The betting slip mystery...where there are no winners

J.H. writes: I placed a bet at the Betfred shop in Tilehurst, Reading, and the horse won. Next day, I went to collect my winnings and was told the money had already been paid out at the Betfred shop in Friar Street, also in Reading. I explained this was not possible as I had the betting slip and I handed it over. But the area manager still would not pay out. My son asked Betfred about its surveillance system and was told it was not clear who collected the winnings. The company suggested I contact the Fraud Squad, which I did, but received no reply. I ASKED officials at Betfred’s head office to look into this. I asked whether the punter who collected the winnings also handed over a betting slip and if so, whether the two slips had been compared.

Betfred’s reply was that you did not in fact hand over a betting slip at its Tilehurst shop. It insists there was only one slip and it was handed in at Friar Street. According to Betfred, you or your son were advised to report the matter to the police and the betting shop would then hand over its CCTV recording. When nothing was heard for three weeks, the recording was wiped.

All that can now be said is that the winnings were collected on the same day the bet was placed by an elderly man dressed in a light-coloured jacket. I know you have also complained to the Independent Betting Adjudication Service, which arbitrates in disputes like this.

Its verdict, which I have seen, is that Betfred behaved correctly and in the absence of any other evidence I have to say that I would have had to reach the same conclusion.