Mrs Draggletail was recently asked to fill in a questionaire by someone on Fargate.

So a few days later we have had a phone call - it seems we have won a holiday in either The Canaries, Balearics, Costa del Sol or the Algarve, all paid for and flights included....

All we have to do to claim our documents of travel is to go down to Burton-on-Trent and sit through a two hour 'presentation'

The company (GVC Travel) hope that this will encourage us to book future holidays through them :suspect:

What do you reckon - will it be an afternoon of full on intensive time share sales pitching?

Anyone heard of GVC or been to one of their 'presentations?'

Of course you have'nt won a holiday, it's basically a timeshare selling ploy. You will have to pay for flights,taxes etc for the so called free holiday. Bin it.

Originally posted by Draggletail
will it be an afternoon of full on intensive time share sales pitching?'
Yes... that's exactly what it will be mate.
Don't bother wasting your time and petrol money.

Just tell them you are single - they will soon tell you that you don't qualify!

My Brother was gullable enough to go to one of these things a few years ago, and basically, they had to spend almost a full day at a hotel on the outskirts of sheffield at a timeshare presentation. And when you signed up for something [ thankfully he wasn't that stupid ], there was a free weeks holiday, but you had to wait to be told when the holiday would be available and be ready to fly in 5 days notice, it could be any time, middle of winter, even christmas day. Not only that, of the week abroad in the resort, you had to spend most of it visiting time share premises.

Even though the holiday was free, there was still lots of things to pay for on this trip.

Unfortunately not much in life comes completely free, I am always very cautious around things like this, if I were you I would forget about it before you are out of pocket and disappointed.

im sure i saw something on watchdog about this a while ago, it was a huge con

Originally posted by Draggletail
Mrs Draggletail was recently asked to fill in a questionaire by someone on Fargate.

So a few days later we have had a phone call - it seems we have won a holiday in either The Canaries, Balearics, Costa del Sol or the Algarve, all paid for and flights included....

All we have to do to claim our documents of travel is to go down to Burton-on-Trent and sit through a two hour 'presentation'

The company (GVC Travel) hope that this will encourage us to book future holidays through them :suspect:

What do you reckon - will it be an afternoon of full on intensive time share sales pitching?

Anyone heard of GVC or been to one of their 'presentations?'

Don't do it, it really is a con...Big Time

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Draggletail
Mrs Draggletail was recently asked to fill in a questionaire by someone on Fargate.

So a few days later we have had a phone call - it seems we have won a holiday in either The Canaries, Balearics, Costa del Sol or the Algarve, all paid for and flights included....

All we have to do to claim our documents of travel is to go down to Burton-on-Trent and sit through a two hour 'presentation'

The company (GVC Travel) hope that this will encourage us to book future holidays through them :suspect:

What do you reckon - will it be an afternoon of full on intensive time share sales pitching?

Anyone heard of GVC or been to one of their 'presentations?' [/QUOTE

Enjoy your 'holiday' and please remember to leave the doors open to allow the burglars in, which is the main point of these sort of things.

My friend won a four-day cruise from something she filled in at the station... I was a bit wary and told her to be careful but all she had to pay was £19.50 port tax and off she went with 3 mates.

She didn't have to go to any presentation or anything though, so sounds like something different to what you've "won".

I got one of these invites for me and my mrs's the presentation day is today (sat) they sent me a letter to comferm the presentation and on the back in small print it said we had to be homeowners and i live in a council house so i thought i'll not ring them up let them ring me up (it's there money) anyway last thursday morning i get's a call just to remind me of the presentation so i told the young girl i was'nt a homeowner BUMP she ditched me in a flash.

So ignore it it's just a BIG CON

Glynn

i too have had one of these phone calls she gave me a number to ring which would confirm what i had to do next , ive binned the idea too unfortunately the ladies on fargate will get a no next time i know they are only doing their jobs but you can do without the hassle

Originally posted by Draggletail
Mrs Draggletail was recently asked to fill in a questionaire by someone on Fargate.

So a few days later we have had a phone call - it seems we have won a holiday in either The Canaries, Balearics, Costa del Sol or the Algarve, all paid for and flights included....


i got jumped on holiday, saying wow youve won a scratch card, then wow youve won the choice of three prizes...come into my office. Where they hit you with the biggest sales pitch ever to sign up to their holiday company. ended up wasting an hour until they eventually agreed that yes, i do get the best deals for holidays and no, they couldnt match it in a million years. didnt get the free hol :confused:

yes i filled one in and never heard a thing good luck to anyone who does

Just take part in genuine surveys if you have the time, the ones that don't promise anything but there's no hidden catch, just about 20 minutes of your time for usually a worthy cause -companies need to find out public opinion so they have an idea how to gauge their product/service. Ok the questions are usually really tedious, but there won't be a sales pitch afterwards (at any stage) and nothing to sign. I've taken part in loads and had no problems. I do get dodgy recorded phone messages telling me I've 'won a holiday' but I don't connect it to the surveys and I've just registered with the telephone preference service.

I wonder how many people who complain about something are the ones who'd refuse to take part in answering a questionnaire but would say 'well, no one asked me!' if the result wasn't what they wanted it to be.

Originally posted by SpeedwayDan
im sure i saw something on watchdog about this a while ago

You did indeed, as I saw the same program.



Originally posted by SpeedwayDan
it was a huge con

Yep:).

Originally posted by Draggletail
Mrs Draggletail was recently asked to fill in a questionaire by someone on Fargate.

So a few days later we have had a phone call - it seems we have won a holiday in either The Canaries, Balearics, Costa del Sol or the Algarve, all paid for and flights included....

All we have to do to claim our documents of travel is to go down to Burton-on-Trent and sit through a two hour 'presentation'

The company (GVC Travel) hope that this will encourage us to book future holidays through them :suspect:

What do you reckon - will it be an afternoon of full on intensive time share sales pitching?

Anyone heard of GVC or been to one of their 'presentations?'

GVC Travel are part of Sunterra Europe, who are indeed one of the big players in the timeshare market, after you attend their presentation at Alrewas near Burton on Trent you will be taken to Wychnor Park Country Club which is a very nice resort, however it is a hard sell for those who attend. You will however get the holiday and I can assure you that most of Sunterra's resorts are of a good quality.

Should you want more information there is a forum dedicated to Sunterra on Timeshare talk, where all your queries will no doubt be answered in full.
http://www.timesharetalk.co.uk/

Should you want any further information on this company PM me and I will do my best to get you some answers. :thumbsup:

Just take part in genuine surveys if you have the time, the ones that don't promise anything but there's no hidden catch.....
Yeh, well - thats what this 'survey' was like, nothing promised whatsoever, just a 'lifestyle' type survey.
When the person asked for our phone number, Mrs Draggle questioned the reason for this and was told it was in case the company wanted to check up on the quality of service/attitude of the interviewer and no more.

Next thing we know we are contacted by phone because we have won a holiday.

And when we did not get back to them, they phoned again to ask why we did not want to claim our holiday.

Phooey.

Here you go Draggletail, more info on GVC/ Sunterra.

http://uk.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-iCdoTv84eqjaooRA0g3lnxuFHC5LOeyJNUGQus1KEuSn

Thanks for that mate.

Thanks for that mate. Am PMing you...

Cheers DT. I think it's important to keep warning folk that these companies do still keep pulling the wool over unwary people's eyes.

Should anyone be thinking of buying into timeshare, or any other kind of holiday club you should have a look at timeshare talk http://www.timesharetalk.co.uk/forum/ttportal.asp?b=4 where you will get answers to most of your timeshare related problems.

Of course you have'nt won a holiday, it's basically a timeshare selling ploy. You will have to pay for flights,taxes etc for the so called free holiday. Bin it.

this is so right won one some years ago only had to go to rotherham to collect free holiday and it was just as quotesays; had to listen to two hours of rubbish ;they wanted people to part with up to 8k then said you could stay in best hotels all over the world by buying points ;useing points for your holiday this ploy was on watch dog they shown that people who paid for these points could not get in hotels when they wanted to ;you should know you dont get howt for nowt

......you should know you dont get howt for nowt

If you read right though my original post you'll see the suspicions I had were borne out by the posts on here.

You actually got as far as Rotherham to claim your free Hol and listened to two hours of guff :hihi:

You should know that you don't get 'owt for nowt :P

I've not read all the post as I have first hand knowledge of this type of scam.
In my younger days I worked for a timeshare company, I was one of them phoning up to say you'd won the free holiday.
We were not allowed to say way were timeshare we had to say holiday ownership & we changed our name every so many months.
Yes you will probably be given the holiday after a 2 hour timeshare presentation where you are all but bullied to sign on the dotted line.
But the holiday comes with certain stipulations, where the stipulations cost you more than the holiday would've if you'd booked yourself.
E.G, You have to have all your meals in the hotel, the meals are extortionatly priced. Or you get the holiday but have to pay for the flights which are a certain price or vice versa.
Honestly don't fall for it, if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is.
The timeshare concept is a good idea just so long as the hotel has actually been built & its a decision you make off your own back.

I bet they were calling from the awards department at somewhere like sunset flight centre. And you've been selected, I bet they asked what you earned etc. Well why?

Maybe I'm just an old Cynic but I reckon:
1 Nobody gives anything away for nothing.
2 If something seems too good to be true.......it is.

I remember the Kirby Cleaners people who used all these tricks to get into your house, then wouldn't leave. We've got one who's now been with us for 4 years, thinking of adopting him.

As mentioned above it is a timeshare scam. I was stopped a couple of years ago and the same thing happened. Naturally wary I did a search on tinternet and found out about GVC. When they called me to tell me I'd won I said they were a timeshare organisation - at which point the caller got all shirty and challenged me to legally prove they were a timeshare scam. Needless to say I didn't take up their offer!

Hehe. All that street-marketing stuff is a waste of time - the basic reason they are out there is to make money... off us. Do like I do and respond to 'have you got a moment?' with a firm 'me no speaka de english'. Works every time.

Here is the latest twist in the Sunterra story.

http://www.scambustersuk.com/

Bah, those fuffing Market Researchers on Fargate should be shot IMO :rant: I got stopped by 3 on Friday morning last week alone, all asking me if I want to answer personal questions and then I might win a prize... FFS sod off and leave me alone!! :rant:

Just to even things up a bit....

I've been a member of GVC (now part of Sunterra) for 12 years. You own points in the system rather than weeks at a resort like standard timeshares. Their resorts are fantastic- - very high quality and in great locations. We go on holiday with them at least once year - anything from two weeks in August in Spain or the Balearics, to a week in Tenerife in February or a weekend in the Lake District in October.

The holiday you've been offered would have had accomodation and flights included, so would have cost you virtually nothing, but they are very last minute, so unless you can drop everything and go, not much use. You would also have had to sit through two hours of very hard sell! However, for many people, GVC offer a great deal - I'm more than satisfied with my membership and have had excellent holidays with them. And no, I'm not on commission, just like to see both sides of the story told!

Bah, those fuffing Market Researchers on Fargate should be shot IMO :rant: I got stopped by 3 on Friday morning last week alone, all asking me if I want to answer personal questions and then I might win a prize... FFS sod off and leave me alone!! :rant:


Totally agree with this, i walked down Fargate friday morning and was stopped every 3/4 steps by market researches i was getting well annoyed!!!! I'm heavily pregnant and so didnt need it as i was so warm in the sun - in the end i did give in and answer questions about holidays, first question being am i planning any holidays soon, i thought do i look like i'll be holidaying anytime soon i'm about to drop!!!!- think its the same holiday thing but i was naughty and gave a false phone number as i expected they'd be calling me with some con!!! I'll be avoiding Fargate in future.

I won a Holiday, I won a holiday, Can't wait, Beiruit anyone been?

Am so excited, is it nice?

Hmm, maybe I should try that, give 'em a false phone number, something like 01234 567890 :D

I won a Holiday, I won a holiday, Can't wait, Beiruit anyone been?

Am so excited, is it nice?

No, Beirut, last time I checked, was a Warzone, even worse than that estate in S2 that nobody likes.

Hmm, maybe I should try that, give 'em a false phone number, something like 01234 567890 :D
Thats not false Rich.
Thats mine. R Bobbar. :hihi:

Just to even things up a bit....

I've been a member of GVC (now part of Sunterra) for 12 years. You own points in the system rather than weeks at a resort like standard timeshares. Their resorts are fantastic- - very high quality and in great locations. We go on holiday with them at least once year - anything from two weeks in August in Spain or the Balearics, to a week in Tenerife in February or a weekend in the Lake District in October.

The holiday you've been offered would have had accomodation and flights included, so would have cost you virtually nothing, but they are very last minute, so unless you can drop everything and go, not much use. You would also have had to sit through two hours of very hard sell! However, for many people, GVC offer a great deal - I'm more than satisfied with my membership and have had excellent holidays with them. And no, I'm not on commission, just like to see both sides of the story told!


Chris, Sunterra are no longer offering free flights or accomodation, in fact they have (or say they have) closed down their sales decks at all their resorts. I know that the one at Wychnor Park has been closed down because a friend of mine who lives in Lichfield uses Wychnor as his local club, and he says that it is deserted a lot of the time.

The product that Sunterra have is a good product, but it is sold in an underhand way, and that is what's behind a lot of the bad press that they are getting.

To see more about their devious and underhanded ways look at this site where there is a whole forum dedicated to Sunterra.


http://www.timesharetalk.co.uk/forum/default.asp?CAT_ID=11

No, Beirut, last time I checked, was a Warzone, even worse than that estate in S2 that nobody likes.
Now rich there no need to go that far s14 much worse than that where i live it is beriut:confused:

Hi Owdlad

I agree about the underhand way in which timeshares are sold, but Sunterra were certainy offering free flights and accommodation a few weeks ago.
The catch was that you had to be free to go at very short notice. If you wanted to choose a time, then you had the choice of free flights or accommodation but not both.

As you say, their product is a good one, but won't suit everyone. My advice to anyone considering timeshare is to think very carefully, and talk to other customers. I'd be very happy to talk to anyone about the Sunterra product, and to be honest about whether I thought it suited them or not.
Cheers
Chris

I got a letter last week saying I had won a holiday to florida and this came from some company called club la costa ( uk ) in london it also goes on to say that I will get seven nights luxury accommodation for up to 4 people along with 4 return flights, it also goes on to say that I will recieve some bonus gifts like free vouchers worth £75 redeemable at argos,mark and spencers, john lewis, debenhams and selfridges and that i should be at their leeds office for 19:00 next friday night to claim it also this hoilday is valid for 18 months, then i got a phone call from them on thursday asking if I would be going to leeds on the friday to pick it up, my reply was know I dont think so as I will be busy with my new bride who as just had her 65th birthday they put the phone down on me. nothing is free in this world you have to pay for everything holidays included

Hi Owdlad

I agree about the underhand way in which timeshares are sold, but Sunterra were certainy offering free flights and accommodation a few weeks ago.
The catch was that you had to be free to go at very short notice. If you wanted to choose a time, then you had the choice of free flights or accommodation but not both.

As you say, their product is a good one, but won't suit everyone. My advice to anyone considering timeshare is to think very carefully, and talk to other customers. I'd be very happy to talk to anyone about the Sunterra product, and to be honest about whether I thought it suited them or not.
Cheers
Chris

Hi Chris
Read some of the goings on that are surrounding the directors at Sunterra, and you will realise what a sordid lot they are. One of their ex-employees, a man called Ian Podesta has been exposing the lies that surround Sunterra, and it's looking as if Club La Costa will be the new owners of Sunterra in the not too distant future. Try doing a google on Sunterra, Benson, Podesta, and see what comes up.

Sunterra have only recently paid to the Spanish Gov't over 2 Million euro's in back taxes, plus another 900,000 euros in fines for late payments. The whistle blower in that case was a guy called Bernie Dobson who was a director of Sunterra that Nick Benson the CEO of Sunterra got rid of.

Read more about the whole sordid goings on at Sunterra on http://www.timesharetalk.co.uk/forum/default.asp?CAT_ID=11 Also if you have any questions relating to any other timeshare related problems, or where to buy timeshares you will find the answers on there, and honest answers, not just waffle from company reps.

Cheers
owdlad.

Hi again

I suppose all I was trying to say is that I've been a member for 12 years, had some great holidays in some ace places and think I've had vaule for money. As just an ordinary member, all of the dirt has just passed me by - I didn't even know about it. Maybe it shouldn't have done, but it hasn't affected me at all. I wasn't even subjected to a hard sell when I joined - I was the one who decided I wanted to buy in, and I approached them! How times must have changed :-)
Chris

Oh my... don't get roped into this!

Do they still take you to an office next to Virgin Megastore?

Hi Owdlad, how are you?

Do you mind posting this info on the Tenerife forum or do you mind if I do 'cos I don't think any of the members have heard about this.

Thanks :)

Hi Owdlad, how are you?

Do you mind posting this info on the Tenerife forum or do you mind if I do 'cos I don't think any of the members have heard about this.

Thanks :)

Hi sparkle, I have no objections to you posting it on the Tenerife Forum, in fact I think it's a brilliant idea.

Thanks Owdlad, I'm coming back over to England soon so I hope the weather is ok. When are you back over to visit Tenerife? :)

Thanks Owdlad, I'm coming back over to England soon so I hope the weather is ok. When are you back over to visit Tenerife? :)

Hi Sparkle, it's freezing and hissing it down with rain here at present :mad: but it wont bother me soon as I am joining you at the end of June for a couple of weeks.:D

Hi again

I suppose all I was trying to say is that I've been a member for 12 years, had some great holidays in some ace places and think I've had vaule for money. As just an ordinary member, all of the dirt has just passed me by - I didn't even know about it. Maybe it shouldn't have done, but it hasn't affected me at all. I wasn't even subjected to a hard sell when I joined - I was the one who decided I wanted to buy in, and I approached them! How times must have changed :-)
Chris

Hi Chris, the Sunterra plot thickens, they have now re-appointed Mackinac & Partners, who helped them out of chapter 11 in 2000. This time around they are appointed to run Sunterra Europe. Let's hope this isn't the beginning of the end for Sunterra in Europe.

More news can be seen here http://www.timesharetalk.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2666

Mrs Draggletail was recently asked to fill in a questionaire by someone on Fargate.

So a few days later we have had a phone call - it seems we have won a holiday in either The Canaries, Balearics, Costa del Sol or the Algarve, all paid for and flights included....

All we have to do to claim our documents of travel is to go down to Burton-on-Trent and sit through a two hour 'presentation'

The company (GVC Travel) hope that this will encourage us to book future holidays through them :suspect:

What do you reckon - will it be an afternoon of full on intensive time share sales pitching?

Anyone heard of GVC or been to one of their 'presentations?'

Often you have actually won a holiday........but only for one, and the price for someone to go with you is extortionate.

I won one too.. that'll teach me to be nice and stop to chat to the market research ladies! Won't be doing that again.. I don't want to be hassled by timeshare companies.

It really tickles me when I read all the comments on this site. The word Timeshare frightens most more than a letter from the tax man! Why can't you realise that it is a certain type of sale, they do ask for commitment, but you will only do that if you want to, unless you are a little spineless. Take them at their own game, go and have a look...but only if you have strength of mind to say NO with confidence.However, from what I read on this site not many of you can own up to that attribute! It can be fun, something a little different, and if you are flexible, you get a cheap holiday offer. I won't buy into the idea...I don't believe that it works...but I was'nt afraid of it and had quite a nice off peak holiday in Tenerife! Stop being sheep!!

hi just heard about this on channel five news its all a scam to get you to part with lots of money dont go there:|