I just got a wonderful telemarketing call …
| Me: | Hello. |
| Me: | Hello?. |
| Me: | Helllllo? |
| Me: | [pauses] |
| Me: | Hello?. |
| Me: | Sorry I’m not receiving any audio from your end, so if you can hear me, hang up, or if you’re an automated dialler I’m just going to keep on so you pay for the call. |
| After just enough time for a generic answer phone message to have completed, a recording began to playback at me: | |
| Recording: | Congratulations! You have just won the jackpot! Hi my name is Michael Smith from the Corporate Reward Centre in Las Vegas. You have just won the jackpot! Please call ring free 0800 091 0084 to claim your prize and matching your claim code: Jackpot. Again that number is ring free 0800 091 0084. Congratulations, and we look forward to speaking to you. |
So, noting that my star sign is Inquisitive (with Curious rising) and knowing that 0800 numbers are freephone; I called them:
| Kitty: | Amerisuites Vacations this is Kitty, how may I help? |
| Me: | Who? |
| Kitty: | Amerisuites Vacations this is Kitty. |
| Me: | Sorry, What Vacations? |
| Kitty: | Amerisuites, like America but without the ca and add Suites. |
| Me: | Oh, OK, I’d like to collect my jackp… |
| Kitty: | *click* *beeeeeeeeep* [Kitty ends the call] |
My telephone number is registered with the Telephone Preference Service a UK body that regulates commercial phone spam, so legally they’re not allowed to call me, but they’re trying to force a loophole where commercial calls are banned but, they theorize, by calling it a competition, they can avoid prosecution.
So, not only has this company cold-called my TPS registered number, but they’ve also hung up on me, that’s just plain rude, I wanted to know who and what they are:
So, I called them, again:
| Carla: | Welcome to Amerivacations this is Carla. |
Carla proceeded to take my first name and asked for the number from which I’d called to check what prize I’d won. I gave her a false number. Surprisingly this had no ill effect because Carla came back and told me that I’d won £1301 towards a holiday in Florida, and that it was part of a prize fund allocated to 100 people and there were only 10 claims left on the fund – [irony alert] what luck!
Being a happy soul about this I mentioned that I’m in the UK, and that Carla didn’t sound local; she told me she was in Orlando Florida, and reiterated that this was a free call for me (just to make me really feel like I was special).
She then went on to explain that to claim my prize I’d need to pay the balance on a holiday in Florida at a Ramada resort near near Disneyworld – the package balance £598 for 16 days holiday for 4 – effectively an 80% discount.
The is is not a competition or a lottery, this company is selling holidays; there is no way to claim a “prize” without actually purchasing something, at which point they’ll discount the value of that prize from the purchase cost.
From the TPS website: “Under Government legislation introduced on 1st May 1999 and replaced on 11th December 2003 by the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, it is unlawful to make unsolicited direct marketing calls to individuals who have indicated that they do not want to receive such calls.”
Carla also explained that they are trying to rekindle interest in America as a vacation venue. She also explained that they are able to make these amazing offers because they keep their costs low, which they do in two ways:
- Direct Dialing.
- Word of Mouth.
Well, by direct-dialling me, unlawfully, they’ve certainly got a little word-of-mouth advertising.
The comments below add a lot of detail and you might also be interested in this followup article.
SUNSHINE TRAVEL ESCAPES Is this the company that is” all in one scam” ?
I invested $350.00 into it. I have been going in circles with them about all the details. They seem to talk in circles and keep telling me to send my paper work in with reservations…THEN they can help me. It sounds like the “cruise” is a scam also. They want to charge $200 for tax and port charges!
HELP- can I do anything about this? Has anyone got there money back?
I found this site while looking for info on a “free cruise” I was offered recently. I turned it down, and felt good about doing so. But, I started to wonder if anyone had ever taken one of these offers and if it was worth it. From everything I’ve read, I can tell you it’s not.
First, I’m an American and I’m so disappointed to find out this is happening. We have enough problems without scammers making people say, “Yep, Americans, there they go again.”
For anyone who has been offered this opportunity and is still wondering if they should take advantage of it, PLEASE DON’T. From what I’ve read they’ll charge you more than what you could have booked the trip on your own. They’ll keep blocking dates until your “free trip” is no good, etc. It’s a scam. Apparently, even if you do get to go, you’ll stay in the worst places. I was offered a cruise on the “Imperial Majesty”, which I’ve read is a 50+ year old ship, and not very nice.
If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
hei i just calld up a guy from calypsocay and he sad i had won 80% discount off my hollyday, and i gave him my kreditcard number for 2 hours ago,i got the phone number from the internet site,and it sad that i where nimmber 1 billion visitor on the site. so do any one know if i have been scamed.
I was led from a reputable web site to the usual congratulations junk you have all already been told about. I am normally pretty rigid about online security. But the whole process was slick. I only agreed to pay a deposit however of £200.00.
The funds were debited on the 21st of Feb (£230.00) and having not received the “Package” my options were limited. They did not respond to calls to cancel, in fact the last time I was able to speak to anyone was on the Phone the night I initially gave my details. I was told that funds would be debited to next month’s statement allowing time for the package to get here and cancel should I choose.
No Package “This contains the only reference and details to the holiday”
Unable to cancel within 7 days.
The now had my details available to them.
Solution
Call your card company [and this - Rich]
Tell them everything [about how you are] not be able to cancel when you try. They have learned from the initial errors.
From the date of the transaction there will be a delay of 30 days. If in those 30 days
then the fraud will be rectified by the card company.
I don’t feel stupid, these matchstick men are very good at that they do.
My suggestion to you all is to email anyone you class as a friend or contact and make them aware of the company and the con that lies behind them. They rely on the internet to further their crooked marketing systems. We can use their medium of choice against them. So get firing the emails.
If anyone has any additional information about this “group” please post here and I can provide contact details. My card company will be looking into these companies, I would like to give them any information that will nail them and prevent any other individuals loosing hard earned money to this.
I had a call form a crowd from Royalty Holidays, saying that this was a deal for the first 100 visa card users. Anyway i stupidly took the deal. I received and amazing package delivered by DHL, which made me think that this was all above board and it gave details on cancelling. So i called to cancel(hurricane Katrina was in full flow then). Now this guy David Davenport the 3rd, as he told me, was a great sales man then when i rang to cancel i recognised his accent straight away and he said he was security and to ring back later. However , at this stage i wasn’t that stupid and i told him i recognised his accent and he
said ‘oh sorry, you want to cancel, ok, done. I thought something wasn’t right so i ranga uk based no later and got a great girl who told me that she was putting me on speker phone as this was a serious complaint, this guy named David too i think put meonto his boss who i have to say sounded genuinely concerned and said that they would include more for the same price. Now these people were on the phone for a good 30mins and gave me his own ext. to call him back – i have to say they were going to alot of bother for a scam and the package was first class – black folder, vouchers, all info on Royalty holidays. However, i live abroad so after i went my sister who is manageress of the post office sent the packaged, signed delivery etc. but of course i never checked my credit card details, when i did in Jan 2006 of course it wasn’t cancelled. Now my sis can’t finnd the receipt for posting but my bank did say something about ‘maybe’ being able to help, but as i won’t be home until July 2006, i don’t know what to do, Can you help???
Hi. Myself, along with many othere in my town, have recently received the “you have won a free cruise..please press 9″ phonecall. There are rumors that if we DID press 9, charges with be sent to our telephone bills. Does anyone have any information??
Bought the pacakge sometime back and fought like a terrier to get a refund. It took nine months but eventually got a credit. Lost out on the difference in the exchange rate between start & finish which cost me about £90.00 from memory. Have had a phone call once every two months telling me the Credit still shows against my name (even though a refund was issued)
Quoted them & faxed acopy of their own Federal Law stating terms & conditions for selling vacation packages over the phone. The gist was that unless they compled with the letter of the Law they were subject to huge fines (& possible imprisonment) for each count against them as well as the risk of losing their license. I suspect that American Law is more valid than our own toothless regulatory bodies as it hits them closer to home.
Florida Stae Law – States Cancellation Rights ~@ 30 Days
559.932 Vacation certificate disclosure.–
“YOU MAY CANCEL THIS CONTRACT WITHOUT ANY PENALTY OR OBLIGATION WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE OR RECEIPT OF THE VACATION CERTIFICATE, WHICHEVER OCCURS LATER.”
“This contract is for the purchase of a vacation certificate and puts all assignees on notice of the consumer’s right to cancel under section 559.933, Florida Statutes.”
(a) The purchaser may cancel the contract without any penalty or obligation within 30 days from the date of purchase or receipt of the vacation certificate, whichever occurs later.
559.9335 Violations.–It is a violation of this part for any person:
(11) To misrepresent or deceptively represent:
(g) That the recipient of an advertisement or promotional materials is a winner, or has been selected, or is otherwise being involved in a select group for receipt, of a gift, award, or prize, unless this fact is the truth.
559.9355 Administrative remedies; penalties.–
(b) Imposing an administrative fine not to exceed $5,000 for each act or omission.
559.936 Civil penalties; remedies.–
(2) The department may seek a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each violation of this part.
(4) Any provision in a travel contract, certificate, vacation package, or other brochure or travel material from a seller of travel that purports to waive, limit, restrict, or avoid any of the duties, obligations, or prescriptions of the seller of travel, as herein provided, is void and unenforceable and against public policy, unless it is necessitated by contractual arrangements with travel service suppliers and fully disclosed.
Hi im Deborah From Australia, I had the same call with the same wording I queried and they put the ‘supervisor’ on. I said let me call you back and I will then give you my credit card (like hell!) he said “no you have to take this live call and promotion now..its a one and one only to special customers.” No thanks… the next day…. hello hello?… this is calypso cay you have won a bahamas cruise, accommodation etc… same guy… asked for my name I changed it; and same speil.
Please dont give your credit card details; he is convincing. I wish I had a salesman working for me like this guy!
hi im fifteen and I live in Australia. I just got a phonecall from “Calypso Cay Resort” saying that I had won a free holiday, 6 days in Orlando Florida with heaps of stuff eg VIP passes etc, 3 day cruise and 3 days in the Bahamas with a coincidental 80 percent discount. in total, it would only cost $698. He asked for my name and address so they could email me a package, and my number if the phone cut out. I accidently gave the guy the wrong phone number (lucky for me). The phone cut out just after he explained all these wonderful things I got to do so I rang my mum, ecstatic and she told me to research it then ring her back. I found their website but realised it was a bit suss, so i typed “Calypso Cay Resort scam” into the search engine to find heaps of websites highlighting that its a scam and that people have been scammed into paying hundreds of dollars. Its linked with ‘Amerisuites Vacations’, theyre the same company. I was so upset at first but now Im thankful i didnt give any any away…So yeah I found this site and thought id put my story.
Hi I was conned by amerivacations as well, last June I was off work (for about 6 months) and during that time I had a call from them saying that I had won an amazing holiday, I couldn’t believe it, I was over the moon, my boyfriend had been looking after me day and night and I was on A LOT of medication so was even happier! My boyfriend had decided that I was ok to be by myself and went to work, they rang and told me that I could have a holiday worth over £2,000 for just £698 for four people. As my boyfriend and family had been looking after me constantly I thought what a good way to say thank you, Carla showed me on the internet all the internet sites with pictures of where we would be staying, what we could do, etc.
I was estastic! As I had been off for several months at the time, money was a bit low, but I had £800 worth of savings that I thought was worth spending for this amazing once in a lifetime holiday. I gave my details over the phone, and they said they would send everything out.
About 5 day later it arrived, by then I told my boyfriend and he said that it was more than likely a scam and that they shouldnt have done anything as I was very well medicated! So I rang them back and said that I wanted to cancel, theysaid it would cost £200 to cancel but all I had to do was send EVERYTHING back, (if anything was left out I wouldnt get any money at all.)So I did I got proof of postage and left it a couple of days and rang them they said they had it and I wrote something on there which I asked them to read (which was right)they said it would be about 2 months before I got the money refunded.
I then went to my bank who said they could do absolutely nothng without proof of refund – I had sent EVERYTHING back including the terms and conditions, they were no longer available on line and the website was closed for some reason.
I am still fightinG it now, but without the terms and conditions Im not ot getting anywhere if ANY BODY HAS THESE PLEASE COULD YOU LET ME KNOW? I AM STILL DOWN £700 WHICH SEEMS TO BE MORE THAN SOME PEOPLE ABOVE!!!
i received a call from royalty holidays it was for my aunt actually but i
excitedly took the call and gave my card #. i was actually planing for a trip
to florida and then i gotten that call saying she won a trip to cancun and if
she payed 499 us she can go t orlando for 4 nights datonya for 2 nights and
miami for 2 then off to cancun for 4 nights. i going to guess i was just
scammed? if anyone else received this call could you e mail me back to help me
out its been almost a week since i done it
I have also received a missed call from this company and came online to find out who they were. Again it came up as Syntec UK Ltd and the number they called from was an 01494 number which is in High Wycombe, England.
I have searched several sites about this and it looks as if people are taking it as a ‘scam’ where take money unlawfully and give you nothing.
I disagree with this as they do clearly tell you that they are giving you money off a holiday, if you are willing to pay the remaining £598.00 balance, and they do ask if you wish to participate and ask for your card details. If anyone who gives their details without actually understanding what they are offering you, it is not the companies fault as they have told you what the offer is, and you dont have to give your details if you do not want to take the offer!
i don’t think this is a scam but alot of people do not understand it properly. I have not participated myself as i do not want the holiday but listening to them and reading what people say, it is fairly obvious what they are doing.
I agree the way they call is wrong, but they will get away with it as they are based in America and state that you have ‘won’ the discount.
Don’t give anyone your card details unless you understand what they are offering you, as they do explain it, so you can only hold yourself to blame if you lose money through this offer.
Has anyone who has paid the balance over the phone actually been on the holiday? I haven’t seen any comments about actually going on the holiday?
Then again, i suppose those who go on it, realise they have not been scammed if they can actually go to the resort?!?
I would advise anyone who get a call from calypsocay.com to avoid it at all costs. The are just after taking out £350 sterling from my visa account today on the basis that they want to just check your account to see if it live. They do not tell you they are going to take the money. They also say that the digitial recording of your conversation will be sent to your visa supplier. This is also not true since I have checked this with my bank. They have never recieved a digitial recording. as a check ask the holiday firm then what is the address of the bank for them to send it to.
I have been called twice about Calypso Cay Resort from a telemarketing firm showing up as “KANSAS” on my phone, I asked to be removed from their call list the first time, and the telemarketer politely said he would and apologized for interrupting me.
The second call I got a little impatient, told them I already asked to be taken off their list, that i am on the National Do Not Call list and that they are in violation of the National Do Not Call Act (or whatever it’s called). The marketer accused me of calling them. I asked for a supervisor, explained all the same above info and SHE HUNG UP ON ME!!!! I never said one foul or insulting word. These people are disgusting human beings!!! NEVER BUY A TIMESHARE AT CALYPSO CAY RESORT!!! Here’s their number: Calypso Cay Resort 407-997-1600
As far as these vacations being a scam goes… I know first hand just how scandalous and morally incorrect these people are. I actually was selling vacations in Orlando for many resorts… Calypso Cay, Summer Bay, Celebration… all of them.
No one you get a telemarketing call from is a real representative of the resort, only a telemarketer; also people who get “pop-ups” saying that they are “the grand prize winner! you won 1101 in travel rewards or dollars” that’s a lie.
EVERYONE is the so-called winner and you really didn’t win anything except a 30 minute phone call with someone who is going to give you a fake name and get you to give them your credit card number.
The last employer I worked for claimed to sell vacations for the resorts mentioned above, except they were really called “Matza Marketing“. They didn’t pay their employees correctly and they probably didn’t give their customers their vacations as promised. Some of the so called “promotional directors” there went by the names of Denise Atkins and Vincent Coviello. Those arent their real names. Denise is really a 20 year old high school drop out and her boyfriend is the other “promotional director”. They run scams all over and then relocate and dont pay their employees.
An interesting comment the Molly, thanks. As far as an outside reader is concerned it just looks like speculation, so a couple of questions.
Can you clarify your points about “not paying employees properly” – is this personal experience or hearsay?
You suggest that the managers are serial con artists – can you give examples of their other “work”, or is this unsubstantiated? Also, if these managers are pro-scammers, were the owners also conned?
… or is there no evidence to support your claims? If you’re going to say these things you have to be able to back it up (and you should probably be saying them to the DOACS and the police).
I got scammed by Timescape Marketing (parent of Amerisuite Vacation Club)in Sept 2005, I wasn’t aware they were dodgy until Jan 2006 when I tried to book and found I was mis-lead & mis-informed about many aspects of the package, not least the fact that it was a timeshare promotion – I’m assuming this is the same outfit as those above. I contacted the DOACS in Florida but they stated that they “believe the response to be a satisfactory effort on behalf of the business to resolve this complaint.”
The company response was: I was beyond my 30-day cancellation period, I never sent back my package materials and I gave a verbal agreement to charge my card.
I wasn’t aware of the cancellation period or many other aspects of their dodgy deal until after the fact.
Has anyone else been rejected by DOACS and if so what did you do/what can I do next?
Tonight I took a call from a sunny guy called Steve Clandaniel direct from the calypso cay resort in Orlando, I paid £500.00 about 2 yrs ago for a holiday I never took as my partner convinced me it was a con. Tonight I was offered the chance to use that original payment as credit on the same fantastic holiday plus upgrade for an extra $499.00
it took about 20 minutes to get to that part .Steve did go on a bit, 5 days in Florida resort.3days Daytona beach. 3 nights cruise to Bahamas, free passes to Universal,and Disney,all inclusive meals on cruise,Poolside service massages etc….
Anyway the card I used 2 yrs ago is no longer valid and Steve insisted I register my details (new card details) to validate my one off oppurtunity to take the holiday I had already paid for. Sadly for me I could not afford to use my current card at this time of year, I suggested calling in the new year.Steve was not to be put off and spent a further 10 minutes highlighting the holiday ,my already invested money and constantly asking to register me with card details. He even offered finance!!After the 5th time of telling him that I was not going to give card details I ended the call. found your site and feel angry at myself now, how could I be so naive? Thank god I am already skint!! My partner is amazed that I could be taken for a sucker twice.. These pigs sell you a dream on a cold winter day. Dont let them .It just reminded me I am still £500.00 down. Merry Christmas!!
Well, I also feel extremely silly for getting sucked in to this scam. I was still in recovery mode from Christmas day, and got a call from Crytal yesterday afternoon about this fantastic holiday I had one. Sucker!!! I gave them my credit card details and wrote copious amounts of notes about my overseas holiday to Florida, Daykoda Beach and the Behamas… My bank emailed me today and yes, as I had verbally authorised, Aus $731.87 has come out of my credit card account. Very expensive lesson! I’m not sure what to do next, as it seems like a real hassle to try and chase a refund up from reading other people’s emails. I think from now on I will be extremely short with these rip of merchants that phone you up and promise you the world. I’m also sad to hear what they have done to other people who are in financial hardship – how rude to be phoning people up on Boxing Day and ripping them off. I suppose they have to try and sleep at night knowing that they earn their money feeding off people’s hopes and dreams. I certainly will be giving them a mouthful if they ever contact me again!