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mikesbox60
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29-02-2004 12:07 PM
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Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 2
| Can Press Marketing and the pitfalls of Holiday Clubs
During a recent short holiday to Tenerife, my wife and were stopped on a number of occasions by (mainly attractive and British) young women offering us a “free” scratch card. We managed to resist these until one morning we were approached right opposite our hotel. My wife was given a card first and whilst she rubbed the coating off to reveal that she had won a free t-shirt that she could pick up at the airport on departure, the women had gleaned some vital information! She had established that we were both in full-time employment and what we did, that we used and had a credit card with us and that we were house owners. On reflection I suspect that this information determined the type of scratch card which was then given to me which revealed a “star prize” which had to be collected from the office there and then. A taxi was summonsed to take us there. I wonder if I had been a financial advisor or reporter or if we had both been unemployed if I would have won a t-shirt!!
We were met and subjected to a presentation which we were told would last at least an hour and eventually lasted over two and a half hours before being presented with the prize. This would either be 100 euros, a camcorder, an exotic holiday or 1000 euros. However this was not until seeing if we had won another prize! If the numbers on our credit card matched those on a card we were shown we would have won a cash prize. How better way could they check what credit cards we had and ensure that we had the means with us to pay the deposit that we would be asked for later
After the presentation we were invited/persuaded to sign up for a holiday club with Club Class Holidays and advised of a cash back scheme whereby after 49 months we would receive back virtually all our initial investment. One of those stories that sound too good to be true, I hear you say, and yes on reflection we decided that it probably was. But I was persuaded to part with a deposit (via my credit card) of £1,950 and sign up. More fool me I hear you say! The total cost would be £6,400.
I then scratched of the panel on my scratch card to reveal that I had won the exotic holiday. But all is not what it seems, the locations are nice but hardly exotic and guess what it is subject to attending a presentation whilst there with the hope that you will sign up for something else I guess
On return from my holiday I decided to try to find out more about Can Press Marketing S.L. We had been dealt with by at least 5 different people none of whom had revealed their full name and there were no names of directors or any individual on any of the correspondence or documents received at the time or since. A search of the internet revealed nothing. After a while I discovered the web site www.timeshare.org.uk where I found a helpful section on Holiday clubs, which also listed Club Class Holidays (part of Leisure Alliance) and Reclaim Ltd who operate the cashback scheme. Needless to say this reinforced my fears and I immediately commenced steps to cancel the contract, following the advice on the website.
Can Press responded by saying that I was outside the 7 day period for cancellation as stated in the contract. However I was thankfully within the 10 day “claw back” period under the code operated by credit card companies and they have been extremely helpful in this matter.
I would add that I have nothing against Club Class Holidays; I am unable to comment on way or another. But if the information on the www.timeshare.org.uk site is right then only a very small amount of what you pay actually pays for the produce, probably as little as 10% which is the very thing Can Press said about conventional tour operators of in the first place!
I would be interested to know of others who have had similar experiences especially with Can Press Marketing S.L. who operate out of Playa De Las Americas, Tenerife.
If you have got yourself into such a situation act now and consult your solicitor.
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Pingu
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01-03-2004 10:30 AM
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Joined: 11 Nov 2003
Posts: 86
My Profile
| Never been subject to this myself, and now having got rid of all my credit cards hopefully never will be!! I know my parents have been taken off in taxis a few times after winning a 'prize' but even with Mum's uncontrolable urge to spend money, they're never actually taken up the offers. I went to Tenerife though a couple of summers ago and did find that the PR'S for companies such as the one you mentioned are constantly on your case - personally I find them so annoying I avoid them as much as possible. It was the same in Gran Canaria last year - they just harrass you to the point where you want to kill them!
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My Latest Review: Sep 2005 Sandals Antigua Caribbean Village & Spa Hotel, St Johns A&B (7/10)
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Sazz
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01-03-2004 11:59 AM
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Joined: 14 Jan 2004
Posts: 200
My Profile
| I'm sorry but I cant understand why anyone would want to buy a timeshare, unless I'm missing something. I mean what is the point of buying the right to 2 weeks in the same accommodation every year (I realise you can swap with other timeshare anywhere in the world). What are the actual benefits of buying timeshare??
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BrianJackson
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19-03-2004 09:17 AM
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Joined: 19 Mar 2004
Posts: 39
My Profile
| Please find a list of the advantages of having a timeshare:
1. :oops: None
2. See 1.
End of Message ! 8)
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Davyburns
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13-04-2004 04:06 PM
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Joined: 13 Apr 2004
Posts: 10
My Profile
| I have just bought a week in Tenerife on Ebay for £21.00, but with the transfer fees, and service charges, I dont think I am any better off. Whoa betide the people who pay £5,000 a week for them.
davy
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Andre
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08-08-2004 06:16 PM
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Joined: 08 Aug 2004
Posts: 1
| My wife and I got caught witjh a similar scheme. Unfortunately they picked on my wife who is a such a sucker for lucky gifts; one armed-bandits are made for her. And off course you are on holiday and the sun is hot and before you know it, they have every thing they need to know. I hope I can get my money back.
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nannytaxi
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25-03-2005 09:15 PM
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Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 1
| Can Press Marketing are now also trading in Benidorm on the Costa Blanca as Preferred Marketing/Nova Investments, using the same tricks as always to lure you..... unfortunately i have also fallen into the trap and have parted with my money (deposit) at this stage. Would welcome any feedback or help into ways of getting released from this contract. Only had second thoughts after the event and have now had a chance to surf the web for more information.
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Doves
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05-10-2005 09:27 PM
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Joined: 04 Oct 2005
Posts: 1
| :mad: My husband and I have been cleverly conned by Travelsafe Holidays (Holiday Club) whilst on holiday in Gran Canaria.We have put down a deposit of £4,500 with a further £8000 to be paid in a months time. We have cancelled the contract and are now trying to 'claw back' our deposit. The rep was very aggressive when she found out we cancelled the contract. I hope we get our money back.
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My Latest Review: Sep 2005 Cay Beach Princess Bungalows, Maspalomas (3/10)
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scubaondown
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03-12-2005 05:54 PM
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Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 3
| My story is the same large deposit which I am trying to claw back via the credit card company.
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scubaondown
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03-12-2005 05:59 PM
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Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 3
| I am in a similar situation having just returned from Tenerife where we were kidnapped by Carpe Diem, a marketing agency for Travelsafe Holidays.
Despite my rule(never buy holidays, on holiday) i parted with a considerable deposit only to find that both Carpe Diem and Travelsafe are blacklisted as companies that defraud people.
I am now trying to claw back my depsoit via the credit card company.
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pipin
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02-01-2006 07:41 PM
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Joined: 02 Jan 2006
Posts: 2
| Can Press Marketing and the pitfalls of Holiday Clubs
During a recent short holiday to Tenerife, my wife and were stopped on a number of occasions by (mainly attractive and British) young women offering us a “free” scratch card. We managed to resist these until one morning we were approached right opposite our hotel. My wife was given a card first and whilst she rubbed the coating off to reveal that she had won a free t-shirt that she could pick up at the airport on departure, the women had gleaned some vital information! She had established that we were both in full-time employment and what we did, that we used and had a credit card with us and that we were house owners. On reflection I suspect that this information determined the type of scratch card which was then given to me which revealed a “star prize” which had to be collected from the office there and then. A taxi was summonsed to take us there. I wonder if I had been a financial advisor or reporter or if we had both been unemployed if I would have won a t-shirt!!
We were met and subjected to a presentation which we were told would last at least an hour and eventually lasted over two and a half hours before being presented with the prize. This would either be 100 euros, a camcorder, an exotic holiday or 1000 euros. However this was not until seeing if we had won another prize! If the numbers on our credit card matched those on a card we were shown we would have won a cash prize. How better way could they check what credit cards we had and ensure that we had the means with us to pay the deposit that we would be asked for later
After the presentation we were invited/persuaded to sign up for a holiday club with Club Class Holidays and advised of a cash back scheme whereby after 49 months we would receive back virtually all our initial investment. One of those stories that sound too good to be true, I hear you say, and yes on reflection we decided that it probably was. But I was persuaded to part with a deposit (via my credit card) of £1,950 and sign up. More fool me I hear you say! The total cost would be £6,400.
I then scratched of the panel on my scratch card to reveal that I had won the exotic holiday. But all is not what it seems, the locations are nice but hardly exotic and guess what it is subject to attending a presentation whilst there with the hope that you will sign up for something else I guess
On return from my holiday I decided to try to find out more about Can Press Marketing S.L. We had been dealt with by at least 5 different people none of whom had revealed their full name and there were no names of directors or any individual on any of the correspondence or documents received at the time or since. A search of the internet revealed nothing. After a while I discovered the web site www.timeshare.org.uk where I found a helpful section on Holiday clubs, which also listed Club Class Holidays (part of Leisure Alliance) and Reclaim Ltd who operate the cashback scheme. Needless to say this reinforced my fears and I immediately commenced steps to cancel the contract, following the advice on the website.
Can Press responded by saying that I was outside the 7 day period for cancellation as stated in the contract. However I was thankfully within the 10 day “claw back” period under the code operated by credit card companies and they have been extremely helpful in this matter.
I would add that I have nothing against Club Class Holidays; I am unable to comment on way or another. But if the information on the www.timeshare.org.uk site is right then only a very small amount of what you pay actually pays for the produce, probably as little as 10% which is the very thing Can Press said about conventional tour operators of in the first place!
I would be interested to know of others who have had similar experiences especially with Can Press Marketing S.L. who operate out of Playa De Las Americas, Tenerife.
If you have got yourself into such a situation act now and consult your solicitor.
Hi we were on holiday in Los Cristianos Tenerife in November 2005.
We were stopped by a tout with a scratch card, acting for the holiday warehouse.I was sick of getting stopped so i rightly or wrongly gave her our company card, she produced another card saying we'd won a holiday but have to attend a talk.
We were very cynical and should have stayed this way.
After a very CONvincing talk,
We paid £1900 on our credit card and was told that we could have interest free credit, the finance company would settle our credit card.
We have been sold a complete lie, the interest free credit they want us to pay is in fact a monthy direct debit into there bank account, to pay the remainder, they denied that they said the free credit would cover the whole amount.
We are in contact with the company at present but feel that we have lost nearly two grand.:mad:
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My Latest Review: Nov 2005 Victoria Court II, Los Cristianos (8/10)
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diddydi
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26-06-2007 05:30 PM
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Joined: 26 Jun 2007
Posts: 8
| club class is a scam we paid £5,500 money back after 6 years not so the latest is ringing you from pearl consultants and after a very interesting talk asked for £132 to get the paper work from tenerife tourist board and we would be sure of getting our money back not so again what they want next is £2,500 for a lawyer in santa cruz to fight your case and you will get your money back included interest not so again you need to pay any money( £132) because another gang out in tenerife have everybodies name address what they paid and the date when you paid i have seen this myself pearl consultants arranged to meet me when i went over there in may but of course they never showed i threatened to go to the office and i was told over the phone that i would not be seen i then threatened them with a lawyer i was told that their lawyer was there i spoke to him and he said i was being aggressive i asked for my £132 back and he said i could have it but i left the island later that day and i am still waiting i sent a letter to yesterday telling them i want my £132 back within 10 days or i was going public with their scam why hav,nt tenerife tourist board or government stepped in to stop these people there are more than lot of people doing this scam i found out by getting stopped in the street in torvisas and going with then to see a load of men in an office in fanube it was their that i saw the reams of paper with all these names and addresse mine included and how much it would cost i have written to watchdog in the last few days lets see if i get a reply
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My Latest Review: May 2007 Sunset Harbour Club Apartments, Playa De Las Americas (10/10)
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Fred 2
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26-06-2007 10:05 PM
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Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 1877
My Profile
| Why not write directly to the Tourist Office telling them that these people are giving the place a bad name among English tourists and it is bad for business? Perhaps copy to the Chamber of Commerce - relevant office may be found here
www.camaratenerife.com/sedes.cfm
perhaps including the odd comma.
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fitness
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08-08-2007 03:55 PM
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Joined: 08 Aug 2007
Posts: 1
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here is a scam bit from royal holiday in cancun , i have got back before the 5 day clause was over but still waiting on money
To: ccarballido@royal-holiday.com
, commentsquality@royal-holiday.com
Subject: Notice to get Dissolution Agreement from Royal Holiday contract
Date: Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:18:17 -0600
August 7th ( 12:20 G.M.T)
Dear Ma. del Carmen Carballido Robles,
Further to our discussion I am writing to inform you that we are canceling our dealings with this contract and the Royal Holiday Club.
On arriving home to the Uk we had the time to look more into your company and realize it was not to be as reputable as suggested.
Although no one informed us that we had any reconsideration rights , we have seen that Mexican law does in fact give the buyer 5 days which no one told us at any point either, more or less hard selling us into the package.
Mexican law does not allow me to waive my right of cancellation. Mexican law also requires that I receive sufficient and truthful information about the products acquired (Articles 32, 33 & 34 of the Federal Consumer Protection Law). Clearly this was not the case. Mexican law also gives me the right to rescind the contract when the products acquired are defective in manufacture or hidden defects (Article 82 of the Federal Consumer Protection Law).
Taking into consideration the original mis- selling of the package on the day that we signed, we are not happy with going forward with this company and formally request that all funds be transferred and a Dissolution Agreement sent. The original mis selling has made it unable to trust this company and its membership.
We are aware of numerous internet sites relating to similar problems and with the seemingly guaranteed amount of the annuity, and also the lack of being able to contact people with issues among many other things.
We are also aware of thousands of filed complaints via the U.S.A Government.
As well as the following sites dedicated http://groups.msn.com/RoyalHolidayClubConsumerAction/messages.msnw
http://www.ripoffreport.com/results.asp?q1=ALL&q4=&q6=
&q3=&q2=&q7=&searchtype=0&submit2=Search%21&q5=royal+holiday&Search=Search
http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=royal+holiday+club
http://www.thesqueakywheel.com/Viewcomplaints.cfm?ShowComplaintTypes=AllTypes&SortComplaintsBy=CompanyName
Should you not respond to this email and refund any monies taken we shall be forced to issue complaints with the Mexican Administration for Tourism, PROFECO , as well as contacting the BBC in the Uk.
Our contact details are below for you to contact at your earliest convenience , we shall be stopping and informing our credit card company to claim back any charges.
Regards,
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My Latest Review: Mar 2008 Island Escape Cruise Ship (1/10)
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