It's disgusting that they can get away with that kind of thing, happens in the building trade all the time as well.
http://www.thesupercarrooms.co.uk/
They have reopened under a new Ltd Company t/a The Supercar rooms still however.
It's rife. You're right when you say it happens in building. I personally know two scumbags that pulled that trick and left people desolate as a result.