By Ressie
I went to a vacation package sales meeting with the promise of receiving a free trip for 2. Of course I was skeptickle but asked the guy on the phone”Are you sure there are no strings?” He assured me there were not. I went and did in fact get a voucher for a “free” trip. However after paying a $40 admin fee I realized it may not be so free. However with a $40 investment I kept going. I filled out all the forms and got another voucher. Now it was a $65 admin fee. I decided it was worth it for hotel and airfare for two to Las Vegas. I then got another voucher. I sent that one in as now I was in for $105 and refused to quit. Then I hit the bottom line….$300 in “taxes” and a maximum $250 in air fare. Bottom line was my “free” trip would have cost us over $900.
So I hope you all learn my expensive lesson…if it seems to good to be true…IT IS!
Vacation Getaways LLC, SUCKS
Terry says...
I commend you for coming forward and sharing your experience. I always wonder who is dumb enough to go in for these scams, and now I know. It is sad that these companies prey on people like yourself with intellectual disabilities. There really should be more consumer protection legislation/enforcement to stop these types of predatory schemes.
Shejayd says...
I worked telemarketing for them for one day, then realized it was a scam and not worth 7 dollars an hour i got to scam people.
Eric says...
Shejayd, I too got a “job” with something like that. However, once I realized the scam I pretty much informed the people I called that it was, in fact, a total scam and that they should report the company. I think I made about 10 calls before they “fired” me
Kris says...
Good for you, Eric
Sounds like something I would do.
Brooke says...
I used to work for a resort about two hours away from my city. And we did have telemarketers who would call and offer a two night stay at no charge. You did have to give a credit card, but it was completely free (unless you didn’t show up or something). You did have to attend a 90 minute seminar on time share on your second day there but you also got a gift certificate, usually of about $75 to spend at the restaurant or spa. My point is:
It isn’t always a scam. (It usually is though). Sometimes it can pay to look into it a bit more. Like call the resort themselves and make sure before you dismiss the whole idea.
Chase says...
Brooke - right it’s not always a scam, but there is always some catch. People just have to remember that no one is really going to give you a vacation for free, it would be really bad business! There’s either hidden fees or they want you to do something for them e.g. be a captive audience or get pressured to buy something else.