RCI Holiday Club scam

[Mike G]

We were in Rethymnon Crete on May 14 and were given 2 scratch cards. One of them (my partner's) had "won" the star prize and the guy handing them out said he was pleased as he got 50 Euros and there were only two a day. We were told the prize was a free holiday, a ghetto blaster, or a camcorder (our choice); all we had to do was listen to a Holiday Club presentation (company called RCI). We were taken by taxi to the plush hotel and were given a long presentation (over 2 hours not the 1 hour we were told). The only drink we were given was the most dilute orange squash ever. The facilities we were shown were fantastic. Anyway, we weren't interested in buying (thinking it was a scam). The "prize" wasn't a choice but the "free holiday". This turned out to be virtually worthless and she binned it.

My partner was more annoyed than I was. As I said to her, we only lost 2-3 hours of our holidays. I bet others signed up!!!!!

I would be interested to hear the experiences of others.

Mike G

[Mal 54]

Some years ago we were in Malta, our sons were only young at the time, we were just walking down the road minding our own business when a small coach stopped, a pretty blonde girl and a young guy got out and asked us if we would like to go and look at a lovely hotel, with swimming pool, it was just a promotion, stupid or what we fell for the chat. Cutting a long story short we were taken to yes a lovely hotel where we were herded like cattle into a room seated and "yes" it was time share, we were green very green infact, never heard of time share before, after 1hr the boys were bored and we asked if we could be returned to our resort, basically we were trapped, were told we had to wait until the speach was over, my husband demanded very politely that we wanted to go now as the boys were bored and we were not interested in time share, they ordered a taxi for us which we had to pay for. Never again. Sorry, but if we are stopped now on holiday we usually just ignore them.
When we were in Tenerife the usual thing was are you British, my husband always says no we are English, "it's the same thing" they reply. "No it isnt my husband replies, anybody can buy a British citizen ship, you have to be born in England to be English" they don't know how to reply to that.
I would be interested to hear how other folk get on getting away from time share people in Tenerife? They have in the past driven us mad, they stand on either side of the road and if they don't get you going one way, they get you coming back.

[HW tenpin]

Well Mother,
Disregarding my Wifes comments that for years I have been ignoring her, when she talks to me, which is totally unfair, I use the same method with these people.
I point to my ear and keep saying...... a, what, can't hear you, speak up young man/lady. Then shrug my shoulders and walk away.

[Mal 54]

"Well Mother,
Disregarding my Wifes comments that for years I have been ignoring her, when she talks to me, which is totally unfair, I use the same method with these people.
I point to my ear and keep saying...... a, what, can't hear you, speak up young man/lady. Then shrug my shoulders and walk away." --- tenpin


Have to remember that one tenpin, will pass that info onto my better half, not that he doesnt do that already, unfortunately he does't have to pretend!

[ronniet]

Hi Mike
This problem occurs in all resorts in Europe the best way to get rid of them is to tell them if their company does rates for declared bankrupts it works every time and you won't see them for dust.

[leanne dawn]

never carry a supermarket carrier bag, a camera on show or a t shirt with a holiday venue on the front and they don't bother you. and unfortunately for all you romantics out there, holding hands is normally a give away that you are on holiday. (not that you don't hold hands at home too.) ccasion1

[EddieGremlin]

Well you could play them along and when they are filling out the forms and they ask you what your employment satus is, tell them your a 1) BBC TV Researcher, 2) Barrister, or 3) Trading standards officer. And watch em squirm.

[gillyd]

We had that same company when we were 'greenhorns' on holiday in Albufeira for the first time a few years ago. We won the holiday and were taken to a lovely holiday complex, where we spent 4 hours listening to the spiel, and we also had one small plastic cup of weak orange squash. The holiday was for accommodation only in Tenerife. It would have cost us nearly �400 to get there back then, plus spending money!! FREE!!!????. They turned right nasty when we said a resounding NO! Since then, new legislation has been brought in to stop high power selling and giving breathing space to change your mind, if you buy.

[Happyperson]

Gosh, Mike. I think your two stooges have twin siblings in Rhodes. Exactly the same patter - these were Club Greece reps though - and apparently RCI is the parent company.

We were told a minimum of 90 mins and were there three hours, then a further hour (which to be fair wasn't their fault, as there was a religious festival on and no taxis could be had for love nor money).

In the end it was the welsh bloke (I think his name was Glen, or something like that) who told us how much it would cost that put us off totally with his attitude. The girl we saw (Janice) was quite convincing. As soon as my husband said he wasn't prepared to sign anything on the day the bloke got quite unpleasant. At that point though my son announced he felt sick - !!!

While Janice showed us where the loo was and brought us a cup of water the lovely Glen was asking my husband whether she had been the one who'd put us off - luckily hubby is quite blunt and said "no, it was you actually".

Yes we won the "free" holiday - no, we won't be taking them up on it. I'm sure we could but I really cannot be bothered. The kids only sat it out in the hope we'd get the camera so they were gutted too - and my son was sick, in the back of the cab we eventually took home - luckily into a huge clear plastic bag that Janice had given us, bless her - she was a decent human being, just doing her job at the end of the day. If she hadn't had to pass us on to the bloke to "close" the deal they'd have stood a better chance. Silly really to spend all that time building up a "relationship" and then not capitalise on it.

Before becoming a mum I worked in marketing so I knew from the outset what they were doing and it was interesting to observe, but other than that a waste of three hours - so my advice would be, to anyone who gets hijacked on the street - only go along if you're very bored and have an iron will. We were misled into thinking I would be able to select my "prize" by the hijackers on the street (basically they will say anything to get you into the cab) but other than that it was pretty much what you'd expect. If like us your hotel has little in the way of TV channels in English for children your kids might appreciate the videos for a few hours but that's about it. :thumbdow:

[hilda]

I was in Albuferia in August and got the same strach card and was told I had won a holiday star prize one of only once a month; I felt kidnapped in a van and brought to resort not of my choice or anywhere I would have chosen to stay subjected to 2 hours of listening to presentation my daughter was upset we lost an afternoon and got a bottle of vinegar wine and a free holiday in same said resort without flights and only redemable with a sign up friends of mine have signed up for this and feel totally ripped off as off peak holidays only that would be very reasonable anyway my advise is to run when you see these people they are so persusive and when you are in happy holiday mode it is very easy to be sucked in RCI should be banned from interupting peoples holidays in this manner my friends have had to pay everything as I believe they are capable of taking legal action for non payment and hence affect your credit also they have all your financial details as direct debit mandates are set up by majority of people I escaped and learnt my lesson I will never be stupid enough to think there is anything as a free lunch or holiday for that matter:icon_grrs