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| Somerset flood car £101k eBay bid 'was hoax' | Somerset flood car £101k eBay bid 'was hoax' |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| A £101,100 winning eBay bid for a submerged car - which became the unofficial symbol of the Somerset floods - appears to have been a hoax. | A £101,100 winning eBay bid for a submerged car - which became the unofficial symbol of the Somerset floods - appears to have been a hoax. |
| Hubert Zajaczkowski, 21, auctioned the Seat Toledo to raise money for charity. | Hubert Zajaczkowski, 21, auctioned the Seat Toledo to raise money for charity. |
| The car was abandoned near Muchelney on Christmas Eve and became a familiar sight in the media over the following months. | |
| Mr Zajaczkowski said he contacted the bidder but he refused to pay, saying it had been intended as a joke. | Mr Zajaczkowski said he contacted the bidder but he refused to pay, saying it had been intended as a joke. |
| He told the Central Somerset Gazette the bidder was a 17-year-old boy who had been encouraged by his 12-year-old brother. | He told the Central Somerset Gazette the bidder was a 17-year-old boy who had been encouraged by his 12-year-old brother. |
| He said he had now contacted two lower bidders who offered £101,000, in the hope that their bids were genuine. | He said he had now contacted two lower bidders who offered £101,000, in the hope that their bids were genuine. |
| In the sale description, Mr Zajaczkowski wrote: "Genuine Seat Toledo from the floods in Somerset. | In the sale description, Mr Zajaczkowski wrote: "Genuine Seat Toledo from the floods in Somerset. |
| "Obviously NOT in working condition, but my aim is to sell the car and donate the money to a charity which is helping with the floods. | "Obviously NOT in working condition, but my aim is to sell the car and donate the money to a charity which is helping with the floods. |
| "Any questions please message me. Collection only." | "Any questions please message me. Collection only." |
| Mr Zajaczkowski, an apprentice at AgustaWestland in Yeovil, said: "Someone may be having a joke or a laugh but then it could be a genuine donation. | Mr Zajaczkowski, an apprentice at AgustaWestland in Yeovil, said: "Someone may be having a joke or a laugh but then it could be a genuine donation. |
| "I haven't sold anything on eBay before so I will just wait till it all calms down and contact the people to see if it's genuine." | "I haven't sold anything on eBay before so I will just wait till it all calms down and contact the people to see if it's genuine." |
| According to eBay's terms and conditions "a bid or purchase on eBay is considered a contract and you're obliged to purchase the item" unless the seller is "willing to cancel the transaction". | According to eBay's terms and conditions "a bid or purchase on eBay is considered a contract and you're obliged to purchase the item" unless the seller is "willing to cancel the transaction". |
| A spokesman for eBay said the company would be contacting Mr Zajaczkowski to offer him help. | |
| "We don't allow under-18s to use eBay, and take the matter of non-genuine bids very seriously indeed," he added. | |
| "Making bids of this nature will lead to buyers having their accounts closed. | |
| "We are sorry to hear of the problems with this auction and will be in touch with the seller to help him." |