Have I really won a Holiday?????

magicmaria

Hi

Got a phone call lat night to say I had won a luxury holiday for 7 nights for 4 people all I had to do was call a freephone no and quote my ref no. I called the no and they confirmed I had won it would just cost 49.50 per person for a booking fee - also I had to attend one of their meetings in Haydock this weekend (timeshare) but I was definately under no obligation to buy anything - I would be given all the holiday details there plus 50.00 in Argos vouchers for attending????

Is this a con has anyone else heard of this before

seems to good to be true a holiday for 4 for 200.00 either to Tenerife or Costa del Sol

and advice appreciated

heatherw_01

Unfortunately it will probably be a timeshare.

You should never have to pay a penny for a prize.

rchddap1

Had a similar phone call ages ago saying we had to attend a meeting to pick up our 'prize'. Had them on the phone for ages discussing the merits of various marketing techniques. Had a great time.

If its a prize then you shouldn't have to do anything or pay anything to get it. And that's what I told the person the other end. For some reason it didn't work...can't think why.

waddy80

Just got the same phone call.

I'm going to ring the number, just out of interest.

L_D_N

My friends had a similar experience where the prize was a mountain bike. They went along as they wanted the bike for their sons birthday. It was 4 hours of constant harrassment. When the message that they didn't want to buy got through they were pretty much frog marched out of the hotel.

They then wanted to claim the bike but the organisers wouldn't let them back in. It was only after more arguing and threatening to cause a scene, call police etc. that they were given a voucher to go and collect the bike.

This was a few years ago but I would be very wary of giving them any money upfront as they then have you cornered as you won't want to leave without your holiday. I could lay bets on them not returning your deposits if asked to.

Go for it if you are strong, my friend was in tears. They also split her and her husband up to work on them individually. I hope it's not the same orgainsation - hopefully there is new legislation to prevent this type of hard sell.

Try checking out the company with watchdog.

Good luck.

buxtonrabbitgreen

I had the same call today. Club la costa. I think it is probably time share. I agree it is not a prize if you have to pay £50 each and go to thier presentation.

nuttywoman

They rang me up a while ago, i kept on at them about it not being a free holiday if i had to pay out to them and threatened to report them to trading standards. Had a great time, i can tell you!
val

fluffynit

Sounds too good to be true, like everyone says.

nuttywoman...i will quote trading standards should i ever get a call...thanks!

fluffynit

marleyboy

I rang them out of curiosity and told them I had won (even though I hadnt) yet they still said I had won, now how dodgy does that sound?

impster

Here's a good tip if you want a laugh with these 'free' holidays.

Until recently we'd get calls about twice a week from an international number, telling me I'd been 'selected' for a free 7 day holiday anywhere in the world. They'd say how lucky I was to be selected, and that all I had to do was select a destination.

Here's the fun part:

tell them you want to visit any one of these countries:

America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, Brazil, Greenland, The Ascention Islands. Go through them one by one, they'll have to say that they cant sort it. BAsically - anywhere in the world means one of 4 resorts.

Once you've selected a resort then they ask for the 50 squid payment. I then offer them a free Ford Mondeo ST70. They usually are baffled and accept the offer, I then tell them there's a £30,000 handling fee. Then I usually wait for their expletives and laugh loudly down the phone. Great fun. I don't get those calls any more...

RCB28

I got one of these calls a while back...definitely a con, steer clear!