UK Ferry Tickets

You’re strolling along the beach, minding your own business, when someone offers you a ‘lucky’ scratch card. It promises major prizes but, of course, you have to go to a presentation before you can pick them up.

Does this sound familiar? Has it happened to you or your friends? Apparently, there are lots of sales people handing out scratch cards in resorts in Spain, Tenerife and Cyprus.

If you go to their meeting you’ll find out that they’re pushing holiday clubs – not to be confused with timeshare properties. These holiday clubs charge you several thousand pounds for membership on the promise that you will get access to great deals in future years, saving you much more than the cost of joining.

In the best cases, it’s questionable whether the deals are any better than people could find themselves by browsing the Internet. Often the so-called ‘bargains’ clearly are not bargains at all and, in the worst cases, some companies that sell membership to unsuspecting holidaymakers do not even exist. Many people who have signed up have subsequently rung the number they were given to try to secure cheap flights and hotels, only to find it is unobtainable.

It might seem odd that people were prepared to sign up to these clubs in the first place. But, remember, the sales people giving the talks can be very persuasive and people drop their guard on holiday. Often they end up signing away thousands of pounds just to escape.

My advice is that you should never sign anything on a whim. Of course, these companies want your signature on the spot and promise the earth if you sign instantly. Don’t worry, they’ll still be promising you the earth tomorrow.

Not all holiday clubs are as bad as each other and you may find one that offers genuine benefits. If so, the Timeshare Consumers’ Association warns people to adhere to three golden rules. Make sure you get a 14-day cooling off period which allows you to change your mind within that timeframe, do not pay any money up front and get any promises in writing. Unless a company can fulfil those three requirements, walk away.

Have you fallen foul of a holiday club or maybe even had a positive experience with one?

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Wednesday, August 31st, 2005