I think we've all been stung after buying something online at one point or another; maybe the item didn't look like it did in the photos, it turned up and didn't fit or it didn't arrive at all.
It's usually nothing more than a minor inconvenience, if you spent a few quid, you can open a dispute with PayPal or your bank to try and get the money and you promise you'll be more careful next time. No biggie.
But imagine, for a second, you're this guy, who bought a 'bargain flat' for £7,000 only to find out it was condemned and due to be knocked down once the purchase was complete.
Credit: Google Maps
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Craig Gibson, 48, told the Daily Record he jumped at the chance to buy the flat, listed online as a 'unique opportunity', and planned to do it up and rent it out to provide a nice little future income for his two sons.
Craig put in a bid for the property after seeing photos online which showed it in 'good order'. He had a quick phone call with the Glasgow-based auction site, in which he claims he told the firm his offer was subject to viewing the one-bedroom flat, and ended up forking out a total of £5,000 to secure his bid.
He told the paper: "I made it clear that the offer was subject to my viewing the property.
"But I was asked for the remaining digits of my bank account and the cash was taken from my account just like that."
However, he was in for a shock when he went to visit the property and saw the state it was in.
The advert for the flat reportedly said: "Super investment opportunity. Unique opportunity to acquire a potentially high yielding investment property in an improving residential district of Inverclyde."
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But added: "We understand that this property lies within the Clune Park regeneration plan and purchasers are advised to satisfy themselves as to any ongoing progress with the plans via the Inverclyde Council."
Inverclyde Council, which looks after the area the property is based, has since confirmed there is an active demolition order on the block which the flat stands in.
The firm was asked for comment by Mirror Online, but has so far given no response.
Craig has now contacted lawyers to try and get his money back, telling the firm that the photos used online were not a 'true reflection' of the flat. And that the auction listing was in breach of the Property Ombudsmen's Code of Practice for Residential Estate Agents for Scotland.
Featured Image Credit: Google MapsTopics: Scotland