Scammed? Need to cancel travel package paid for off site

paula.paula13

This is a different situation. It appeared to be a charity auction with donated prizes but it wasn't. It was a commercial operator using the name of the charity. It's like they create packages (called prizes) and put them in the brochures on the tables. But the prizes don't exist as donated items, they are booked and paid for by the operator after the event. When they have sold them. After that, they knock off their costs & profits then give what's left to the charity.

hollydays

That organiser I mention is the trading arm of a charity called charity escapes, so I assume it wasn't them.

paula.paula13

@Manxman, as far as I can gather, the corporate event has nothing to do with the trader. I suspect the auction company were nominated by the charity when the corporate organisers approached the charity to see if they wanted to be involved.

The charity must be aware of the way the trader behaves because they know they have not handed over donated prizes for auction.

Today's flyer refers to "the auction prize that you won at...." yet it wasn't an auction prize at all!

hollydays

paula.paula13 wrote: »

This is a different situation. It appeared to be a charity auction with donated prizes but it wasn't. It was a commercial operator using the name of the charity. It's like they create packages (called prizes) and put them in the brochures on the tables. But the prizes don't exist as donated items, they are booked and paid for by the operator after the event. When they have sold them. After that, they knock off their costs & profits then give what's left to the charity.

But if they are in a brochure on the table, how sure is he that the full details weren't there?

paula.paula13

No, not them Holly.

He was certain that the line we see on todays flyer "flights and transfers are not included" was not on the details in the event brochure.

The info bigs up the "prize" as "a fabulous 3 night break to the city that never sleeps"

hollydays

paula.paula13 wrote: »

No, not them Holly.

He was certain that the line we see on todays flyer "flights and transfers are not included" was not on the details in the event brochure.

The info bigs up the "prize" as "a fabulous 3 night break to the city that never sleeps"

You need to get hold of a brochure

Manxman_in_exile

paula.paula13 wrote: »

This is a different situation. It appeared to be a charity auction with donated prizes but it wasn't. It was a commercial operator using the name of the charity. It's like they create packages (called prizes) and put them in the brochures on the tables. But the prizes don't exist as donated items, they are booked and paid for by the operator after the event. When they have sold them. After that, they knock off their costs & profits then give what's left to the charity.

So it would have appeared to your husband (and others) that 100% of the successful auction bids would go to the charity?


I would ask the charity if they were aware of exactly how this operation worked. If "donors" are led to believe that what they "donate" is going to the charity, then this is where it should go, unless it is made absolutely clear that some sort of cut (ie profit) is going to an intermediary. I assume your husband knows some of the other attendees - what did they think was happening?


I would contact the Charity Commissioners and enquire of them whether this sort of operation is actually legal. Of course, if you go down this route, it might result in the charity itself being asked some difficult questions - but that's what I'd do.


Sorry none of this is much practical help but this sort of thing really annoys me!


(Just out of interest - - if this is a local charity and you think that they may have been involved in selecting the "promoter", for want of a politer word, are there any obvious links between the charity and this company selling their goods? Sorry - I'm very suspicious!)

Manxman_in_exile

Did your husband bring home a flyer/brochure or were they conveniently collected by the organisers after bids were submitted and before he had a chance to do so?

paula.paula13

Thanks Manxman, my husband was not given the brochure to take home. I'll have to ask him how many there were per table.
I can't see links between the charity and the trader, it may have been an innocent relationship. But they must also be aware of exactly how they are trading as it's obvious on their website.

paula.paula13

Thanks everyone. I'll be out most of today so unable to reply.

From what I can see, in order to avoid having to provide the statutory 14 days to cancel the trader would have to claim this was the purchase of a package holiday. The product does meet the necessary 2/3 criteria to be considered one. However, if I check what info the buyer of a package holiday should be given the paperwork doesn't meet those criteria either.