I won EuroMillions cash prize but they’re REFUSING to pay me my money – now I’m having to live off food banks
A PENSIONER who won a EuroMillions cash prize is relying on food banks as he still hasn't been given the money weeks later.
Pete Daly, 71, won £572.20 more than a month ago - but despite calling the operator numerous times he is yet to get the winnings.
He was expecting the cash within 10 days and so spent his savings on much-needed car insurance.
But he's been left in a tight spot after not receiving the winnings in a timely manner.
He told the : "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."
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He initially thought the prize would keep him "afloat" for the month.
But Pete is now unable to afford a haircut and needs new shoes.
He added: "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."
A spokesperson for lottery operator Allwyn said: "We're very sorry to hear the concerns raised and colleagues have now called Mr Daly with an update.
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"We successfully process hundreds sometimes thousands of prize claims every week.
"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."
Other pensioners have also been hit with the same issue waiting weeks for their winnings.
Peter Wilson, 70, doesn't know what to do after waiting six weeks and said he "can't be bothered with the stress" it's caused him.
The retired sales manager, married to Yvonne, 68, and from Nuneaton, Warks, told The Sun: “I don’t know what else I can do to claim my prize. I won’t be doing it any more.
"I can’t be bothered with the stress. “It is chaotic and I am worried about the impact it will have on local communities, as well as charities missing out on money.”
And he isn't the only one.
Paul Simpson, 69, spent weeks chasing his £800 prize from a HotPicks ticket.
Eventually, he was sent a cheque — but it bounced.
TSB told him: “This cheque wasn’t paid because of suspected fraud/counterfeit cheque within the clearing cycle.”
Allwyn replaced Camelot as the National Lottery operator on February 1.
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It has changed payout rules so prizes between £500 and £50,000 can no longer be collected from Post Offices.
Sources said that had led to early “teething problems”.
UK's biggest lottery winners
By Ethan Singh
- Anonymous winner - £195,707,000
A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket.
- Joe and Jess Thwaite - £184,262,899.10
Britain's previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children's ponies.
Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news.
As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children.
- Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019.
They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m.
He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
- Adrian and Gillian Brayford - £148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million.
But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021.
After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought.
It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year.
- Frances and Patrick Connolly - £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot.
They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019.
She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family.
- Richard and Debbie Nuttall - £61,000,000
The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024.
Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account.
Other eye-watering anonymous winners:
- 2019 - £123million
Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover.
- 2021 - £122million
Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
- 2018 - £121million
Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187.
