Anyone know anything about www.clubseasons.co.uk?

arthurp8

Hi - just curious about this company.

I have received a letter (by recorded delivery) saying I have won an internet prize from them - and it looks more official than most junk that arrives.

Anyhow no subscriptions, no premium rate number, and it states I entered an online comp (highly likely).

Looking at the site it appears as though I may have won a years membership - however not sure what it entails - and it still looks a swizz as they charge you various fees for the pleasure of your "free" villa I think??

Anyhow just curious if anyone knows about this - as it may be a legitimate and useful deal???

maninthestreet

Sounds like the usual timeshare / holiday club scam.

mpython

Here's a few threads that you may find interesting

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=173789

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=227618

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=309296

In short, its a timeshare - the use of recorded delivery is a clever marketing ploy to make you think you've won a bona fide prize. In truth you haven't. You'll be invited along to receive your prize where you'll be subjected to a sales presentation, then when you say you just want the prize there'll be an 'admin' fee you have to pay (£39 pp?). People have then found the holidays are really difficult to book (inconvenient dates/ airports) & even those who have managed to go abroad then find they have to listen to an even longer & harder sales pitch (if I recall one story was they take your passport off you for security and then don't give it back to you until you agree to go to a sales presentation!)

annapantscats

I got the same letter this morning....telling me I had won a prize to the value of £3750. Being the suspicious Bunny that I am I jumped right into the MSE boards and see alot of you have had problems with these Clubseasons guys, and that the 'prize' is infact the privilage of paying the hundreds of pounds per year in fees. Ah well, thanks for all your postings, my bubble was quickly burst but at least it hasnt cost me anything.

arthurp8

Thanks MPython - I am usually oblivious to all of these things - it was the recorded delivery that got my attention - clever people - though it must be costing them a wad more cash!!!

mpython

arthurp8 wrote: »

Thanks MPython - I am usually oblivious to all of these things - it was the recorded delivery that got my attention - clever people - though it must be costing them a wad more cash!!!

Well, yes it is expensive, but given that someone might pay £1m over 50 years for 'membership & maintenance' to these people, you can see why they employ such techniques.

Mark7799

Thought I would put another side of the coin as one who actually uses Seasons Holidays as a timeshare owner.

Well, yes it is expensive, but given that someone might pay £1m over 50 years for 'membership & maintenance' to these people, you can see why they employ such techniques.

Where on earth did the figure of £1m over 50 years come from. I reckon (even allowing for 5% inflation) that the total I will pay in membership and maintenance will be approximately £30,000. A tidy sum I admit but not out of proportion to what I would have spent on holidays in that period anyway.

You'll be invited along to receive your prize where you'll be subjected to a sales presentation, then when you say you just want the prize there'll be an 'admin' fee you have to pay (£39 pp?). People have then found the holidays are really difficult to book (inconvenient dates/ airports)

This has never happened to me in the six years I've owned timeshare


& even those who have managed to go abroad then find they have to listen to an even longer & harder sales pitch (if I recall one story was they take your passport off you for security and then don't give it back to you until you agree to go to a sales presentation!)

I've been invited on every trip - the only one I bothered to go to offered a free buffet with drinks (not too much - didn't want to make any stupid decisions under the influence:D ) No-one has ever asked for a passport

To the OP - timeshare is not totally crooked. The accommodation I have had from using timeshare holidays has been superb and is the main reason why we bought ours (after an appalling package holiday a few years ago). It isn't for everyone and you need a degree of self-discipline to be able to resist the supposedly wonderful offers put in front of you - one made a great play of a cheaply priced cruise until I pointed out that it sailed from Fort Lauderdale and there was no mention of how we were to get there in the first place:rolleyes: . Think of the maintenance fee as the price you'd pay for a week's holiday in a good quality apartment and add the travel costs on top to get a fair comparison.

With regard to seasons in particular, the admin can be a nightmare to deal with but we've never had a bad holiday once we get there!

If you are serious about timeshare, the moment before you sign to buy is when you can negotiate your best deal - at that point they'll give you virtually anything:D We got two apartments for a week in Malaga and a bottle of champagne.

mpython

Hi Mark

Thanks for presenting the other side of the coin. All the quotes in my post were from either personal experiences or people who have posted on this or other websites. For instance the £1m figure is based on a Red week with a purchase price of £12k, with a starting maintenance fee of £1k p.a. growing at 10% compound over 50 years (my in laws timeshare maintenance fee actually grew quicker than this).

This is what Martin who owns this site has to say about this kind of holiday:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=45859

Rarely have any of these companies actually provided a good deal for any consumer. As a general point I would completely avoid attending such meetings. Never part with your money. In my view you're almost invariably better off going for a normal holiday.

Martin

Mark7799

Have to say faced with fees like that I would run a mile as well and never even think of paying them (was quoted something similar on one of the first enquiries I made - for background, my assistant in a job I was once in knew the system and had been extolling the virtues of timeshare which persuaded me to take the plunge)

As I've said already, it isn't for everyone and you have to be sure of what you are doing. You've made references to Martin in your post - all I would say is make your own mind up but do PLENTY of research before committing to anything - there are plenty of companies out there, shop around if anyone really wants one (I paid £7k for a red week and fees of £300 pa which have grown around 3% pa since I bought it)

tankgirl2000_2

I received a 'Prize' today, and thanks to this and similar threads was not especially enthralled! When I phoned the number (freephone or I would not have bothered) I was told by a very rude young man that they owned their properties and expected their clients to do the same! So not an option for us scuzzy tenants! I managed to maintain my dignity....only just! :mad:

victoriav

annapantscats wrote: »

I got the same letter this morning....telling me I had won a prize to the value of £3750. Being the suspicious Bunny that I am I jumped right into the MSE boards and see alot of you have had problems with these Clubseasons guys, and that the 'prize' is infact the privilage of paying the hundreds of pounds per year in fees. Ah well, thanks for all your postings, my bubble was quickly burst but at least it hasnt cost me anything.

I just got this exact same letter, and everyone has said 'there's no such thing as a free lunch..' have to admit after the phonecall, i was still none the wiser and i did not like the sound of having to pay 'maintenance fee of 337£ less 25% = 257.75 a year either ...if its a 'prize' why do you have to pay!! Yes clever trick to get you to sign for it eh! must admit, so now I know and I have permanently blocked all 'my offers' e-mails from my hotmail... can't even remember how they started up in the first place.... i had to go into town to the sorting office thinking it was a b'day pressie to sign for:mad: ...and i had to walk like quasimodo as i have a painful back condition....how very time wasting...... I have now shredded the letter to put into the bag for next doors hamster bedding .. so at least the letter has served one useful purpose!:rotfl: