Couple hits lottery bigger than thought

Jan 11, 2008, 10:03 am (21 comments)

Michigan Lottery

A lucky couple expecting to cash in their winning Michigan Lottery ticket became a bit peeved when a store clerk turned down their request.

Bad Axe gas station and convenience store owner Eli Kabban said the man and woman showed up Wednesday morning with what they thought was a $150 winning ticket they'd bought Friday.

They complained when the clerk told them they would have to collect their winnings in Lansing, the state capital, 150 miles away.

Kabban said he took the couple into his office and explained the ticket was actually worth $250,000. He says they were "in shock" at the news.

The couple asked that their names not be released, but Kabban told radio station WLEW-FM that they are getting financial advice on how to handle their windfall.

AP

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dumars798's avatardumars798

Wtg Store clerk for being honest to the couple,

n a  BIG WTG 2 the couple!!!!

diva2

how old are the couple

tnlotto1's avatartnlotto1

congrats to the couple. it was nice of him to announce it to them in his office in private.

bashley572's avatarbashley572

Quote: Originally posted by tnlotto1 on Jan 11, 2008

congrats to the couple. it was nice of him to announce it to them in his office in private.

Well with a name like Bad Axe I am sure that they get some interesting customers...

ThatScaryChick's avatarThatScaryChick

That must have been a wonderful feeling to think you only won $150, only to find out that you actually won $250,000. Congratz to them!

player345's avatarplayer345

Quote: Originally posted by dumars798 on Jan 11, 2008

Wtg Store clerk for being honest to the couple,

n a  BIG WTG 2 the couple!!!!

I agree the store clerk was honest; however, the clerk couldn't have kept the ticket had she/he wanted to because the couple was entitled to a receipt showing their winnings and the machine couldn't issue one for that amount of money no matter what!!  However, stranger things have happened.  The clerk could have just given them $150 hoping the couple wouldn't ask for a receipt!!  Honesty does pay in the longrun! 

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

I am happy for them, but also amazed when I read stories like this one.  The lottery isn't rocket science or brain surgery.  How would you not know what you won?  Anyway, maybe in this case the couple needed "financial counseling" but after taxes, they'll have less than $170,000 so I don't see why professional help would be required.

KY Floyd's avatarKY Floyd

Quote: Originally posted by bashley572 on Jan 11, 2008

Well with a name like Bad Axe I am sure that they get some interesting customers...

http://tinyurl.com/25nllr

noahproblem

Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Jan 11, 2008

I am happy for them, but also amazed when I read stories like this one.  The lottery isn't rocket science or brain surgery.  How would you not know what you won?  Anyway, maybe in this case the couple needed "financial counseling" but after taxes, they'll have less than $170,000 so I don't see why professional help would be required.

It may not be multi-millions, but $170,000 is still a lot of money (and undoubtedly more than they've ever seen in their lives), and still needs to be handled carefully.

LckyLary

Bad Axe, isn't that the name of a band or something?

sirbrad's avatarsirbrad

How do you mistake $250,000 for $150? Further proof that only stupid people win.

chasingadream's avatarchasingadream

wow

Jack Pot's avatarJack Pot

Quote: Originally posted by sirbrad on Jan 11, 2008

How do you mistake $250,000 for $150? Further proof that only stupid people win.

I hope you are right. A friend told me I am stupid for playing the lottery.

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Quote: Originally posted by noahproblem on Jan 11, 2008

It may not be multi-millions, but $170,000 is still a lot of money (and undoubtedly more than they've ever seen in their lives), and still needs to be handled carefully.

I won't argue about it. We both have a right to our personal viewpoints about what is or is not a lot of money. I don't think that's a lot of money, although I'd be happy to win it.  Except for contacting an accountant regarding additional taxes that might be due, I don't see why anyone would need a financial professional who is just going to convince them to invest it so he/she can make a commission. 

 undoubtedly more than they've ever seen in their lives

Why? The age of this couple wasn't mentioned.  Many people have more than that in a 401K so that might not be a valid statement.  Right now CD rates are down (and expected to drop even further) but there is no reason they can't just go to a bank and deposit the money and make 5%.  If they are as broke as you indicate, they won't want to buy stocks or gold, because they'll need the interest to pay bills.   All money should be handled carefully, even $10 bucks.  You just don't always need someone to tell you what to do with it.   

Ridley

Quote: Originally posted by Jack Pot on Jan 12, 2008

I hope you are right. A friend told me I am stupid for playing the lottery.

Hahaha Big Smile

Omniscient's avatarOmniscient

When I 1st came to this site , I'll always remember the story about how someones number was guaranteed to come out.

  He stated... ' I write my number down on a small piece of paper, roll it into a small ball, eat it, and in a few days, my number comes out'   .. I'll never forget it ... I guess he learned how to crack the code. lol ROFL

Congratz to the winners!

Omniscient

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Quote: Originally posted by Omniscient on Jan 14, 2008

When I 1st came to this site , I'll always remember the story about how someones number was guaranteed to come out.

  He stated... ' I write my number down on a small piece of paper, roll it into a small ball, eat it, and in a few days, my number comes out'   .. I'll never forget it ... I guess he learned how to crack the code. lol ROFL

Congratz to the winners!

Omniscient

Green laugh

That's a riot - disgusting, but funny nonetheless!  Maybe it's the only way my numbers will finally come out and help me move!

BevsPicks2

Quote: Originally posted by Omniscient on Jan 14, 2008

When I 1st came to this site , I'll always remember the story about how someones number was guaranteed to come out.

  He stated... ' I write my number down on a small piece of paper, roll it into a small ball, eat it, and in a few days, my number comes out'   .. I'll never forget it ... I guess he learned how to crack the code. lol ROFL

Congratz to the winners!

Omniscient

Now, THAT was funny! ROFL

DirtyWrat's avatarDirtyWrat

Quote: Originally posted by justxploring on Jan 13, 2008

I won't argue about it. We both have a right to our personal viewpoints about what is or is not a lot of money. I don't think that's a lot of money, although I'd be happy to win it.  Except for contacting an accountant regarding additional taxes that might be due, I don't see why anyone would need a financial professional who is just going to convince them to invest it so he/she can make a commission. 

 undoubtedly more than they've ever seen in their lives

Why? The age of this couple wasn't mentioned.  Many people have more than that in a 401K so that might not be a valid statement.  Right now CD rates are down (and expected to drop even further) but there is no reason they can't just go to a bank and deposit the money and make 5%.  If they are as broke as you indicate, they won't want to buy stocks or gold, because they'll need the interest to pay bills.   All money should be handled carefully, even $10 bucks.  You just don't always need someone to tell you what to do with it.   

While you both have a right to your personal viewpoints, in this instance I'm in agreement with justxploring. Most people owe more than 170 grand, so that much money wouldn't even get a lot of people out of debt.

DirtyWrat's avatarDirtyWrat

$170,000? That's nothing!

I can make that much in 17 years.

sirbrad's avatarsirbrad

Quote: Originally posted by DirtyWrat on Jan 15, 2008

$170,000? That's nothing!

I can make that much in 17 years.

Not with inflation, more like about $80,000 by then. However it is the time that is a killer. Nothing beats having a lot of money, time, and youth...and the intelligence to manage it all well.

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