HGV driver was 'over the moon' after winning £18,000 in online prize draw... but he's yet to see a penny
Man 'over the moon' after winning £18,000 in online prize draw... but he's yet to see a penny
BBC/Handout
A first-time homebuyer who won £18,000 in an online competition has been left without payment three months after his win, as the company behind the prize draw appears to have ceased operations.
Dafydd Bayliss, 31, from Blackwood, South Wales, was "over the moon" when he won either a BMW M3 or the cash alternative from Level Up Giveaways in September.
The HGV driver opted for the money, planning to use it for a new kitchen and bathroom in his soon-to-be-purchased house.
"I have kind of given up," Bayliss told the BBC. "I have probably got a 5 per cent chance of getting the money."
Bayliss spoke to Level Up Giveaways' director Anton Hall, 35, the day after his win, who confirmed the money would arrive within two to three days.
Despite occasional explanations in the following weeks, the promised payment never materialised.
Man 'over the moon' after winning £18,000 in online prize draw... but he's yet to see a pennyBBC/HandoutBayliss has not heard from Hall since November 1, when he was told the company's bank accounts were "on hold".
His mother Tina has since reported Level Up Giveaways to Trading Standards and Action Fraud, believing her son's case is "just the tip of the iceberg".
"He's taking your money and not paying up - it's like having the rug pulled out from your feet," Mrs Bayliss said.
Bayliss is not alone in his predicament, with several other winners reporting similar experiences.
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Level Up Giveaways' director Anton Hall
Insurance broker Scott Boyle from Wakefield won £1,200 in May, to be paid over 12 months, but payments stopped in October after just five instalments.
"It's disgusting," Boyle said, "A lot of people have won huge amounts of money."
Manchester-based Phill Harkins has been waiting since 18 October for a 20g gold bar prize.
Mark McCorry, a 36-year-old restaurant manager from Belfast who won £600 in October, said he was left "gutted" despite previously believing the business to be "trustworthy".
Level Up Giveaways, established in March 2019, claims to have created more than 5,000 winners and awarded £5million in prizes through its competitions.
The company's website, which offered prize draws for sports cars, luxury watches and gold, stopped working about 10 days before Christmas.
The firm operated from Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire and offered both paid entries and a free postal entry system via an address in Halifax.
While previously happy customers left positive reviews on Trustpilot, recent feedback has been less glowing.
Trading Standards West Yorkshire has received seven complaints about Level Up Giveaways relating to prize draws and unpaid winnings since 2022.
However, the organisation told the BBC they are not investigating the company due to "limited resources".
West Yorkshire Police were unable to comment on inquiries relating to named individuals.
Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, has been notified of the situation through Mrs Bayliss's report.
In a post today on Instagram, Hall defended himself against accusations while acknowledging the company's difficulties.
"I built this company on my own 5 years ago. I have paid out millions in winnings over the years and changed many lives for the best," he wrote.
He explained the website's closure was due to being unable to pay its £4,000 monthly running costs.
"As for being called a scammer that is far from the truth," Hall added, insisting he wasn't "giving up and running away" but needed to prioritise his health and family.
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