on the bank account to withdraw the money. That was over 20 years ago and that store is no longer there. It wasn't the first time I tried to cash multiple tickets; just the only store I knew that would cash more than two.

The hypocrisy in this discussion is some stores will cash two $500 tickets while others selling the same lottery tickets can't cash $100.

Reply #63

rwsmes — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:26:33 GMT

You can't monitor who is cashing Lottery tickets from an ATM. State Legislatures get hinky with the thought of underage persons cashing gambling chits.

Reply #62

benmas — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:26:15 GMT

it will work...i never paid for the money order when i got them becasue it is considered a form of payment from them to you, meaning it is them that are obligated for the money order cost (few cents anyway)..as far as the people mentioning paper trails...that money order payment can be for anything...when they issue the MO it only says vendor payment at the top and the name of vendor..it doesn't say payment for lottery...

Reply #61

jarasan — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:25:36 GMT

Next time, remind the retailer they make much more commission when they cash in than when they sell you the ticket. It definitely is a cash flow problem when they can't cash you.

I know they want to cash it but they just can't.

I know of another place that got out of the over $600 cash in business because the traffic and headaches weren't worth it to them, but they will cash $600 under all day long. They didn't like the tax reporting part of the transaction for $600 and over.... [ More ]

Reply #60

Britney — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:18:42 GMT

I have never tried getting a money order from 7-11. I will have to try that next time. I do know that here in California you have to pay CASH for money orders, so I wonder how that would work.

But thank you for the suggestion. I think that might work.

Reply #59

Stack47 — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:17:03 GMT

Having ATMs that cash tickets is an idea the lottery commissions could discuss after receiving thousands of complaints from players that couldn't cash $100 tickets.

Ohio has a contract with a bank to pay winners over $600. The terminals are programmed to print cash vouchers the players take to the bank. If there is any cost involved into programming terminals to print out vouchers under $600, the cost should be charged to the stores making all the excuses why they can't cash them.

Reply #58

benmas — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:15:57 GMT

dude YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT....NOWHERE in the back of the ticket it says they have to CASH...it says they have to pay...pay doesn't automatically mean cash...they are more than happy to give you MO becasue it doesn't drain their cash...what i was discussing above was look at it as from a perspective of cash drain...you are going of in a tangent now comparing bud lights and other stuff..you cashing in a ticket is not the same as buying something there..you are not buying anything when you cash... [ More ]

Reply #57

justxploring — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:07:11 GMT

Britney, no need to apologize for not reading every post. You probably have a life! LOL BTW, we have lots of crime and so does Maryland. I think people who haven't worked in small stores don't understand that they make nightly deposits and don't keep a lot of cash around. After all, why do many stores have signs that say they won't cash $100 bill? It's not just because of counterfeit money, it's because they need cash to make change throughout the night.

Reply #56

Britney — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:01:55 GMT

Maryland is probably different than California. The retailers here (like 7-11 and small stores) don't like to keep that much money in the registers or even take money out of the safe. We have more crime than you do, I expect.

Reply #55

Stack47 — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:56:47 GMT

I said We're saying it should be easy to get paid when we win; the same way a race track, casino, or a bingo hall pays off winners under $600. That's called an example of where it is easy to cash ticket that you bought in the same building and not a comparison of businesses. The entire discussion is about stores that don't cash tickets under $600 so why would anybody compare Circle K's, 7/11s, BP mini-marts or those Mom and Pop stores to race tracks and casinos?

most neighborhood stores wan... [ More ]

Reply #54

jarasan — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:54:48 GMT

Your story seems to exemplify where the discussion has gone to.

I think these retailers that have small banks prefer to make their money selling tix rather than cashing them in, which pays much more.

In this area the retailers that I know beg for people to come in and cash, it is much more profitable for them.

I have one guy who says he'll cash anything as long as it is less than $600 per, I went up there last month with 5 $200 boxes, and I walked out with $1000 cash.

I'm waiting on... [ More ]

Reply #53

justxploring — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:51:22 GMT

Benmas is correct. In fact there is always a disclaimer (I'm trying to find it) that says funds might not be available in order to conduct business during the day. At least there is one in Florida.

That's why I don't understand all of the posts that say the retailers should have the cash available. Sure, they should offer some form of payment. That's all. A money order is the same as cash. Nobody should expect a store to keep a lot of extra cash around just in case someone wins. Then there wo... [ More ]

Reply #52

Britney — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:41:32 GMT

I am guily of not reading the rest of this thread, sorry about that, but I just wanted to say on the subject --- I had a winning ticket today worth over $400. The 7-11 could not cash it. I have a choice --- wait until Monday when the manager will be there or cash it somewhere else. I normally cash my tickets at a major grocery store like Albertson's. They always have the cash (not at the register, though).

Maybe that has already been mentioned in this thread. Again, I'm sorry for making a co... [ More ]

Reply #51

benmas — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:36:01 GMT

the machine does not give change so instead it will print you a voucher which is similar to a lottery ticket with the bar code at the bottom and an amount printed on it...you can then take that voucher and try to cash it somewhere else (same as a winning ticket)...I seriously doubt that they will make a machine that gives out cash...there are security issues associated with that and also technology issues which translates into costs for them...also if you are cashing a big amount (say $400) try

Reply #50

RJOh — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:35:48 GMT

....also keep in mind that you are not the only one that cashes tickets at that particular store..

The last time I matched 4+0 on a MegaMillions ticket and cashed it in at the place where I now buy most of my tickets, the clerk said that $150 win was the largest she had seen since working there for six months. That surprised me because there are usually other customers in line buying lottery tickets when I buy mine and they sell a lot of them, but apparently they didn't get a lot winners ove... [ More ]

Reply #49

Dead_Aim — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:14:47 GMT

So there is something like that? Vending machines giving out vouchers? I have never heard of that.

Reply #48

LottoBuster — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:14:41 GMT

If they're willing to pay by money order I guess that's ok. I'm only referring to my experience with a few convenience stores that didn't even want to do that but instead became hostile. I just did what others recommended and have taken my business elsewhere.

Reply #47

benmas — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:09:38 GMT

the lottery requires them to pay you but that doesn't necessarily mean pay you in cash...the store will prefer to pay you in money orders or other non cash methods...required to pay at the back of ticket doesn't automatically mean pay out cash...

Reply #46

LottoBuster — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:01:30 GMT

...the stores will never make it easy for you to dry up their cash...they will annoy you..you say not cashing ten tickets straight...thats what it adds up to when a lot of people ask to cash in just one..you are looking at this only from your own end..try to look at it from the strore prespective

That's probably true in most cases for small stores but in NY at least all retailers are required to pay out a winning ticket that's less than $600. They even have an email contact to let them kno... [ More ]

Reply #45

benmas — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:58:28 GMT

there are $ costs involved with doing that...the vending machines that sell tickets only give out vouchers....you receving money will never be as easy as them taking it from you

Reply #44

tiggs95 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:51:04 GMT

Most people want cash and not a check..I once hit 122 3 times and cashed for 1,200.00 at Krogers with no trouble..They paid me in cash..Big stores always have cash on hand...........

Reply #43

benmas — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:49:51 GMT

the stores are not bingo halls, or racetracks whose sole purpose is gambling...so that comparison is not adequate...most neighborhood stores want to bring in cash at the end of the day instead of giving it away....also keep in mind that you are not the only one that cashes tickets at that particular store...a store owner doesn't want to pay everyone than end up with little cash and then wait till the lottery pays him at the end of month...they will give you the small amounts but they become relu... [ More ]

Reply #42

Dead_Aim — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:45:33 GMT

That is a good idea. Why not make an ATM that cashes lottery tickets only? If the winner is less than $599 then it cashes them, if it is more than $599, then it returns the ticket to you and tells you to take it to lottery redemption center. The machines could be set up in stores that have high traffic lottery purchases. That way you get your money for sure without having to worry if the store has enough to pay you. That would be nice.

I see no reason that could not be done.

Reply #41

mjwinsmith — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:41:43 GMT

Mail ticket in for payment, this is also an option. Go to the State Lottery Website, print out a claim form, complete the info and attach your ticket and mail to the regional office. [Note: Be sure and send by certified mail or priority mail with tracking reciept]. The State Lottery will send you a check for the Pick-3/4 win.

>Michael

Reply #40

tiggs95 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:37:41 GMT

I never go to a small store to cash a big ticket..I got to Krogers to cash mine..I find it best and they always have cash on hand..Just find a big store to cash a good size ticket..Good luck to all..

Reply #39

RJOh — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:32:44 GMT

That was unusual, most stores don't authorize a store clerk to take $5000 out of their bank accounts on a whim even if the clerk is a family member.

Reply #38

st.germain — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:31:38 GMT

1st: once, at 7/11 in downtown chicago..I had asked the clerk before buying tickets if they would cash a ticket worth $599.00. The person told me that they wouldn't cash anything over a hundred. Must be company policy or just that they try to discourage any robbery or if there was a robbery that they wouldn't lose too much that way. Needless to say..I don't do anything at a 7/11.

2nd: In Illinois, anything over $599.00 has to go through any regional office..also, anything up to $25,000.00 can... [ More ]

Reply #37

Stack47 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:25:27 GMT

Most stores don't have a plan B (paying the customer who wins $100-$599)

I had one of those multiple straight hits on the pick-3 so I figured I'd have to try at least 10 different stores to get paid. The first one was a small Mom and Pops store where I had bought 5 of the tickets and I asked the clerk if he could cash one or two of them. He asked me how many I had, got off his chair, went to the bank next door and paid me $5000 in cash.

That's rare and there is probably only 1 or 2 out of... [ More ]

Reply #36

LottoBuster — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:17:55 GMT

There are several places in my area, all of them quick marts that won't pay out the high cash despite the state requiring all vendors of lottery tickets to do so if it's under $600. I won $250 once and the cashier literally had a fit when I told him he had to honor it. He started screaming in front of everyone and told me to get the money from the state office. The excuse was they didn't have the money available. So why sell the tickets then? Must be they don't expect anyone to actually win.... [ More ]

Reply #35

ThatScaryChick — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:13:58 GMT

Exactly how is anyone wasting valuable energy??? I don't believe that one must spend 24/7 trying to come up with numbers it's nice to have different discussions related to lottery topics.

Reply #34

Stack47 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:08:43 GMT

its not that hard to get paid once you win.

We're saying it should be easy to get paid when we win; the same way a race track, casino, or a bingo hall pays off winners under $600. It doesn't say on the back of the ticket or on the state lottery websites they might have to pay us with a money order or with store goods.

ask for a money order if you have a big sum

A money order is an option but it should be the players because they still have to go to a bank. Now collecting our lottery... [ More ]

Reply #33

RJOh — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:05:56 GMT

If you haven't figured out how to win more than a few dollars then getting paid isn't a problem. Most stores don't have a plan B (paying the customer who wins $100-$599), just a plan A (offering lottery tickets to attract customers who win nothing or win $1-$20 and buy more tickets , collecting their 5% commission on ticket sales and a big commission if they sell a jackpot winner).

I bought tickets at such a place for years. When I matched 5of6 for $1500, they verified my ticket and helped fi... [ More ]

Reply #32

Stack47 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 22:30:27 GMT

I hit the Ohio Pick-3 for $583 on their second drawing and nobody had ever cashed a ticket before. There were only 4 stores in an area with a population of about 40,000 that sold tickets. The clerk ran the ticket and told me I would have to wait until the manager came in to get the winnings. I couldn't take the ticket to another store so I had to stand there and watch the clerk cash paychecks.

When the store manager finally came in, they didn't have enough cash to pay me and told me to come b... [ More ]

Reply #31

benmas — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 22:04:57 GMT

man...my problem is figuring out how to win...its not that hard to get paid once you win....ask for a money order if you have a big sum..they will give you some cash and the rest money order...it is so easy, i was amazed why you guys go so much trouble to get paid...you are wasting valuable energy that should be focused in figuring out the winning #...

Reply #30

justxploring — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:57:17 GMT

Spooky was probably talking about a number of tickets under $600 that totaled 25 grand like 50 straight winners on the pick-3. -- Stack

Yes, I realized that when I posted. I just can't imagine accumulating that many winning tickets and then cashing them in all at once, but....whatever. I'm not on earth to run the world.

Benmas writes: ask for a money order if you have a big sum Good idea! Thanks. Then some poor customer service clerk who works on her feet all day wouldn't have to leave he... [ More ]

Reply #29

Stack47 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:51:49 GMT

Spooky was probably talking about a number of tickets under $600 that totaled 25 grand like 50 straight winners on the pick-3. If each ticket was over $600 like five pick-4 straight tickets, I doubt the store owner would pay the full amount and pay the taxes too.

Prizes of $600 or less can be claimed at one of the more than 7,500 Georgia Lottery retailer locations.

About a month ago somebody said cashing tickets was the store's prerogative so I checked 5 or 6 state lottery websites and b... [ More ]

Reply #28

jarasan — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:50:49 GMT

The funny thing is they make more by cashing than they do by selling tix. I go up the street to cash up to $5K and he writes me a check, anything over $600 on one tickie, if I have 4 $200 box P4s I walk out with $800 cash. All P4s and P3's are sold on seperate tix

Reply #27

pacattack05 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:40:26 GMT

Justx, it didn't take an hour...lol

She was done in about 7 minutes.

One reason I don't want to go to other stores is actually a strange reason. I've bought so many tickets at that location, that when I do win, I want everyone working there to know that I'm not doing it in futility, and making money, not just wasting it away, looking foolish. or like a gambler who never wins...lol.

I know it sounds silly, but that is the truth.

Reply #26

justxploring — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:26:33 GMT

There's a major lack of customer service here. Not talking publix, but for the most part, the circle ks and 7-11s. The clerks are always yapping with their co-workers or on the phone, not paying attention to the customer at the counter.

100% It's annoying.

Pac, as I first wrote - no debate going on. A board is to state opinions and/or answer questions other members pose. When you wrote that post about the clerk going from register to register leaving notes for the cash, I just couldn't... [ More ]

Reply #25

pacattack05 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:07:45 GMT

Snow birds stay here for only a few months, so that cancels any extra spending done on their part. It's not just about the money spent. It's being loyal to your customers, whether they were in that store for the first time, or been there for 50 years.

They shouldn't sell the tickets if they can't pay up. Period !

There's a major lack of customer service here. Not talking publix, but for the most part, the circle ks and 7-11s. The clerks are always yapping with their co-workers or on the ph... [ More ]

Reply #24

KyMystikal — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:57:23 GMT

I was worried that might happen before.

Reply #23

KyMystikal — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:55:10 GMT

I hate this and have had this problem before. I fixed that problem by not even going to those stores and playing. I'm guessing that they are using the lottery to get more customers for there retail business. You go to the store just to buy some lottery tickets and if you stand in line long enough you will buy something else while in there. When you win and go back all they can cash is a up to $50.00 if that. I'm assuming that they are expecting more people to lose than win so they aren't worried... [ More ]

Reply #22

justxploring — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:50:40 GMT

Whether or not someone is a regular they still can't break the law.

From the GA Lottery website

Q.How do I claim a prize?

A.There are many ways for players to claim Georgia Lottery prizes. A player must present a valid winning ticket, along with proof of current address and a social security card. Prizes of $600 or less can be claimed at one of the more than 7,500 Georgia Lottery retailer locations. All prizes, including jackpot prizes, can be claimed at any Georgia Lottery distri... [ More ]

Reply #21

Tenaj — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:49:14 GMT

I live in the largest city in NC and it happened to me on my first hit. I held that ticket for 3 days and went to 4 places before I was able to cash it in. Now I have a place to cash out that always have enough money. (A large grocery chain) The Mr. Lee's and convenience stores do not have enough cash on hand to cash out tickets.

I don't think it's required that they cash out tickets and they can choose not to do so. The only thing I would be concerned about would be for the cashier to give t... [ More ]

Reply #20

justxploring — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:43:41 GMT

Pac, this is not my thread. I won't get into a debate. Whatever you say. Your comment about spending $70 or $80 at a supermarket like Publix for 7 years and do the math is silly. I've been going to one for 12 years. That's peanuts compared to what a family spends, and the snowbirds often spend that much on wine.

If she did a favor for you, that's great. Maybe it's your charming personality or your hypnotic smile. I'm very friendly with the people at my local store too. Publix cashes paycheck... [ More ]

Reply #19

Badger — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:38:25 GMT

All I can say is Wow ! Twenty five grand? No way you can do that here. Anything over $599 and you have to go to the state lottery office. They want those taxes before they give you a dime over that.

Reply #18

benmas — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:35:54 GMT

ask for Money Orders people...they'll give you some cash and the bulk in MO

Reply #17

justxploring — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:33:02 GMT

Jake, I didn't win anything. ExMechanic is the OP who won the pick-3. I was just responding to the other comments.

Reply #16

pacattack05 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:31:57 GMT

That lady has been there for a long time, and obviously she wouldn't do it if she knew her job was at risk. I didn't put a gun to her head, and I wasn't nasty to her in any way at all. She's the one who made the decision of doing it. It was merely a suggestion.

I didn't want to make 2 trips because it's very inconvenient to me. Not only that, that store is the only store I did my shopping at the time, and when I did go shopping, it was once a week dropping atleast 70 to 80 bucks not counting... [ More ]

Reply #15

Jake — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:25:50 GMT

Hey JXP - Congrats! I can speak for MD and DE locally only. When the DE Lottery decided to take financial incentives away from retailers for selling tickets, the customer saw an immediate response. Most of the retailers here don't give a crap about the lottery customer. They have to hire and train and dedicate personnel to the lottery for little in return (this is them talking, not me). I was 1 of the first people in DE trained to run the original lottery terminals at start-up. That and the fact... [ More ]

Reply #14

Dead_Aim — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:22:54 GMT

The stores are not required to pay you. It is their choice if they wish to do so or not. As someone said earlier, a lot of small stores do not keep enough cash on hand to pay larger prizes and do without that cash until they get reimbursed. If a store refuses to pay all winnings of any size then that may be something the lottery commission would check into.

The place to play is the store that will pay.

I use the supermarkets. Some will pay multiple tickets at one time, if need be.

Reply #13

benmas — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:18:59 GMT

This problem is easy solved this way: (at least for me it is cause this is the way i do it)

Find a (store/supermarket/sunoco) that sells MONEY ORDERS and lottery together..ask to be paid in money order if it is a large sum...sometimes they will split give you some cash ~100 bucks so that you have some cash in hand and the rest is a bunch of money orders you can fill em out payable to yourself...take em to the bank, in two or three days they are processed...

NO cash register will give you

Reply #12

justxploring — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:01:40 GMT

First of all....Congratulations!

I mentioned once that I only won $72.50 getting 4/5 in Fantasy5 at 7-11 and the clerk didn't want to cash it, although I bought my ticket there. I now just go to a Publix supermarket to get paid.

Guru wrote: The register keeps track of items sold and then that total is compared to the cash in the drawer. It doesn't matter if the drawers collectively have a certain amount. It's not that simple. It is the cashier's responsibility to make sure their dra... [ More ]

Reply #11

pacattack05 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:59:58 GMT

All the 7-11s in Florida throw the big bills into a vault. And about 3 or 4 years ago, they have this new system, where if someone pays for something with a 50 dollar bill or larger, they have to wait for about 3 minutes, for the change vault to open up. This new system was implemented to discourage armed robbery. A robber probably wouldn't want to wait 3 minutes...lol

Reply #10

EXMECHANIC — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:54:54 GMT

Well I agree with you for the most part, but 7-11 made it clear he would never cash a ticket of that size, so yeah he Did Not want or Never can cash the ticket, that bugs me. And the Chevron clerk while he didn't make that statement, I'm guessing I could go there every hour on the hour and get refused, and yeah I will take my business else where.

Thanks as well :) Its a bummer to realize there are probably 100 people a day running around trying to get paid by the CA lottery only to realize mo... [ More ]

Reply #9

pacattack05 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:53:26 GMT

She told me she wrote a note of how much she took from each drawer, and also gave each cashier a piece of paper with the amount she took out.

Reply #8

mjwinsmith — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:43:57 GMT

Just as I suspected, it's not that they did'nt want to pay you or cash the ticket, but that they did'nt have the cash on hand at the time you presented the ticket for payment. Some establishments keep their lottery draw money separate from other business reciepts, therefore, try cashing in the ticket later on in the afternoon or evening when they would have the cash on hand to pay you.

Remedy (1) Report Retailer to Lottery Commission, not applicable since they are not refusing to pay on the t... [ More ]

Reply #7

EXMECHANIC — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:26:29 GMT

Place #1 place where I bought the ticket, my local liquor store, not enough money, can pay me on Monday

Okay no problem, its Ma/Pa liquor store I understand they may not have the money on a Saturday, but I've seen them pay out lots of $100 + prizes and the entire ceiling of this about 900 square foot store has instant and fantasy five pay outs from 40-500 prizes, cool huh?

Place# 2/3/4 7-11, Chevron Station, Tobacco Store

7-11 no money, and clerk held on to ticket while explaining he c... [ More ]

Reply #6

Guru101 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:24:57 GMT

The register keeps track of items sold and then that total is compared to the cash in the drawer. It doesn't matter if the drawers collectively have a certain amount. It's not that simple. It is the cashier's responsibility to make sure their drawer doesn't come up short. I hope she didn't get into trouble or lose her job.

Reply #5

MADDOG10 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:18:55 GMT

First, contact the lottery and explain to them what happened at that location. Second buy your tickets at another location until the same situation arises and go back and cash it at that location. You'll have a much better experience the next time.

Reply #4

pacattack05 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:13:33 GMT

I had a problem with a circle k covenience store years ago. They didn't have the cash on hand and he wanted to give me a money order. This was after he validated the ticket, so I was forced to take the money order. So now, I don't even bother going to the small stores, i just go the supermarkets.

Only one time I had a problem at the supermarket. They were only open for a couple of hours and didn't have the cash on hand. My reply to the cashier was that I'm pretty sure that those 6 cashiers co... [ More ]

Reply #3

RJOh — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:09:03 GMT

There are lots of Ma/Pa operations that sell lottery tickets and don't keep enough cash on hand to pay out more than $10-$25 in lottery winnings. Most will suggest you go somewhere else to cash in your ticket if your winnings are more than $25. I usually take their advice and start buying my tickets somewhere else too.

Note: Some states claim they will not allow merchants who don't get enough traffic to have enough money to payout winnings up to $599 to sell lottery tickets.

Reply #2

mjwinsmith — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 19:07:56 GMT

Before I comment I would like to know the following; When you went to place No 1 and tried to cash the ticket what did they tell you?

Place# 2, same question.

Place # 3, same question.

Place # 4, same question.

Place # 5 cashed the ticket for you, was this the place where you purchased the ticket or was it from one of the other places.

A retailer is suppose to cash the ticket if it is under the limit they are allowed to cash it for, in this case below $600.00 The best thing to do

Reply #1

spookysoozy — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:59:27 GMT

It is like that here in the larger cities.

Find one that pays and buy your tickets there. I have two places here in small town Georgia and one paid me 25 grand in two increments. Mr store owner drove me to the bank and wrote me checks so I would be safe with the money. He was happy to, he collected too. Some people have such a good relationship with retailers they can call in numbers on the phone. It pays to be a regular.

Not all Retailers Pay Out to $599

EXMECHANIC — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:48:01 GMT

Okay I didn't know how to title this topic, but it deals with my frustration today.

Yesterday I won my first straight box for pick 3(yeah!) and I live in California so we have pari-mutuel pay-outs and my pay out was $436. In California like other states I've played lotto, on the back of the play slip it says you can cash up to $599 at participating cashing retailer. Now I just assumed that meant a terminal with an attendant who cashes prizes like when I win 3/5 on Fantasy Five. Well I go to... [ More ]