Alis girls Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 i have had several phone calls from a company who advised me I filled out survey on travel about 18 months ago. I last filled out one on plane in 2007. i have been told I have won a 7 day break SC for 4-6 in Spain, Portugal or Canaries. my first thought was help its timeshare, or they will get me out of house and burgal it. They have my mobile and home no. Am I right to be suspicious. OH and I have to go to a place in Tottenham Court Rd in 2 weeks to collect details. Has anyone had anything like this. i will if I go book a baby sitter towatch kids and sit in house!! HELP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateG Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 You're right, it is likely to be a timeshare at best, a scam at worst. Avoid it like the plague. They've got your details through a list that was sold by a company most likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 I find it odd that you have to go and get details in person.... Google the name of the company and/or a few key words and see if anything comes up. It's great news if it is genuine, but you are very right to be super cautious. If it's too good to be true...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 I'd be very suspicious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 I'd be very suspicious. me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoebe Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 its probably not burglary. They want you to go to their office 1) because its easier to persuade you face to face and 2) because the "cooling off period" under consumer law is different if you are in their place of business rather than if they visit you at home-i,e its harder for you to change your mind and cancel afterwards. Its probably either a timeshare or a "free" holiday which will cost you a fortune in extras. I would definitely ignore it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Yes, I agree with the others, I've had calls like this at home before. Most likely a timeshare selling event and a complete waste of your time. If I were you, I'd put it right out of my mind, you won't be getting something for nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooklady Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Be careful!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LisaP Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 I would be very careful - not saying its not genuine but we had a series of similar calls last year. OH ended up telling them to "buzz off" ever so politely We hadn't completed any questionnaire even though they insisted we had Lisa P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 Does the post by DONNA-TIM on this forum sound vaguely familiar? http://forum.holidaywatchdog.com/Timeshare-&-Holiday-Clubs-Yes-the-free-holidays-are-a-scam-Thread-4461.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 They phoned OH the other week - and none of us enter any competitions so we know it is an unsolicited call. Sometimes they are really rude. Thing is we have the telepreferential service, but most of the calls come from abroad so not covered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 If you have to collect details in person then you haven't 'won' anything at all - they would be willing to email or post you details or at least a detailed confirmation of what exactly you have won Phone back and ask them to email or post the details and see what their reaction is! Personally I wouldn't want anyone to know when my house would be empty and would at least go at a different time to my 'appointment' Did they insist you take the OH? many timeshare companies do this to ensure that both decision makers are present at the deal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 Yes thanks Looney - it all sounds familiar ( sorry feel awful calling u that!) i did say is it timeshare but obviously she said no. I've a good mind to turn up with a whiney 8 yr old and a noisey 13 yr old just to put them off their chat. i was suspicius - must be on every list known to man and I did go online and remove myself ( mail preference or something) from lists. Thanks guys - showed OH who was convinced they would rob us blind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 It's a shame, as they really play with people's emotions. We all like the feeling of winning something. And don't worry, Looney was my nickname at school!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 I've only ever won 2 decent things a pink handbag ( lovely and very barbie ) and £ 20 in M&S vouchers at school fete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 I've had a couple of these - I think the holidays are genuine, but you have to jump through a lot of hoops to get them, plus there are extra charges. You and your OH have to attend a full days 'presentation' - although I'm not sure what they are selling exactly, but it is similar to timeshare. I got them to send me all the details and the tickets, but obviously never went to the presentation. Never heard from them since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 Did you actually use it then? I was told a 2 hour stint but am not going to turn up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 No! They sent us 'exclusive tickets' to the 2 hour 'presentation' thing, but we didn't go - I've got better things to do than drive all the way to Birmingham for a scam. Just read the thread in that link - that sounds exactly right. I think they got my details when I foolishly answered some questions about holiday habits, normally I avoid street surveys like the plague but must have been feeling quite mellow that day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 30, 2009 Author Share Posted April 30, 2009 no worries wont be setting foot near them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyknickers Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 We get calls like this and i just say "not interested, take me off your list, goodbye" and put the phone down. Remember if it sounds to good to be true...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoice Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Might want to read this... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1957890.stm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 I've had a couple of these - I think the holidays are genuine, but you have to jump through a lot of hoops to get them, plus there are extra charges. You and your OH have to attend a full days 'presentation' - although I'm not sure what they are selling exactly, but it is similar to timeshare. I got them to send me all the details and the tickets, but obviously never went to the presentation. Never heard from them since. we went on one of these holidays once because we had had so many calls about them, everyone here is right, the holiday is genuine but the day you have to go to the presentation its as if you are hyjacked, when you make it clear that you are not interested in buying anything, as we did right from the begining when we were offered the holiday, the reps get really aggressive and intimidating, OH got so mad I really thought he was going to hit one of them, he is not like that at all normally but that is how horrible it is. then they dumped us miles away from our hotel. Never again, we got calls for a while after this but they soon stopped when I told them that they had the wrong no. & details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 Snowy is so right - a friend has had this on several occasions and was warnerd by trading standrads that it's a total scam to get you there and subject you to a 2 hour presentation about the timeshare/property they are trying to sell! Nor would I leave my house empty at that alloted time. You are well within your rights to ask to be taken off their mailing list, in fact if you register with the mailing preference service, then they have to comply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted May 1, 2009 Share Posted May 1, 2009 The scratch card win while you are away is the other famous one - we went basically for the free sandwiches and playstation for the kids . After feeding and watering our boys the reps got to the crucial question of what OH did for a living - as he works for an airline, they then quickly showed us the door - but not without our free champagne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
