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| 'I won £18k in online prize draw - but haven't seen a penny' | 'I won £18k in online prize draw - but haven't seen a penny' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Dafydd Bayliss says he has "given up" trying to get the £18,000 he says he's owed | Dafydd Bayliss says he has "given up" trying to get the £18,000 he says he's owed |
| Dafydd Bayliss's Monday morning blues cleared instantly when he found out he had won either a BMW M3 or £18,000 in an online competition. | Dafydd Bayliss's Monday morning blues cleared instantly when he found out he had won either a BMW M3 or £18,000 in an online competition. |
| The 31-year-old had been taking part in prize draws with Level Up Giveaways for three years, but this was his first win. | The 31-year-old had been taking part in prize draws with Level Up Giveaways for three years, but this was his first win. |
| A first-time buyer close to completing his house purchase, he opted for the cash with a view to using it for a new kitchen and bathroom. | A first-time buyer close to completing his house purchase, he opted for the cash with a view to using it for a new kitchen and bathroom. |
| "I was over the moon," he said. | "I was over the moon," he said. |
| But his joy was short-lived. The HGV driver should have received his money in the days afterwards. Three months on, he's not been paid a penny. | But his joy was short-lived. The HGV driver should have received his money in the days afterwards. Three months on, he's not been paid a penny. |
| The company's responses to his requests for payment have dried up too. | The company's responses to his requests for payment have dried up too. |
| Mr Bayliss is one of several people the BBC has spoken to who say they have been left in the dark by Level Up Giveaways. | Mr Bayliss is one of several people the BBC has spoken to who say they have been left in the dark by Level Up Giveaways. |
| The competitions company, from Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, has seemingly stopped paying out prizes totalling tens of thousands of pounds. | The competitions company, from Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, has seemingly stopped paying out prizes totalling tens of thousands of pounds. |
| After the story was published, the firm's director Anton Hall told the BBC he had "nothing to hide", adding: "I'm just someone who tried and did do good whose business has failed unfortunately." | |
| He said: "As for a message for those not paid up till now, I'll do everything in my power to make sure they are, it may just take a while." | |
| Mr Hall said that he had been dealing with a lot personally and professionally. | |
| Prize winners say they have have sent numerous messages to the firm without getting a reply | Prize winners say they have have sent numerous messages to the firm without getting a reply |
| The firm's website, which offered prize draw competitions including sports cars, luxury watches and even gold, stopped working about 10 days before Christmas. | The firm's website, which offered prize draw competitions including sports cars, luxury watches and even gold, stopped working about 10 days before Christmas. |
| The firm also offered a free entry system where would-be winners could post an entry to an address in Halifax, West Yorkshire. | The firm also offered a free entry system where would-be winners could post an entry to an address in Halifax, West Yorkshire. |
| Mr Bayliss, from Blackwood in Caerphilly county, south Wales, bought five 99p online entries for a draw on 15 September. | Mr Bayliss, from Blackwood in Caerphilly county, south Wales, bought five 99p online entries for a draw on 15 September. |
| He said he spoke to Mr Hall, 35, over the phone the day after his win. | He said he spoke to Mr Hall, 35, over the phone the day after his win. |
| He remembered Mr Hall being "happy I took the cash" and confirming the money would be in his bank account within two to three days. | He remembered Mr Hall being "happy I took the cash" and confirming the money would be in his bank account within two to three days. |
| But nothing arrived. | But nothing arrived. |
| Mr Bayliss sent numerous messages in the weeks that followed and received the occasional explanation from Mr Hall, but has not received payment. | Mr Bayliss sent numerous messages in the weeks that followed and received the occasional explanation from Mr Hall, but has not received payment. |
| "I have kind of given up," said Mr Bayliss. | "I have kind of given up," said Mr Bayliss. |
| "It was the first time I'd won and it was typical that he stopped paying everyone. | "It was the first time I'd won and it was typical that he stopped paying everyone. |
| "I have just gone numb to it. I have probably got a 5% chance of getting the money." | "I have just gone numb to it. I have probably got a 5% chance of getting the money." |
| Mr Bayliss said he had not heard from Mr Hall since 1 November, when he told him his bank accounts were "on hold". | Mr Bayliss said he had not heard from Mr Hall since 1 November, when he told him his bank accounts were "on hold". |
| After the BBC published this story, Robbie Savage, of Devon-based competition operator Rev Comps, said he wanted to rectify Mr Bayliss's situation. | |
| Mr Savage's company, which has no link to the original claims, donated £18,000 to Mr Bayliss to ensure a "happy ending". | |
| Mr Savage said his firm would work with others in the new year on "spearheading some sort of regulation" for the prize industry. | |
| Scott Boyle alleges he is owed £500 by Level Up Giveaways | Scott Boyle alleges he is owed £500 by Level Up Giveaways |
| Mr Bayliss' mum Tina reported Level Up Giveaways to Trading Standards and Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Mr Bayliss' mum Tina reported Level Up Giveaways to Trading Standards and Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| Mrs Bayliss said she believed her son's case was "just the tip of the iceberg". | Mrs Bayliss said she believed her son's case was "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. | "He's taking your money and not paying up - it's like having the rug pulled out from your feet. |
| "I just feel really aggrieved someone is allowed to do that." | "I just feel really aggrieved someone is allowed to do that." |
| 'It's disgusting' | 'It's disgusting' |
| Insurance broker Scott Boyle, from Wakefield, won £1,200 in a Level Up Giveaways competition in May, to be paid to him over 12 months. | Insurance broker Scott Boyle, from Wakefield, won £1,200 in a Level Up Giveaways competition in May, to be paid to him over 12 months. |
| He received five months' worth of payments, but they stopped in October. | He received five months' worth of payments, but they stopped in October. |
| Although the company was usually "really responsive", he has not heard from them since October, despite sending numerous messages. | Although the company was usually "really responsive", he has not heard from them since October, despite sending numerous messages. |
| "It's disgusting," he said. | "It's disgusting," he said. |
| "A lot of people have won huge amounts of money. If I won that sort of money I would be absolutely devastated." | "A lot of people have won huge amounts of money. If I won that sort of money I would be absolutely devastated." |
| Meanwhile, Manchester-based Phill Harkins has been waiting for a 20g gold bar he won in a Level Up Giveaways prize draw since 18 October. | Meanwhile, Manchester-based Phill Harkins has been waiting for a 20g gold bar he won in a Level Up Giveaways prize draw since 18 October. |
| "Something needs to be done about it because you can't treat people like this," he said. | "Something needs to be done about it because you can't treat people like this," he said. |
| Mark McCorry, a restaurant manager from Belfast, won £600 cash in a draw on 9 October. | Mark McCorry, a restaurant manager from Belfast, won £600 cash in a draw on 9 October. |
| The 36-year-old father-of-one had previously met people who had won cars in Mr Hall's competitions, leading him to believe the business owner to be "trustworthy". | The 36-year-old father-of-one had previously met people who had won cars in Mr Hall's competitions, leading him to believe the business owner to be "trustworthy". |
| He said the experience with Level Up Giveaways had left him "gutted". | He said the experience with Level Up Giveaways had left him "gutted". |
| Anton Hall, pictured, used promotional videos on social media to spread the word | Anton Hall, pictured, used promotional videos on social media to spread the word |
| A spokesperson for Trading Standards West Yorkshire told the BBC they had received seven complaints about Level Up Giveaways relating to prize draws, including unpaid winnings, since 2022. | A spokesperson for Trading Standards West Yorkshire told the BBC they had received seven complaints about Level Up Giveaways relating to prize draws, including unpaid winnings, since 2022. |
| The spokesperson said due to "limited resources" the company was not being investigated. | The spokesperson said due to "limited resources" the company was not being investigated. |
| A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said they were not allowed to comment on inquiries relating to named individuals. | A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said they were not allowed to comment on inquiries relating to named individuals. |
| 'Smoke and mirrors' | 'Smoke and mirrors' |
| According to Companies House, Level Up Giveaways was set up in March 2019. | According to Companies House, Level Up Giveaways was set up in March 2019. |
| Its social media pages boast of creating more than 5,000 winners and awarding £5m in prizes. | Its social media pages boast of creating more than 5,000 winners and awarding £5m in prizes. |
| Previously happy customers have left stories of winning life-changing sums on the review website Trustpilot but some recent reviews are less glowing | Previously happy customers have left stories of winning life-changing sums on the review website Trustpilot but some recent reviews are less glowing |
| In a video update posted on social media on 6 December, Mr Hall said he "had to take time out". | In a video update posted on social media on 6 December, Mr Hall said he "had to take time out". |
| "I was just absolutely drained with personal life and issues that are going on with the business," he continued. | "I was just absolutely drained with personal life and issues that are going on with the business," he continued. |
| Mr Hall said he was "still trying to fix Level Up Giveaways" and added: "I do intend to come back to doing draws in the near future." | Mr Hall said he was "still trying to fix Level Up Giveaways" and added: "I do intend to come back to doing draws in the near future." |
| "I'm just going to stay in my lane with the smaller prizes. I tried to run wild with extravagant competitions. I'm just not in a position to be able to do that. | "I'm just going to stay in my lane with the smaller prizes. I tried to run wild with extravagant competitions. I'm just not in a position to be able to do that. |
| Mr Hall apologised for a "lack of communication", but did not say if, or when, people might receive their prizes. | Mr Hall apologised for a "lack of communication", but did not say if, or when, people might receive their prizes. |
| Despite promising to contact those chasing him "as soon as possible" in his most recent update, none of the people the BBC has spoken to have heard from Mr Hall. | Despite promising to contact those chasing him "as soon as possible" in his most recent update, none of the people the BBC has spoken to have heard from Mr Hall. |
| "He hasn't said what's actually going on, it's more just like smoke and mirrors," said Mr Bayliss. | "He hasn't said what's actually going on, it's more just like smoke and mirrors," said Mr Bayliss. |
| Asked if he had a message for Mr Hall, Mr Boyle said: "Pay what people are owed and have paid to win in good faith." | Asked if he had a message for Mr Hall, Mr Boyle said: "Pay what people are owed and have paid to win in good faith." |
| If you have been affected by Level Up Giveaways, you can email your experiences to steve.jones06@bbc.co.uk. | If you have been affected by Level Up Giveaways, you can email your experiences to steve.jones06@bbc.co.uk. |
| Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here, external. | Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here, external. |