Legal Advice Needed....Re.Bookmakers!!!!

MutleyRules · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:54 pm

Last week you might remember me saying that Ladbrokes in York Road are offering the following....

Pools to win League 1....33/1

Pools to be promoted via play-offs....33/1

This was/is advertised in the window!!!!

So I've just been in there and asked for the above....£20 on each!!!!

I get served and have my copy of the betting slip but then the bloke who was on the phone says to the bloke who served me....

'Pools are 10/1 to be promoted via the Play-Offs not 33/1'!!!!

I say it says in the window it is 33/1!!!!

He doesn't believe me so I show him outside so he can see!!!!

He says it's a mistake and then takes the poster down!!!!

He then says if the bet comes up it will only be payed at 10/1!!!!

I say no I have the copy of the betting slip that says 33/1!!!!

He says that doesn't matter....it's 10/1!!!!

Surely if I have the copy/reciept I get it at 33/1!?!?

Who's right and who's wrong here????

Have I to get in touch with their head office and explain the situation????

Any advice will be appreciated!!!!

PS....At one point in the shop I asked for my money back but then thought....No, I've got the reciept!!!!

Miss Tigga · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 12:57 pm

I don't legally know what's right or worng, but to me, if you have a receipt with them odds on, then that's what you should receive.

Odds change all the time, that's why you have a receipt to show what you should get!

However,Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!

GroovyCrimes · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:23 pm

Mutley,if you have the slip & it says 33/1 I will be very surprised if they dont honour it at the end of the season.
If it was thousands in winnings they might argue but for the sake of £660 its not worth the bad publicity they would get.
A piece in the paper about a bookie refusing to honour a betting slip is the last thing they need.

MutleyRules · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:27 pm

Just been past the shop again....the poster is back in the window with odds of....33/1!!!!

I'm going back to take a photo!!!! :sweeeet:

dawlishmonkey · **Joined:** Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:53 am **Posts:** 1588

if it was an offer in a shop then under the sale of goods act you could demand the product at that price,the retailer can claim it was a genuine mistake and withdraw the offer to other customers but should sell to you.
if the offer never existed and they advertised it then they are misleading you and can be fined,did you talk to the shop manager then?

Gibsons Beard · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:56 pm

Yeah, take a photo of it and make a written record (like your own witness statement) re what happened. This could be produced if your bet wins.

However I remember speaking to a decent solicitor (if there is such a thing) a while back and betting is not subject to any formal rules/laws like retail etc. It is a mere 'gentlemans agreement' therefore you will ultimately be relying on the companies 'goodwill'.

I once put a single on pools to win while i was out of town. I was new to the betting lark and did not know that singles were not allowed back then on some games. They accepted it and my stake. Pools then won and when i went to collect they said that the bet was void and gave me my stake back. sadx

Gibsons Beard · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:04 pm

dawlishmonkey wrote:

if it was an offer in a shop then under the sale of goods act you could demand the product at that price,the retailer can claim it was a genuine mistake and withdraw the offer to other customers but should sell to you.
if the offer never existed and they advertised it then they are misleading you and can be fined,did you talk to the shop manager then?

Sorry mate, but thats not quite right.

A consumer cannot demand a product under the sale of goods act. The item will have a price on it (could be right or could be wrong). All this price represents is whats known in legal terms as 'an invitation to treat'. It is the consumer who then approaches the counter and makes the 'offer' to the shop. The shop can accept or reject this offer, it is up to them. Therefore if the assistant just doesnt like the look of you he/she could turn round and say that they refuse your offer (despite it matching the ticket price).

Only when there has been an offer (by the buyer) and an acceptance (by the trader) will a contract be formed.

Unfortunately, like you say, the sale of goods act 79 does only apply to sales, not gambling.

Had it been a product for sale then the store can be prosecuted for a misleading price indication (under s20 of the consumer protection act) however this is pretty much impossible until the store have been made aware of the error. Otherwise stores would be getting prosecuted left, right and centre because some work experience kid made a few mistakes when attaching prices.

MutleyRules · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 2:15 pm

Well I've took photos of the offer which is STILL in the window....I've got my betting slip....and I've got a photocopy of it!!!! :sweeeet:

That should do methinks!!!! :grin:

Watch Pools finish Runners-Up after all this!!!! banghead

Tax Paying Poolie · **Joined:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 8:18 am **Posts:** 9053

chip fireball wrote:

speak with either steve or karl, whichever one of the muppets is running the shop today, tell them i sent you,

You make me laugh Chip

dawlishmonkey · **Joined:** Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:53 am **Posts:** 1588

sorry mutley.been into the local ladbrokes and they reckon chip is spot on.although they did reckon that speaking to the area manager gadgie to highlight the mistake would (or at least threatening to) might be your only leverage.

Gibsons Beard · **Posted:** Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:03 pm

LOL Chip, you are a legend. Thanks clappp

Legal Advice Needed....Re.Bookmakers!!!!

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