My review is based on a situation that occurred a few weeks ago. Its long but it involves a GA Lottery Ticket. Beware.
On a recent trip to St. Augustine we stopped at the Raceway to cash in two lottery tickets we had purchased about 30 miles up the road. Full disclosure, I went to use the marginally clean bathroom and asked my 11 year old granddaughter to cash them in and purchase some more, which is not allowed (she is too young).
Once I came out of the bathroom she told me and I attempted to cash them in. The free ticket one worked with no problem. The one with a free ticket and $10.00 prize seemed to be causing an issue. The cashier scanned it three of four times in front of me and told me it wasn't accepting it. She stated that perhaps it had never been activated at the location I purchased it at. Another person behind the register stated the same thing. They both said, "it happens all the time". I explained that they were both from the same machine and purchased at the same time, so it didn't make sense. I asked for the ticket back and the receipt back and we left, we had been in line for about ten minutes and people where stacking up behind us. I just stuck them in my pocket and we continued our journey.
Sometime later I pulled them out and realized that the receipt stated that the ticket had already been paid out, by that location! I asked my granddaughter if she remembered if the lady scanned it when she handed it to her and she said yes, but than asked her how old she was, at which time she said 11 and she was told she could not conduct the transaction (perfectly legit).
We were very busy and it slipped my mind, I thought I would just stop on our way back up and explain. I went to the location but there was not a manager on duty and the cashier was very indifferent.
When I got home I called, it was little over a week later. The assistant manager was very nice and after I explained the entire situation she took my info and a picture of both the ticket and receipt and stated she would call me back the next day after investigating.
I never heard back so I sent a few more texts. She did live a voicemail and state that there was nothing they could do since so much time had passed. She stated a lottery official had just been there as this has happened a few more times since I went in! This is incredible - I have played the lottery since the inception and never had this happen.
Word to the wise, never trust what the cashier says when your ticket doesn't work, call for a manager immediately and request they call the lottery office - otherwise you get cheated out of your winnings and someone else - the store owner, cashier or the lottery gets your prize - don't know who, buy it wasn't the person who purchased the ticket..
The assistant manager was really nice and I appreciate her desire to resolve this, but this is unacceptable on all levels and I will not visit this Raceway, or any other if possible again. read more
