Essential Travel Club - Scam ???!!

busbybantam

Hi all,

This is my first post so please go easy with me.

I was contacted a month or so ago by 'The Essential Travel Club' claiming I had won a prize in a competition. I couldn't remember exactly which competition it was, but when she repeated the question it did ring a bell. She then continued to explain that my prize was membership to their exclusive travel club and that entitled me to 60% off exclusive holiday accommodation + an extra 25% off the flights, the prize also included a free week holiday for 4 in a 5 star hotel un the destination of my choice, in europe or thailand. All I needed to do to claim my 'prize' was to pay a registration fee of £199. As soon as she said that alarm bells started ringing and I told her I wasn't interested.

Then, at the beginning of this week, they rang back and said they had never had anyone turn down one of their prizes and wanted to ensure me it wasn't a scam and to prove it were now offering an extra european weekend break on top of the initial prize. I told her I wanted to check out the company properly and for her to call back. I've googled the company and come up with nothing, so was interested to know if anyone on here has heared of anything like this.

Thanks in advance for any help or advise you may give.

Andy

dealer_wins

Any legitimate prize would never come with a fee for the winner to pay.

Definitely a scam IMO. Sounds like a timeshare or similar con.

omen666

Stay away, SCAM

SandC

Yep, prizes don't cost you anything.

hollydays

and the small print no doubt said choices subject to availability..
Next time they ring get their details and post back on here.Ask them if they are timeshare ,or a holiday club.Ask if you have to attend a presentatio nor have anything to do with club la costa.Ask if you have to take their insurance.
After all this,run a mile..

miaava25

My in laws have had exactly the same phone call from The Essential Holiday Club, Malaga saying they won a holiday worth £8k, but had to pay £199. I've looked and can't fin anything so assume they must be a new scam travel club, i'm sure there will be more posts about them very soon. I agree that if you genuinely win something you don't have to pay anything. My in-laws are retired with no access to internet to check up on companies, but thankfully had some sense to ask us to check this so called WIN!!!!! i will advise them to hang up next time this lady calls.

Bogget

This company was called the Travel Emporium they have changed their name but it sounds like the same scam under a new name.

Bogget

costafortune

was contacted by euromarketing group when on holiday in malaga area with the promise of a "star prize" and discounted holidays to be provided by the Essential Travel Club.

Star Prize was a "free holiday" which required three months notice and a non-refundable registration fee of £54.50 per person. The European Option was for 2 free flights and a weeks holiday at £200 - £400 for a family of 4.
Didn't seem I had won much here.

The "Travel Club" Option promised highly discounted flights and hotels/villas but required a membership fee for 10 20 or 50 years. At my age I wont be around in 50 years and probably unable to travel in 20 so the question was all about a potential saving over 10 years.

The 4 figure fee was not excessive but where would I save. I dont do 5star. Budget airlines could not be discounted.

Forget it pal!

Websites: www.euromarketing.eu.com and www.essentialtravel.com

Addresses given to me were: The Essential Travel Club, Calle Panderos 18 29005 Malaga.
and
Euro Marketing S.L. Urb. Almijara Sur 2, Calle Primula 1 Alto, Nerja 29780, Spain.

Jackie_B_5

I have a letter from them.Address Apartado Correos 33, Torre Del Mar, Malaga, Spain 29740
Phone 08718740227 or 0034 952 566 773 fax 0034 952 965 409
email [EMAIL="info@theessentialonline.com"]info@theessentialonline.com[/EMAIL].
Letter dated 4 May 2008.recent management buyout the Travel Emporium is to be rebranded The Essential Travel Club.
I have never complted the forms or replied
Jackie

JDChrome

Just returned from holiday in Andalucia. We were presuaded by the scratch card process into attending a 1 hour presentation in Nerja. We were there for three hours and, in the end, left without doing anything. The turn off was when we were able to access the internet from their computer and we were able to bring up sites such as this, to which they had no real counter. All the information provided was stuff that could easily be produced by anyone - the site, tour itineraries etc. I asked for some documentation and they gave us a photo copy of terms and conditions that could really apply to anything. Questions on the ownership of the club and what we would actually be buying were avoided with constant references to savings opportunities and guaranteed 2 free weeks of holiday.

We were asked tp part with €1500 for 5 years membership.

There were also frequent statements about the guarantees provided by the credit card companies (the only acceptable means of payment). It was as if those doing the selling were assuming that we would need that protection. I never did get to understand the link between the marketing organisation and the ETC but when we did decide to walk away, there was no pressure at all - as if their job was just to go through the motions.

I assume that there is no link with the Essential Travel Company in the UK - is this correct?

Fortunately we had read the advice about this type of marketing and the constant pressure on us to sign up there and then was the biggest signal.

The reason for posting is that I would be interested if there are any good news stories associated with this club.

dacouch

They hold the sales meetings outside of the UK as the laws restricting time share sales are no where near as strict