Holiday Club is a SCAM
December 4th, 2008 . by JamesPlease note: This is MY PERSONAL opinion. By reading past this point, you agree that you are entitled to your own opinion, and will not judge me (or sue me) for recounting my own experience and telling you about other peoples’ experiences.
But PLEASE read until the end, and forward this article to everyone you know.
Ok, now that I have that out of the way, let me tell you why I think the Vacation Club are a bunch of con-artists.
If you EVER get phoned and told that you have won a prize for some competition you don’t even remember entering, DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM!
They will ask you to come pick up your prize and listen to a presentation. DO NOT GO!
Vacation Club Con Artists
I got phoned one day by somebody from a Holiday Club company who said that I had entered a competition by filling out a form at a petrol station.
I don’t remember when or where I did that.
Oh, and guess what, the guy on the phone said he couldn’t tell me either. But I had definitely won a prize.
To read all about that experience (with a transcript from memory of how clever the person on the phone actually was in being able to make me believe him), go read the article here:
Rhino Marketing Holiday Club is a perfect Con
Ok, now that you’re back, let’s move on 
QVC – Quality Vacation Club Scumbags
It looks like the Quality Vacation Club is doing their best to silence people who have fallen for their “scam” by suing a fellow blogger who is sharing his experience.
Here’s a link to a press article this blogger, Donn Edwards, released:
http://www.openaccess.co.za/docs/Beleaguered%20Blogger%20Battles%20Timeshare%20Bullies.pdf
What makes me sick is the fact that while I was sitting through a presentation, I looked around and spotted at least 3 elderly couples who did not look like they could afford to get home, never mind join a Holiday Club Scheme. And yet they bought into it anyway.
The only thing that made me cheer up before leaving that day (with my “guaranteed” prize, that I had to pay for to use), was the fact that it looked like the salesman was going to cry when he thought that such a perfect sale was going out the door.
How to get back at the Vacation Club (free of charge)
If you’re keen on irritating the Holiday Club companies as much as they irritate everyone else, tell them you’d like to go to their prize giving. Confirm it every time they phone you.
Then don’t go. As simple as that.
So please, if you can, pass on the word about QVC, the Quality Vacation Club.
If you received this by email, PLEASE do me a favour, and pass it on to everybody you know.
I worked for holiday club for a day. Within a few hours of working there, I realised it is a scam. A legal one mind you, but a scam nevertheless. Their aim is to get you to invest in their businesses by tempting you with winning big prizes like tvs and holidays overseas. And you have always DEFINITELY won a prize – NOOOOOOOOOOOOOT! Don’t fall for it. Take it from someone who has been on the inside.
Thanks for that. I’ve always wondered how people could work for the place. SURELY everyone is intelligent enough (like yourself
) to realise they’re scamming people.
look they get a bad rep but i am giving away real prizes. i think you shouldnt hate the players. hate the game. cellphone companies. those products on tv etc. look everybody knows you havenht won you go to a draw. well like i say i work for one of the named scumbags because i have to eat and i havent conned anyone as yet. you come see me at your request. i dont telemarket. we meet in a office and i offer you a product you can buy and i give you a free meal or free accomodation at a resort. i give it to all the people who see me. so unless these meal tickets and holidays are fake and the people dont come back to complain to me i dont know how to respond. people just like slinging around a bit of dirt from the old chutney pot cos they thought they were going to win the car out the draw because of course nobody goes to those things.
Hi I was one of the unfortunate ones who bought into Quality Vacation Club 12 years ago and was promised holidays or weekends away at any given ime. After all these years they have only been able to accomodate me twice so anyone out there just don’t buy into it not only are you purchasing a holiday but then you have to pay R3000 annual and reservation fees which you land up throwing away because they can’t give accomodation in the area that you want.
Don’t buy into the scam!!!
And on top of it if you do win a holliday its in a given period and mid week “hello who get’s to take time off mid week”
Thanks Sherry. At least we have an opinion from somebody who “bought into the dream”.
QVC Are rip off artists of note. When I enrolled in 1996 I paid about R24k but would get my money back after 10 years – here’s the rub "LESS COSTS", I didn’t ask what the costs would be, should have. after my ten year unsatisfactory stint and annual levvies I applied for my money back. They gave me back about R14k. With great difficulty I managed to obtain a statement from them only to find that they had charged me about R9k for marketing expenses. All I could assume was that they had charged me for selling me the package in the first place. Don’t touch them with a barge pole.
Why can they not be stopped?
Dries asks the same question I have been asking. Is it not possible to hre a good attorney (we can share the costs to make it more affordable) and proceed legally to get out of this mess.
Surely the wheel turns. These rogues have been stealing our money for years and getting away with it
had a rep from thc in house. try to sell last stock @ 2685/point to secure a better status so high status members can do bookings online (apparently)
but just to be considered it must be 10 points or more. it wil cost me 27700+every year higher levy just to have acsess to resorts through website to find out none available for the time i need it
I then decide to flock my points which i was best offered 200/point and some costs which unfortunately i did not listened what it was,so you give it away for free and it will still cost you uot your pocket.
HI I WAS DUMB ENOUGH TO BUY INTO THE DREAM, CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW I COME OUT OF IT BEFORE THE 5DAYS DEADLINE??
PLS HELP THEY ARE NOT REPLYING MY PHONE AND THEIR OFFICE THEY ASY NO ONE IS THERE!!!!
That sucks. Any chance you can cancel the debit order? Or fax through a cancellation.
What does it say on your form? How do you have to cancel? If it HAS to be by phone, then you can leave a message that you’re cancelling, and possibly record it? Then cancel the debit order.
I managed to get hold of their headoffice in Gauteng operator lady told me to fax through my cancellation to some guy, who is not at the office at the moment!! they say within five days of purchase you can cancel everything….wish me luck!
how i got myself into this! God only knows!…lets try and make everybody aware of this …you have won my foot!
does anyone know of a prominent person we can refer this to such as a politician. Surely this type of behaviour calls for a commission of enquiry into malpractice. Its not much use exchanging comments on this forum if there is nothing we can to do get even with these punks
Hi, at least now I know I am not alone. I bought into it.I pay my ass off every month and can never go on holiday.As they never have place avialable.Can I sue these people as they told us a bunch of lies, I heard this morning they only have 21 holiday venues but 60000 clients. That is unbelievable with this QVC is pulling RCI’s name down under with them because RCI has to give them places were there clients can go on holiday.I would also like to go to the newspapers what would be the correct way to do this
Without prejudice of rights.
People. There is a much deeper meaning of what has been done to us than all these little,with all due respect, worthless petty complaints like the so called competition, the luring you into going there on false pretences, winning and giving away the price, etc . These wont get you anywhere.
I would like everybody who has not gotten what they were promised, to contact me on driess@vodamail.co.za or fax me your details to 086 676 2524. I will then contact you asap and preferbly, first via e-mail. No matter how little you may think it might mean. Do not delay. There are a few other rather substantial matters that we should discuss regarding this matter and that could be done about this still.
I have had THC for approx 14years now, paid R60k for 40 points, and I can assure you that I’ve never had problems, yes sometimes can’t get into the resort I want but always come right elsewhere. I’m so satisfied I intend buying more points! I suppose I sound like a THC rep, but I’m private and bought the points in Secunda after an invite, I’m really happy at this stage, today I’m hiring a car with my points.
From Dries Struwig; As you know, I complained last Sunday on the blog. At 09:00 Monday morning, I was contacted by QVC about my complained. a Meeting was immediately given to me and my wife and I saw Mr. Paul Edkins on Friday – all in one week – morning at 08:00. Now, I need to stress the following; the proffessiolism of Mr. Paul Edkins was out of this world. So was the way in which we were received by QVC. Our problem was resolved 110% in only a few minutes and we got more from PaulQVC that we could ever expect. He must be the most honest and most geniun personbussinessman i have ever delt with, especially where we felt they made the mistake and can still admit and rectify there mistake without trying to look for loopholes where the blame can be put on you, and not on them. we all know, we (customer) allways get the blame, never the supplier. Well, to our biggest supprise ever, Paul understood our dilemma and fixed it immediately. They could just as well have had a ‘normal’ aproach and easily differed from us and have sent us home without any concern for his clients. he did not!! P.S. Paul saw us due to the spesiffic sercumstances. Speak to QVC, they will attend to your p
We’ve been members of QVC for 5 years now, and have not had any problems. We live in Canada now, and use the points at least once a year to go to international resorts. We use the guest certificates for family to use. The only complaint would be that it can be difficult to get resorts, but with planning in advance we have always been accommodated in wonderful resorts. We stayed in an amazing resort in Victoria, BC from Dec 26 to Jan 1. My parents found accommodation in Kruger in March. You do need patience to get hold of them usually.
Must say this: I had a operation in Dbn November. Needed accomodation for my wife and child while I’m in hospital. Got resort 40+ km from hosp but not in city any available. Wife had to move to 3 resorts from 12 Nov to 17Nov of which was 1 night in Oceanic (R500) on Hotel Express which is Auto Membership with THC. It was woth the cost of R2300 / year Levy. This two esorts was 9 points and my yearly point 17. It iritates me though that i can not manage my acc online, must always phone there and find no resort where and when needed. their stock is limmited. and also this acc was out of peak season and booking was made both within the week i needed the acc for my wife. the traveling from and to hasp used bit of fuel but all cost less than acc privately. now i decided to keep my membership cause i had great holidays before in margate although i wanted to be in Balito cause it would be closer drive. THC agents not always suit our conventional way of selling and it irritates me aswell. but the product is great for me. also the problem that if i need to sell the package its worthless. (R200/point but they sell for R2700/point and i paid R1800.00 ( 5 Years ago)