Holiday Club scam

[Mike G]

We were in Rethymnon Crete on May 14 and were given 2 scratch cards. One of them (my partner's) had "won" the star prize and the guy handing them out said he was pleased as he got 50 Euros for it and there were only two a day. We were told the prize was a free holiday, a ghetto blaster, or a camcorder (our choice); all we had to do was listen to a Holiday Club presentation. We were taken by taxi to a plush hotel about 5 miles away, east of Rethymnon in Platanes, which is a Rethymnon suburb resort and totally over-developed and spoilt. We were given a long presentation (over 2 hours not the 1 hour we were told) by a comapny called RCI which, it was claimed, was the parent company of Avis car hire and Radisson Edwardian hotels, plus other well known names. In spite of what we were told by the guy giving out the scratch cards (copious free drinks!) the only drink we were given was the most dilute orange squash ever. The facilities we were shown were fantastic, 5 star plus. Anyway, we weren't interested in buying (thinking it was a scam). The "prize" wasn't a choice but the "free holiday". This turned out to be virtually worthless as you had to enrol (around £30 per person) and there were options like accommodation free, but you pay for all meals (which must be taken in the hotel) or they arrange (and you pay for) the flight and you get the accommodation free. It just didn't seem worth it and my partner binned it on return to the UK.

My partner was even more annoyed than I was about this. But as I said to her, we only lost 2-3 hours of our holidays. I bet others signed up!!!!!

See http://www.holidaywatchdog.com/forum/showthread.php?t=883
for an explanation of how these scams work.

I would be interested to hear the experiences of others.

Mike G

[compage]

I'm sorry to hear that these pests have now arrived in Crete.

We've met them in other places but didn't allow them to waste our time.

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

[George]

I've had several of these on my travels, so was prepared for them after the first time acceptance and the presentation.
The last one was in Rethymnon at the entrance to the old town by the car park about four years ago. It was a lucky dip and guess what? I got a first prize, I think it was a stereo system and the same offer of a presentation after which I could collect my prize. I asked the guy if he could have it posted to me as it would be too much to take back on the plane and he said no, so I told him to 'stuff it'! and walked away.
Beware anyone approaching you with anything like this, it's a con and a complete waste of time...

Unless of course you want to buy a time share!!
george g...

[Ploppy]

Not encountered this whilst on holiday but have had various things through the post. A fleeting desire to go along to the presentation and chant 'devious lowlife scumbags' throughout the proceedings soon gives way to apathy as usually they are Saturday mornings where I would rather be in bed.

Apologies to any time share/holiday club sellers who may read this, i'm sure you're nice people but surely if the product is so great why the crappy misleading 'prizes', sell it on its on merits.

Rant over.  

[Graham_and_Karen]

Not encountered this whilst on holiday but have had various things through the post. A fleeting desire to go along to the presentation and chant 'devious lowlife scumbags' throughout the proceedings soon gives way to apathy as usually they are Saturday mornings where I would rather be in bed.

Apologies to any time share/holiday club sellers who may read this, i'm sure you're nice people but surely if the product is so great why the crappy misleading 'prizes', sell it on its on merits.

Rant over. 
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We 'won' on a scratchcard in Minorca but our holiday time was too precious to waste on the presentation. We have been to one in the UK, however not really expecting to be able to take the 'free' holiday but just so we could find out whether some sort of time-share might be for us. It most definitely wasn't! £12,000 'investment' buys quite a few holidays when and where we want.

[Barny]

We fell for it too and wasted hours saying "no" over and over just to be told by the originally nice rep that we had wasted her time !
We won the free holiday which as we all know is a load of ****** !

[Mike G]

We 'won' on a scratchcard in Minorca but our holiday time was too precious to waste on the presentation. We have been to one in the UK, however not really expecting to be able to take the 'free' holiday but just so we could find out whether some sort of time-share might be for us. It most definitely wasn't! £12,000 'investment' buys quite a few holidays when and where we want.
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The guy trying to sell to us didn't get off to a good start as he asked us where we were staying. When I told him (Kostas Chrysoulla) he said, "let me guess how much it cost you- £1000 for the two of you". When I told him £520 it somewhat took him aback. However, it didn't stop him rabbiting on for another 2 hours.

Mike

[Pritch]

As far as RCI go, they are an International Co who specialise in Time Share from appartments right up to palatial villas in exotic locations. I know this as I nearly bought a slot in some villas in Sun City, really on the basis that it gave us access to other places, rather than specifically just Sun City. We were only in SA for a couple of years.
As a Co, they are internationally renowned & I know folks who have places through them. Nothing wrong with that if thats what your things is.

But as John quite rightly says ' no such thing as a free lunch' though there are plenty of people in this world who believe there is.

Neil

[John R]

The guy trying to sell to us didn't get off to a good start as he asked us where we were staying. When I told him (Kostas Chrysoulla) he said, "let me guess how much it cost you- £1000 for the two of you". When I told him £520 it somewhat took him aback. However, it didn't stop him rabbiting on for another 2 hours.

Mike
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Many years ago we went to a UK presentation fully aware of the scenario but with a bit of free time on our hands and curiosity. It was all as we had anticipated and we enjoyed the rep squirming at our replies. He discovered that our annual holiday spend (then) was less than their annual service charge. Asking us on what sort of place we prefered to holiday , we answered, Northern climes, Scandinavia in winter etc. He gave up on us very early leaving us to enjoy our coffee and their (very limited) facilities.

John R

[harribobs]

As far as RCI go, they are an International Co who specialise in Time Share from appartments right up to palatial villas in exotic locations. I know this as I nearly bought a slot in some villas in Sun City, really on the basis that it gave us access to other places, rather than specifically just Sun City. We were only in SA for a couple of years.
As a Co, they are internationally renowned & I know folks who have places through them. Nothing wrong with that if thats what your things is.

But as John quite rightly says ' no such thing as a free lunch' though there are plenty of people in this world who believe there is.

Neil
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a friend of mine bought a share in a property from them ( in Spain) he did really well out of it, the prices soared and it provided him with the deposit on his retirement home

but how many of us would give up our basic apartment in Plakias for a two weeks in the Hapimag compex at Damnoni at two, maybe three times the cost? ( and half the fun  

[Mike G]

but how many of us would give up our basic apartment in Plakias for a two weeks in the Hapimag compex at Damnoni at two, maybe three times the cost? ( and half the fun 
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Difficult to argue against that, Harribobs.

Mike