How free is a free holiday?
My wife got a phone call today (from 01268 555095), saying that because she had answered a questionnaire in Bolton, she had won first prize in a draw – a seven night luxury 5-star holiday to a European resort (Costa del Sol, Canary Islands, Portugal or the Balearics) in a ‘luxury’ self-catering apartment, flights included, but insurance would be required and there was also a GBP 34.50 admin fee payable per person on booking. The vouchers would also be valid for 18 months. Hmmm… since when does a 5-star holiday involve self-catering?
Being skeptical, she asked what the catch was, but was told “no catch”. “Isn’t this timeshare?”, “No it’s not timeshare”, a point that while truthful is not actually good – see later. All she had to do was ring GVC Travel on 0871 222 8028 quoting a reference number.
On calling this number (which according to saynoto0870.com routes through to another 01268 number – are we getting the picture yet?), she was told that we would both have to collect the documents in person from their ‘Manchester Exhibition Centre’ and bring ID, because they could not send them out in the post. At this exhibition centre there would be a presentation on what is available. Hang on, doesn’t this sound like timeshare?
Now the last time I booked a holiday, the tickets were posted to me. It wasn’t a problem, yet this company are claiming it’s not safe to post a voucher! Methinks the ID is required for signing a contract. And why do we both have to go to collect the voucher? Is it really that heavy, or is it to get us both there to be sold something else?
Also, if we’ve won first prize, surely we’re the only one to win first prize, but a presentation suggests several people would be there. They can’t all have won first prize!
I decided to do some digging on the internet (these companies must hate the internet) and found that although it isn’t technically a timeshare, it is a holiday membership club sold through pressure-selling presentations. It also appears that if you do sit through the hard sell and get your vouchers, then the accommodation is far from 5-star, the dates are restricted unless you pay for the flights which are then more expensive than you could arrange yourself.
Take a look at holidaywatchdog.com, Crimeshare.net, this post on scoobynet and an interesting post from someone claiming to be an employee of GVC (username secretagent):
…we phone people who take part in family lifestyle surveys in town centres, some of which date back to 2000. They don’t take no for an answer either which means calling the same person over and over. I actually was told myself today by a “customer” that it was a con and that she had looked it up, so i did some searching myself and have found out that it is conning people into timeshare!!! I work there and they never even told me and when i asked them they said “no!” So be careful people as they don’t even tell there [sic] staff that it is just one big con.
You can also see that the 01268 555095 number belongs to GVC, meaning that the original call came from GVC themselves – clearly a bid to create the illusion that the original caller was separate to GVC.
We’re not into beach holidays anyway. I don’t think we’ll bother going to collect our ‘prize’.
There is an interesting article on the Citizens’ Advice Bureau site, calling on the DTI to get tough on Holiday Clubs. Some interesting extracts:
People are ending up with holidays that cost far more than they would on the high street, that’s if they can book anything at all.
Companies offer prizes to get people to attend presentations, where pressure-selling techniques are used to push them in to buying holiday club membership. People are assured that it is not timeshare – it isn’t and this leaves them with less legal protection.
A CAB in south London gave advice to a couple who joined a holiday club and wanted to cancel after 24 hours. They had received phone calls and letters from a company saying they had won a ‘free’ holiday and inviting them to a presentation at a hotel in Croydon. They eventually decided to go, after being assured by the company that it was not about timeshare. They were pushed in to joining for £750 and paying a £100 deposit on the spot. As soon as they got home they wanted to cancel, because of the death of a family member abroad. The holiday club said it was not possible, as they had no cooling off period or cancellation rights.
They also offer some good advice:
If you win a prize or holiday which you need to attend a presentation to collect, be wary. Don’t try to claim it unless you want to spend several hours at a high pressure sales pitch for holiday clubs
Don’t be reassured by sales reps promising that it is not timeshare. You have far less legal protection if you are buying holiday club membership
Find out about extra costs before claiming your ‘free’ holiday – they often cost more than a high-street holiday, but offer less choice over dates and destinations.
I have also found a leaflet on the Office of Fair Trading Website entitled: Congratulations, you have not won a free luxury holiday”
I think one of the most important points from both of these consumer sites is this: Because of the timeshare scams a few years ago, the law was tightened to give more protection, but punters have a long memory and for most people timeshare still equates to scam. GVC proudly state that this is not timeshare and although they appear to be telling the truth, what they fail to point out is that you are therefore not protected by these timeshare regulations.
I have also found an excellent article on The Guardian’s website by a couple of journalists who went along to one of these presentations. This is well worth a read.
Search Engine Hits
It is interesting to note the number of hits I get on this post where people have searched for the 01268 555095 and 0871 222 8028 numbers (see table below) People obviously get the initial call, are suspicious and turn to the internet to check.
|
Month
|
01268 555095
|
0871 222 8028
|
|---|---|---|
| June |
9
|
6
|
| July |
16
|
9
|
| August |
21
|
2
|
| September |
20
|
1
|
| October |
18
|
1
|
| November |
73
|
0
|
| December |
24
|
1
|
|
Month
|
01268 555095
|
0871 222 2566
|
| January 07 |
111
|
46
|
| February |
107
|
145
|
| March |
143
|
3
|
It would also appear from comments I am receiving that GVC have changed their name to Choose Travel (or are just using a different name) and are using a new number: 0871 222 2566. I’m also getting loads of hits for ‘choose travel, 0871, holiday scam’
UPDATE: 12th February 2007
It’s almost a year since I made this post, and I was simply recounting my experience with what we were told and my research at the time. Since then I have been surprised by the response I have received, both as comments and the continuing number of search engine hits for the telephone numbers, ‘timeshare’, ‘scam’, ‘questionnaire’ etc. – an obvious measure of the general public’s suspicions when receiving such a phone call.
UPDATE: 31st May 2007
Other numbers which now seem to be quoted include: 01268 498330 and 0800 4585625. The company name also seems to have changed again, this time to CLC (Club La Costa).
‘2minutedraw.com‘ is also being quoted by the initial ‘market researcher’.
You may also like to read this article on the Guardian website.
i have actaully just left choose travel. I was one of them really annoying people that call you and give you that number and the reference number. I awarded a holidat to a lady yesterday who informed me of this site. I am shocked at the amount of bad feedback.
It really is genuine, we do award a holiday to everyone who completes the survey who fit a certain criteria, you should be told that there is an administration charge of £29.50 but you dont pay that till you book, choose travel will tell you that they do promote timeshare but you can say your not interested….the holiday is still yours.
i really dont understand how people feel conned, you are all told that there is a presentation to go to, but why is that such a big deal.
i have been on one of these presentaions as part of my training, I have
also been to one of our spanish apartments…..had a wonderful time.
I worked on the customer care department and have spoke to many people who have had fantastic holidays, and book through our agents regularly.
In answer to Lisa’s Comment:
Firstly, I will give you the benefit of the doubt and believe that you are an ex-employee and not a current one (or director) trying to offset the feedback left here and other places.
I have no doubt that the ‘free holiday’ is genuine. It is the method which leaves a lot to be desired.
You said “i really dont understand how people feel conned, you are all told that there is a presentation to go to, but why is that such a big deal.”
Firstly, because you’ve started out by lying to them (see points above).
If GVC/Choose called and said “We’d like to invite you to a presentation of our Holiday Club Scheme and for that we will give you a voucher for a free holiday (with restrictions)” then that would be truthful, but both you and I know that most people will say “not interested”, so GVC/Choose have chosen to use the tactic of using the collection of a so-called prize voucher to lure people into going to a sales presentation. Since people are already wary of timeshare pressure selling, why are you shocked that they are suspicious?
My mum was caught in York in Jan 07. She has just been phoned by Choose Travel who claimed she won ‘First Prize’ and a 5 * holiday. She was told to call 0871 222 2566 “right now” and quote a ticket number to claim the prize. We asked how much the call would cost and were told 10p per minute and the call would last no longer than 1-2 minutes. She asked what the catch was and was told there wasn’t a catch.
I’m SO glad we google’d the phone number before making any calls – having read everyone’s comments here we won’t be calling anyone! Thanks so much for this very helpful posting.
hi
i can assure you i no longer work for them. when people ask if it is time share we are told to say ‘yes we promote it, but you can say no and still get your holiday’
the apartments are 5 star, and yes it is self catering, apartments are still star rated.
vouchers are only given when you attend a presentation which is why they cant be posted and i completely agree with you that you should be told that but we are told what to say and we have to follow a script.
All businesses have different methods of making money and this is there way, are they lying? i dont think so, maybe they are misleading you but when you call the 0871 number it should all be fully explained.
i have never heard of gvc.
maybe its wrong that people are lured in to a sales presentation but they are told they have to go to one so noody is lying.
I really dont know we have to say that you have been awarded first prize cause that is crap, the company will award it to anyone who fits the criteria.
The holiday is genuinly yours…………that is not a lie!
Lisa
Nobody is saying the holiday is not genuine, however as stated in my original post, people who have been on them complained that the accommodation was nothing like five star and that the dates were very restrictive in order for the holiday to still be free.
Look, however, at how many people (my wife included) asked if it was timeshare and were told no. I don’t know about you, but since you admit this *is* timeshare, that qualifies as a lie. Clearly not all of your ex-colleagues are as honest as you.
Look how many were told they’d won first prize when there was no such thing – you said this yourself. Another lie?
My wife was told it was a presentation, not a sales presentation.
I still maintain the fact that the initial call comes from the same place you are asked to ring is misleading.
You say “All businesses have different methods of making money and this is there [sic] way”. If that’s so, then they are not a business I would deal with. I think others would agree.
The Spain, Turkey, Austria and Tenerife people are now getting people to call 0800 4585625. Thank goodness for the internet!
My experience is very similar to everyone else, I was approached in Sheffield City Centre one week ago today, I don’t normally bother with Market Reaaserch so i’m really annoyed with myself for doing it, but hey ho we all do something daft now and again. the woman asked me just a few questions about my occupation, marital status, age and where my most memorable holiday was, she took my address and home tel no. (what a mistake!) and said someone may call to make sure that she had got me to take part in her research and that I would be entered into a prize draw where I could win £2000 or a luxury holiday, i walked away and thought no more about it as I don’t normally win things like this. The slip she gave me quoted the name ‘2minuteDraw.com and on the back of the slip it states this is the trading name of the promotor ‘Premier Data Logistics of Regents Place, 338 Euston road, London, NW1 3BT’.
Tonight I have received a call from ‘Eve’ at CLC, she gave her phone number as 01268498330 and the number which appeared on my phone was 01268 555095. She congratulated me and said my name at been chosen at random and I had won a 14 night holiday to either Spain, Tenerife, Turkey or Austria, all expenses paid, no con, nothing to sign etc all i had to do was call their travel agent on a freephone number 0800 458 5625 and quote the code she gave me. Also as an extra reward I would receive £50 of shopping vouchers.
At first I was thrilled, but then as I thought about it further I remembered you don’t get anything for free. Needless to say I won’t be calling their travel agent.
More power to your elbow. There are a number of firms operating in this field. The two main ones are Sunterra (formerly GWVC) and Club La Costa – CLC.
However both use sales and marketing agents as well. One of the best known of these is LCI Travel (Wakefield, Rotherham, and Nottingham) but there are others.
However the spiel is always the same – never varies – “You have been awarded (won) a free holiday, all you have to do is go to a presentation and pay £34.50 which is variously described as administrative charges or airport tax or both.
You will be subjected to a hard sales pitch – both at the first sales place – and if you ever go – at the “free holiday” place. This last one can last up to eight hours.
If you do decide to go for the free holiday it will be at Santa Barbara Tenerife – they have no other place they take people to.
Ask for the ATOL number (they are not ABTA, despite their claim to be) and if they quote X4160 then it is Sunterra. I do not know CLC’s number.
Sunterra was taken over recently by Diamond Resorts in the USA, but the scam is the same.
The Office of Fair Trading receives more complaints about Holiday Clubs than anything else.
Personally when they ring up I make an appointment and then fail to turn up. Then they ring back and I make an excuse. Then I make another appointment and fail to turn up.
Eventually I lie and say I was there. That confuses them.
If necessary I keep lying. If it is good enough for them – it is good enough for me.
thank goodness for the internet. i got called by’2minuteDraw.com’ a few days after completeing a 2minute market research questionnaire & told to ring 0800 4585625.
i was already suspiscious but phoned anyway thinking at least its a free phone number (I know better now!) & yep u guessed it i was told “Congratulations you’ve won a 14night holiday to either tenerife, spain, austria or turkey. And you get £50 high st vouchers. All you have to do is turn up (on a weekday) to attend a presentation & you must come with your partner”
Obviously i’m not going & i hope they dont end up ringing me again…if they do i like the one about asking them to hold & going out shopping!
I have just had a call from CLC resorts and hotels – exact same stuff as listed in the above responses! Thank you so much for your information, these companys play on the naivety of the general public and the internet is a great thing to catch these con-artists out.
When I called them back to tell them that I had found information on the internet that I was not impressed with and would not be attending their ‘presentation’, they did not try to convince me that it was a genuine prize, just abruptly said ‘thanks for your time!’ and hung up!! Now doesnt that speak volumes!! I dont think ill get sucked in again!!!