Tags: Scams
Ameri-who?
March 7th, 2005, by Rich.
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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.
April 27th, 2005 at 1:58 pm
Amerivacation phone number is 0800 091 4761 for customer services, where if you hassle them enough they will give you back the money at the cost of £250. This will save you some money, I am waiting for my visa company to get back to me to see if I should do this, as it could effect my rights. You should phone trading standards about them. There is a consumer direct hotline at 0845 404 0506 where they should be able to give you advice.
April 28th, 2005 at 12:22 pm
Hi everyone!
It looks to me that the REAL question here is whether or not this company should have the right to call people at their homes despite the fact they’ve clearly stated that they don’t want the calls.
I actually bought the trip as well, after seeing it on the web and calling them up. It was the same package: 7 days in Orlando,3 days Daytona Beach, 3 days Fort lordadaile and a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas for 798 euros for 4 people. The only thing we have to pay is the trip from and to the US + the rental car between the resorts + government harbor fee for the cruise ship.
I mean, it SEEMS to be a good deal. The thing is that you hear all this stuff about it being a hoax BUT HAS ANY OF YOU ACTUALLY TRIED TO TAKE THE TRIP AS OF YET AFTER GETTING THE PACKAGE?
It COULD be real, couldn’t it? I was in contact with their customer service in Florida and the woman I spoke to said they have 7 offices in the US and was actually quite insulted when I said I heard it being a hoax.
I mean, is THIS BLOG SITE actually real or is IT a hoax??? U tell me…
April 28th, 2005 at 2:29 pm
Let’s get some things stated clearly so Henrik can look forward to his holiday. It’s likely that Amerivacations holidays are real and highly enjoyable; nobody that’s commented so far (until Henrik’s post) has suggested that anything to do with Amerivacations is a hoax.
Henrik suggests that it is the “right to call” that is the main issue, and hits the nail on the head. But it’s not the only nail.
Here’s what we have estblished so far:
May 3rd, 2005 at 6:34 pm
Well I just want to know whether this company amerivacation is real or not.
I received a message when I was on the internet, saying that I had won a free vacation package.
So I called the given number, gave them my name and visa number and they said that they will send me a brochure package and a fill out form, so I can fill it out and send it back.
I need an advice from you people.
Tell me what I should do.
I come from a small and very poor country. We have barelly money to survive, and when they gave us the hope we went up for it.
I would be most grateful if you can help me.
My e-mail is *.
Please write as soon as possible.
Thanks in advanced.
* removed - if anyone wants it, request it here.
May 3rd, 2005 at 8:55 pm
Oh dear.
Magdalena has indicated that although she has “barely enough money to survive”, she agreed to part with hundreds of £$€’s in order to collect her holiday.
This is why Amerivacations sales tactics are so bad.
I am still assuming Amerivacations are a legitimate holiday sales company so since Magdalena parted with her cash she shall get a holiday, and it may in fact be totally fantastic; but, before Madge received that phonecall I’m guessing she hadn’t even dreamed of spening her money. Madge? Had you? Do you have the money?
If you can afford a holiday, you don’t need a phoney competition win that only serves to restrict what you could do with your cash.
If you cannot afford afford a holiday, don’t part with your cash.
May 4th, 2005 at 3:53 pm
My mom was also tricked out of £600. Two months ago she called me to say we were going on holiday in america, 7 days in orlando, 3 days in daytona beach (sounds familiar), 3 days in fort lauderdale and 3 days on a cruise to Bahamas, all for £600 for 4 people.
The paperwork arrived days later and upon reading the small print I realised that we had to pay for air fare. I called Amerisuite and was told their rep should have explained that to my mom and we couldn’t get our money back as the 7 days cancellation period had passed. A s my mom had already paid the money we decided to take the holiday and send Amerisuites the required reservation dates. To our surprise we received a call from them saying in order for them to book our reservation on the cruise ship we had to pay them (Amerisuite) £150 each for port taxes!!!! Now could someone please tell me where’s the holiday that we’ve won?
I decided to check out the port taxes and called the cruise operator (Imperial Majesty) and was told the port tax cost $110 each which is about £60 but yet still Amerisuite wants to charge us £150 each.
I’ve now decided to call Channel 5 as the prize was advertised on their channel, and watchdog.
May 4th, 2005 at 6:17 pm
Well I just received one of those calls and forced them to go thru the entire process (just to piss them off) then finally told them thanks but no thanks!!!
After doing a little search I have their website at 3 different web addresses:
All 3 identical except the web addresses. While having a closer inspection of their site I tried clicking on the FAQ button which took me absolutely nowhere of importance! The most interesting thing on their site was under the ‘AGENT OPPORTUNITIES’ button top right of page! Looks like they are trying to recruit anybody with a pc with broadband in any country. But if you really want a FREE trip to Florida then maaybe we should all take them up on their offer: You must be able to attend a two week training class in Florida and the Bahamas at our expense. What a hoot just get off the plane and disappear to any place you like if they are silly enough to fly anyone over to Florida at their expense!!!
I have copied and pasted the complete section below or go to any of the above sites and have a read yourself:
May 4th, 2005 at 9:02 pm
I don’t realy have the money-but I’m willing to get a loan from somebody,or from my cousin that lives in Germany.
But I just wanted to know whether that company is just another evil scheme.
You see-I’ve never been out from the country,so like most people I want to travel the world.
I don’t want to be fooled-I’m too young for that.
Well thank you Rich.
If you get any information about that company, please be kind enough to notify me.
Thank you again.
May 4th, 2005 at 9:37 pm
Two things:
Something I notice from the whois information about each of those domains… they’re all anonymised though domainsbyproxy.com. Why on earth would a legitimate, accountable, honest and upstanding company want to anonymise their domains? If anyone can answer that categorically RSVP.
Magdalena, based on the input of Keisha it sonds like you may be in for an expensive trip. If there is still time you can probably cancel by using a next day courier in order to deliver a letter of cancellation by the end of the 7 day period. Good luck.
May 5th, 2005 at 10:02 pm
I too have been scammed by this company in the last 24 hours. I have reported them to the Police and obtained a crime reference number for my credit card company. I have been charged a cancellation fee of 498. It is a disgusting rip off and I will not being leaving here. I have also contacted Watchdog and will be letting the Citizens advice and trading standards know. I am determined to get my money back even if I have to write the president himself. They can not be allowed to get away with it.