Is charging for viewings now a thing??

[Catbird]

Are these always a scam? A friend is looking at the moment and we've come across a few scams where they ask for up to £200 for a viewing which they say would be refunded if you don't buy the horse or taken off the purchase price. Obviously she's run a mile from those ones, but we've also come across some which seem genuine but they ask for a smaller amount. Is this the way it works now or are they all scams?!
Horse shopping is a nightmare!!

 

[Back of beyond]

My understanding is they are generally a scam, they often copy a genuine advert, some questioning normally reveals they know nothing about horses…..

 

[HaffiesRock]

Blooming eck! I would never pay for a viewing! I can kind of see if its a reputable business, selling sought after horses maybe putting down a small deposit to view to prevent time wasters but personally I wouldn't pay.

 

[webble]

No!! Usually scammers, do not do this

 

[Catbird]

Some of the responses to questions she's had have seemed genuine but others are obviously rubbish. Is so disheartening!

 

[nutjob]

Most are just out and out scammers from Cameroon or Nigeria but there's a couple of well known dodgy's in the NE who used to ask for a viewing fee up front. Not sure if they still do that now though.