Given my history with Paddy Power Plc, I’m actually quite surprised myself that I’ve never posted a blog about them before. Having worked for them (in their Head Office, which should be called ‘Head Prefab’ given it’s temporary classroom-like structure), it quickly became apparent early in my almost two year stretch there that they definitely care more about their customers or ‘punters’ than they do about their employees. 
Today however, that opinion has changed. Not many people know about this relatively new market they do, its called ‘fallers insurance’. Basically, you can back a horse in any jumps race at slightly less odds, and if the horse or unseats the rider, you will get your money back. Its a very good idea, and I’m surprised more people aren’t taking advantage of it. Anyway, the Scottish Grand National was on today, and Paddy Power were doing a special on the race (both online and in shops) whereby they were paying 5 places on the race, i.e. back any of the 31 horses in the race each/way and if it finishes in the first 5 places you will win. I had been following a horse called Dom D’ostreval for quite a while, and I wanted to back it. It was 18/1 on the show, but being quite protective of my money I wanted to cut out some risks so I took significantly less odds of 14/1 on the fallers insurance market.
It finished 5th in the race – happy days for me as Paddy Power were paying 5 places on the race, and subsequently had a page put up after the race saying that they payed out on Dom D’ostreval. However, when I checked the result online it was on their website as a ‘loser’. I was quite disconcerted by this, so I rang the customer service, and was told basically that they weren’t paying the 5 places on the fallers insurance market. I was quite shocked, as I read through each of the rules and terms and conditions of the market and there is nothing to suggest that the each way terms would differ from the regular outright market. So basically, Paddy Power were blatantly engaging in false advertising. I am still so annoyed that they are not paying out my bet, and I have emailed them letting them know that I will be taking the matter to the Director of Consumer Affairs, and will definitely be seeking legal advice on it.
I hated them as a company already before this, but now I truly despise them, and hopefully I will prevail in my quest to get paid out my winnings which are rightfully mine as I won them fair and square, but which were plainly declined for no reasont, which is, as aforementioned, not cool.
Out, J.
