IF YOU THOUGHT your 2015 had gotten off to a bad start, please, allow us to change your mind.

A New Mexico man was only delighted to discover he had won $500,000 on a scratch card – but when he went to collect his winnings, he was told it was a “misprint” and the cash was not his. All together now: NOOOOOOO.

KOB News reports that John Wines of Roswell bought the scratch card in December at his local petrol station, and discovered a grand total of five winning numbers, two of which were good for $250,000 each.

But when he went back to claim his presumed $500,000 prize, the attendant told him there was a misprint on the ticket and refused to pay out.

Wines contacted the New Mexico Lottery about the card, and a representative had this to say about the debacle:

We did find a flaw in that particular pack of tickets and it’s been reported to our printer. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I did complete a reconstruction of your ticket and it was not a winner.

Way to let a guy down gently, New Mexico Lottery.

Wines is adamant that he is the rightful winner of the cash and says the whole thing has been “stressful”, which could be the understatement of the century.

To make up for the blunder, the lottery offered him $100 in replacement tickets, but it’s not really the same, is it?

I mean, if you thought you won $500,00 and somebody tells you that you didn’t, and you can prove to them you did, it’s pretty stressful for somebody to say “No, you’re not getting your money”.

We feel you, John. We feel you.

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