Sugar Reef Travel Clubs Free Holiday

by **wackojacko** on Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:08 pm

maejane - this is all part of a huge scam. Please report your experiences to devon trading standards and help us put these con artists out of business. Every bit of hard evidence is vital amunition. See threads on Buena Viva and Matford Call Centre - all part of the same routine and company - ultimately St Frances Marketing of Exeter!

by **CarryOnCamping** on Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:45 pm

Thanks to everyone for their warnings about these presentations. We have been invited to one by "Maestro Marketing" - which I guess is this years name for the same company.

by **devonangel** on Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:19 pm

Hi again - I've just been contacted by phone by a company called "Matrix" or somthing like that that were pleased to inform me that as a result of a holiday survey "You have been selected to be the winner of a holiday" In no uncertain terms I informed them they could go forth and multiply - to which the response I got it "oh you've been conned" "Well you've lined our pockets" "Goodbye" and the phone was put down.

I will continue to do these surveys and they will get the same reponse everytime I get the call to say I've been lucky

Oh they did ask me not to swear at them as well - well little chance of that if they keep phoning.

by **devongirl63** on Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:20 pm

Re Maestro Marketing

Have a look at this MSE thread

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/sho ... p=12439357

Do Not Send Off ANY Money...

by **m121584** on Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:17 pm

Thank you very much for everyone's help - we were due to go to Exeter tomorrow, having specifically asked was this time share, was there selling and were told no - we will now not waste the fuel!!!
Wary Taunton

by **devongirl63** on Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:39 pm

Hi all

Further to my above comments I have been in further correspondence with Sugar Reef and getting nowhere.
But.... just had a phone call from 'Stay for Free' holiday breaks offering me my free weekend break from 2 years ago. The very nice lady couldn't tell me why I was suddenly getting a phone call out of the blue??

The free weekend was our special gift for attending the presentation and I hadn't heard anything after sending off the forms. Sugar Reef claimed that this was a separate company to them.

The very nice lady asked me if I had taken another holiday with Sugar Reef. Ummm?

Anyone else had anything similar? Any idea about the name? I'm concerned that if we take this break (and I don't think we will be) Sugar Reef will claim we have accepted our 'membership' and that will invalidate my claim in court.

All thoughts gratefully received!

DG

by **Fred 2** on Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:32 pm

www.stayforfree.co.uk was registered on 19th May 2008 at the address of Sugar Reef, 2nd Floor, 57 High Street, Exeter. There is nothing on the site yet, but perhaps it is going to be a replacement for Sugar Reef.

It isn't a separate company - it isn't a company at all - as Stayforfree Limited, previously with the same Registered Address as Sugar Reef, was dissolved in 2006. It is therefore just another trading name - probably of Sugar Reef, but perhaps of St Frances.

by **devongirl63** on Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:24 am

Thank you Fred, I knew I could rely on one of you lovely generous people out there.

Don't think we'll be taking up our 'free' weekend break after all then. Can you imagine being trapped with their sales staff for a whole weekend!

by **handful** on Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:56 pm

Just thought I'd update you on the new name...Amazon Marketing. They first of all ask if they can do a 20 second survey and then if you do, they phone back a few days later offering the £49 holiday. I was curious so listened and have to say the girl was extremely polished with her performance. I'm supposed to be going to the 'presentation' on Sunday 24th but have absolutely no intention of going and never did so they will have one less person to try and con!

by **dogbot** on Fri Aug 15, 2008 11:02 pm

I received the same 2 minute holiday survey telephone call, only to be called back a day later with the offer of a £49 holiday for attending the presentation in Exeter.
The confirmation letter they sent uses the name 'Midas Marketing UK' but is obviously the same con artists named in this thread as they're operating from the 3 Northleigh House address in Exeter and the 'presentation' is at Elizabeth House, Alba Court, Exeter Business Park, EX1 3QS. - both quoted by other posters.

Even before finding this forum we were pretty sceptical about a company giving out free holidays on the basis that it would help "word of mouth marketing" for the holiday company they represent. Especially as when questioned on the phone the woman couldn't even tell me the name of the holiday company they're suposed to promoting! Is it just me or does this sound like an incredibly expensive way of marketing!!! I've never heard of Ford giving away free cars in the hope you tell your friends and family how much you like driving them!

The next alarm bell rang when we received the confirmation letter for the presentation. It looked like it had been produced on a home computer, was riddled with spelling mistakes and was suspiciously vague about the content of the presentation and 'free' holiday. Having read the previous threads, we obviously have no intention of attending now.

Interestingly, the letter states "you can be sure that a bona fide and ABTA registered travel operator will handle your holiday." From all the other contributors who attended the presentations and left with a Sugar Reef Holiday Club leaflet to claim their holiday - it would appear that this company is the 'bona fide' travel operator referred to. However, I seriously doubt they are an ABTA member! - Another fraudulent statement that should be brought to the attention of trading standards. (As should the unauthorised use of the trademarks of B&Q, ASDA and Tesco in connection with the vouchers they're offering. I doubt any of these companies would wish to be connected with this scam).