Carpe Diem

[stucarr]

Hello,
I am looking for some advice1
i have just been offered a holiday from 'carpe diem' and I am wondering if anyone has been on something simular/
if so, is this a good thing, or a con?
your thoughts

[HW Chris]

Hi Stu,

Welcome to Holiday Watchdog.

Give this thread a read it maybe of interest to you.

http://www.holidaywatchdog.com/forum/sh ... php?t=1813

Chris

[Mckenzie Evans]

Hi all, I went for a very polite and informative 2 1/2 hour chat to the Carpe Diem people in Tenerife, (only for the Duty Free and the fact that surprise Surprise I have won free Holiday Accomodation for which I pay 90 euroes administration fee). I dont know if it a Scam but this is what they seem to offer:

1. You agree to give them some cash, Credit agreement for an initial �3500 payed over 3 years - �160 odd a month:

2. They Sell you vouchers for 90 weeks of holidays (You must still pay for the holidays) however.

3. you give them back 10 vouchers which they sell on your behalf raising so they claim between �6,000 to �8,000. Because they are selling somthing for you they dont pay some sort of Tax (or something).

4. They keep the �3500 and the money raised from selling your vouchers(holidays) to corporate entertainment people - so they are �10,000 to �12,000 the richer.

5. You get to use their corporate facilities to purchase up to three Holidays a year at a substantial saving. they claim (and it may be correct) that a high street 4 or 5 star holiday purchased through them could cost between �600 - �1000 cheaper than on the high Street. But oyu still have to pay for the price of your holidays, THEY ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE �12,000 THEY HAVE MADE.

6. if all the sums work out 80 Holidays taken over 30 years could save you between �48,000 to �80,000 off of the high street price.

I dont know if it is a Con I am aware that all the High street travel agents have to pay their Staff, cost of Shops, Cost of magazines ETC, etc.

I would love to know more, especially as I am going to go back for the free accomodation, I expect more convivial sales patter but I wont part with any Cash.

ccasion1

[Fred 2]

Complicated, isn't it. Almost designed to confuse perhaps? All that you are actually signing up for, however they dress it up, is access to a database which may, perhaps, let you find holidays where you want them, when you want them. Or it won't. Too late when you have paid. What is the holiday market going to do over 30 years? Could your tastes or family circumstances change over that time? The upshot is that you are being asked to part with money up-front and, in effect, agree to do business with them on their terms for years and years purely on their promise (& I bet that they don't actually promise it in the contract because no company could) that they will actually be in business long enough for you to get all these cheap holidays. Even if they are on the level, how many holiday companies last that long? You can almost certainly do as well or better by using the internet with wider choice not limited to just where they operate.

This is a good summary of holiday clubs (& read p2 also)
http://www.ecic.ie/publications/leaflet ... arning.pdf

[tezmand]

been there done that only for the duty free at end of day i cost them money they took me by taxi they gave me and hubby drinks and the kids drinks and ice cream i got 200 ciggys and a bottle of spirits and then i said no, they then had to take me back in a taxi , alls good on a boring day something to do wasnt it, play them at their own game.http://bestsmileys.com/weather/3.gif

[tigerfeet2]

hi, we went to see carpe diem 2 yrs ago, we had a charming sales man called mark? my partner and i were charmed for 6hrs, we just couldnt get away from this man. after all this time we signed up with them,(big mistake). We signed over our 2bed time share, gave them over 3000 on credit card and they aranged a loan company in england for us to pay more than 5000. It sounded great everbody that was there was drinking champaign and signing paper work. We were shown holiday vouchers booklets which we were told they were for 30 years worth of holidays? we joined the rental income program with them and were told that we would receive a minium of 2000 pound back in three yrs time but to a maxium of 12000 back. after being wisked to see there solicotor Pascel Portrel paper work sealed. we were given a snazzy breif case freebys for the children holiday vouchers to use with travel safe hoildays club. None of this means anything. they still want money from us . we have been looking into if people have received any money back but nobody sends good news. If i was you i would stay well clear with out a dout. would like to know if anybody else has info on this company.

[jules35]

I have parted with �4000 in oct06 we also were subject to a 6 hour ordeal but parted with this money. Now this is were it gets interesting i was contacted by a legal firm ?? from tenerife telling me i have been scammed well blew me away i contacted Carpe Diem and they were very helpful and said that they would investigate this and there legal team has done so?? at this point i do not trust anyone of them, Diem or the legal company, Diem are saying that they are a tel marketing company, the legal firm said that the can get me my money back but it will cost me 10% of amount recouped can any one help me email addresses any thing that will help yours CMB

[Fred 2]

The contact by the legal firm pretty much certainly a scam. For a start, how did they get your name? Could you please post the name of the firm.

Carpe Diem is well known. For initial advice you could look at http://www.timeshare.org.uk/ and/or contact www.euroconsumer.org.uk/ which deals with cross-border disputes. If you paid any or all of the amount to CD by credit card you should contact your card supplier with a view to recovering your money on the grounds of misrepresentation. It would be advisable to send an account of your experience with CD to the Office of Fair Trading at www.oft.gov.uk.

[Fred 2]

Seen elsewhere - it really makes you want to sign up, doesn't it?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/investigates/

- this is today's headline page, if these stories are not headlined when you read it go to "Exposed: the holiday club rogues" (DWVC) and "A deal...or tout of order?" (Carpe Diem).

Says it all, pretty much.

[Tally]

We have been members of CD since Nov 2005. Just been contacted by firm called Travel Group who say they are acting on behalf of the Canary Islands Tourist Board and they can get our money back.
Anyone had any dealings?