This is also very common on the island of Kho Samui, I was approached every day of a 2 week holiday by European men, with the scratchcard routine. I will never return to Thailand.

This scam have been going on for ages. The local authorities and officials also knows about it. But cant help, seems like everyone is involved in this scam, either directly or indirectly. From the scammer to local officials everyone seems to be involved. Sorry to say, places like phuket and koh samui are no more longer a paradise....

I was approached for the same scratchie scam in 2003, I have returned to Patong beach on 2 occassions since 2006 /2007 and found backpackers on scooters cruising the streets looking for wealthy tourists. JUST SAY NO to them and walk on.

On a recent trip to Kho Samui my wife and I were approached by a well spoken English man. He stopped and asked us if we spoke English, we had seen the man several times stopping tourists so we had an idea it was a scam, when we politely refused and walked on he began to verbally abuse us. This was the second day of our holiday, it was frightening, we were so frightened of this gentleman we never went to town again, ( Chaweng ) we even considered moving hotels, we will never return to Thailand and will never recomend it to any friends,

I was stopped by the same man on Chaweng, when I told him no he made some rude comments and left on his scooter, it is very annoying when touts stop you in the street, Thailand no more

I was also approached by this dreadful man, he spoke very good English, he was quite persistant and very annoying, I travel to Samui often. I wish the police would do something.

I have found the same scam in Phuket and Pattaya, its very annoying, cant the police stop these idiots.

just go have presentation help boy or girl get big commission.but don't forget.NOT BUY

this scam has being going on for ages . Not just in thailand . Now I just tell sorry I know being there done that wore the tee shirt
Its all a scam who gives anything for nothing
I am glad at least I got a free tee shirt and a second one for my g/f

To those who are saying thailand 'never again' - this kind of thing can happen in any country! You could be scammed, robbed, assaulted, WHATEVER - anywhere. Most Thai's are friendly genuine people. I once was in silom and had an issue with a scammer that turned quite heated and the guy grabbed some money from my hand and ran - and you should have seen how many of the locals came to my aid. So - dont let the actions of a few give you a bad impression of the entire country

I was scammed by these European men in Samui, it was not a nice experience, also in Bkk it was just push push push for everything. I have left with a very bad impression of Thailand. Sorry but I would not visit again or recomend to friends.

I loved the Thai people, however everyday on Kho Samui we were approached by English Europeans on scooters with scratchcards, it was so annoying it spoiled our holiday. Sad to say we wouldnt visit again. I suggest someone report them to authorities, surely this must be Illegal.

How on earth can one scammer ruin a holiday, and prevent you from returning here?? Get a life, please!!
The holiday homes scam is an old one in many European resorts. Yes, the holiday homes do exist, and they can be bought, and you do have a legal title. Nothing illegal so far. But they insist, when you buy, that the units are in high demand, and are easily sold if ever you change your mind. But only through their 'sales office', which is of course more interested in selling new units than it is in marketing your old one, or passing the keys to prospective purchasors. And of course tha you can rent out your unit in the months you are not using it... again by using their 'sales office'. Ha ha.
The Pompeians, 2,000 years ago, were wise to this - Caveat Emptor.

Jon
Thats a good advertisement for holiday homes, you must be in on the act.

Jon, you are missing the point, for an elderly or even young couple to be approached by an aggressive salesman or scam artist in the street can be frightening, some of these men are pushy to say the least. These men should be removed jailed or fined for being a public nuisance. Most of all judging by the above comments they are hurting the Thai economy by driving tourists away. YOUR FANCY WORDS MEAN NOTHING.

Hi William and Jenny,
No, I am not 'in on the act' as you put it. I forgot to say that the prospective purchasors (=victims) are often taken off to a distant 'sales office' in a rep's car - they have no idea where they are, there are no taxis, and they are effectively held there until a contract is signed. The problem later is that this contract is binding (they have the right to withdraw within a time specified by Spanish, and maybe Thai law, but the company 'never receive' their withdrawal, and don't answer the phone.) And having bought, the unit is not resaleable. When I said 'nothing illegal so far', I should have said 'the Law is an ass' - the unfortunates have no legal redress, and are caught.
Scammers are world-wide, and are a bloody pest (have you ever casually strolled into a carpet shop anywhere in the Arab world, and come out without an overpriced carpet under your arm?) - but should not deter people from travelling!!

So easy to say no thanks & walk on.

Baz
You are so wrong, it is very difficult to say no to these persistent gentlemen, when they follow you and abuse you for not doing the scratchcard. After I refused a well spoken Englishman in Kho Samui he followed me, practically begging, then he made rude comments and stormed off on his scooter. It is not nice, and I certainly will not return to Samui, for the simple reason that these scammers are frightening.

I am a regular to Samui, I see the same English man day in and day out, stopping tourists. He has never approached me but the people he does appraoch he is very persistent with them. Does anyone have a Thai police website we can report these people too? it should be stopped as I can understand how the tourists can be intimidated.

This is my first time on this site, it is very good and informative

Thailand is a country of unfettered Capitalism - you can block pavements with your wares, you can blast out 400dB house music to 'attract' customers, you can even change the law of the land to avoid paying millions in tax, and still be regarded as a National Hero - so they are hardly likely to arrest a few street 'salemen', are they?
A police website? None that I know of. It is ironic that it was Thaksim who introduced computers to the Thai Police (and I wonder which corporation got the contract to supply and install them?).
Welcome to Thailand!

So Jona back to the scam of the holiday club, what exactly is your point or are you just pointing out some useless information??

That in Thai business culture, being a pushy salesman/businessman is respected, even if they are irritating or downright criminal. And that scammers are a worldwide pest, but that we must be particularly wary here.

@Jonathai
"That in Thai business culture, being a pushy salesman/businessman is respected,"
Give me a break. either you have never lived out of Thailand or you are totally based. Salesman are same everywhere.

I do not agree Jonathai: Some salesmen are more dishonest than others and they totally do not care about people. They detach themselves from what they are doing just to get their commission. They know that their product is a scam. There is no excuse for trying to trick people out of money.

Jonathai....ur a cockhead! U really must have ur head stuck tight in ur arse cause to me ur struggling to see the sun shine out of it. You shouldn't generalise on a occupation, or on a society's value's and judgements. You really shouldn't speak as if you know all...my analy retarded friend. Ive been dealing with Thais in the ragtrade for over 10 years and have found them to be nothing but wise and courteous to deal with. By your reasoning and rational, these multi-national business departmental heads hold no respect at all?!?! Seriously Jonath 'ai'...ur a bonafide, certified, wanker. As you're absolutely an ignorant fool, i would go so far as to say that u suck cock for crack...

Jonatahi - "in Thai business culture, being a pushy salesman/businessman is respected, even if they are irritating or downright criminal". Please don't make such a ridiculous generalisation. You're probably just on here to try and wind people up.

Just returned from Pattaya bay, very difficult to walk down beach road without being stopped, we were constantly approched by both Thail and Europeans asking us to do surveys and scratchcards, some of them were very rude after we declined.

It is amazing that all people on these sites are angry angry angry, love to read this actually. Its holiday club, timeshare whatever that these people want to send you to, NOT A BLODY HOTEL. If you dont want to go or receive these amazing cards with fantastic gift dont look or talk to these people, and if they say something THEY ARE JUST LIKE WHAT A GUY SAID HER, A C**************CRACKHEAD. They are just people with no lives, no money and big problems.

Hello All

I have been working on the street for 13 years, I have saved up most of my life, don't get scared for ud business men from the street, you would be surprised how much money some of us makes a week, just count one customer is 3,000 Baht for the OPC, my record in two weeks on Koh Samui is 50 Customers, well now do you make that at home in two weeks? Well this is why some people is working on the street and traveling around the world.

I know for some people it is scary, but don't buy anything we get paid anyway he he he.. NEXT time just say.. YOU WANT HALF OF THE COMMISSION TOO..

OPC - Koh Samui - Thailand

Don't start work for the TIME SHARE companies Quality Vacation Club & Absolute they don't pay there staff.. Just to let you know.. My friend used to work there before, and now he don't have money to get home to Germany they took all his earned commission because he needed to go home to his son birth.. but they didn't care..

Peter Austraila

hi all, ive just returned from thailand a few days ago, i was approached twicw in patong beach area by these scratch and win scammers, its the usual rip off stuff, didnt turn me off thailand though i love the place, just tell these scammers to go away or as i did, scratched the tickets so they have to print more and never turn up for the presentation, dont care how persistant they are, theyre not the local people just rip off merchants after a quick or otherwise dollar, thailand is not like this everywhere, justtourist spots occasionally, enjoy, regards,

Dave, sydney australia march 2008

Hi, we have just returned from Phuket, Patong beach, every day for the first 4 days we were approached to do tourist surveys and scratch cards, I refused everytime. On the 4th day the English guy became quite agitated and rude towards me. I was sick of this so we went to Pattaya and lo and behold there was the same scam there. I was harrased less in Tenerife. It was our first time in Thailand, and I definently wasnt impressed. I have informed our tour company about this and they ensure me they will take it up with TAT as they are getting a lot of similar complaints

Returned today from Koh Samui and had the same thing happen. My wife and I were approached the first day and WOW! we had won the big one! I got a free shirt but my wife had won a video camara or laptop or free weeks accomodation or maybe even USD$1,000 (of course we won the free weeks accommodation at one of their resorts!). We sat through the 'pitch' and after 2 hours they finally answered me regarding price. I declined to sign there and then (this was the only way to get involved given Thai tax laws they said) which is when they start putting alot of pressure and the big fat German turned up who owned the Company - scam or not the pressure they put you under does affect you for days afterwards. Uba the German and John the Pom - if you happen to read this - thanks for the free drink but you guys are idiots and spoil the island for the rest of us!

Sorry Jennifer, maybe because I'm male I don't get so much hassel. Also Kris u do have lovely way with words, mademe laugh

Wow I wish I found this web site before I came to Thailand
Then I would of none about the cards on koh samui was happy when I won the prize well the star prize all I had to do was
Stay for 90 min’s and say no or yes and the pom on the streets said I will give you a 1000 baths if you stay for 90 min’s
Well how hard can it be? So I go in Absolute. I was a bit nerves
And I was saying to matt like what have we dun but all he was think was when do we get out of here so we went to 90 min’s
And said that we wanted to go. well that was it they where getting very angry with us saying we where wasting there time because all we where doing is just saying yes all the way through it and then when I said I just want to go a big German man came out
And he was ok but he hangs over us so I was a very nerves
Never the less we got out off there thank good. so just to let you no when you go to ABSOLUTE all you will get from them is the sales talk but the pom on the streets got his money and so did matt plus a T-shirt and a holiday & 1000 bath not to bad for 90 mines

Surely all these Europeans working the streets do not have work permits. If you feel so angry about it report them to the real police or immigration, not the tourist police . They love deporting foreigners who break the rules and hassle genuine visitors. I have a Thai wife and she gets real angry about these foreign street walkers and the rip off end product. I ask the street walkers if they have a work permit as I am going straight to the nearest policeman to tell them your hassiling me. They disappear vey quickly.

Remember this is not just confined to Thailand. I experienced the same sales pitch in Bali 4 years ago. I scratched and won a T shirt. The street walker even scratched another one himself so my wife won a free T Shirt as well. Told by the street walker that I just had to go to a nearby resort and do the 90 minute presentation. Questioning revealed it was for a time share resort sales pitch. After first refusing I asked what he got out of it. $50 US. was the reply. Still not interested I said so he continued to scratch tickets untl I won the big one $US1000 cash. Just remember walk away.

I had also experienced a samilar approach 25 years ago in Surfers Paradise, AUSTRALIA. Only back then it was time share and the prizes were not as valuable. As I recall a plastic Rolls Royce Replica clock. Just the same sales approach all these years latter.

ALSO REMEMBER MOST OF THESE RESORTS ETC ARE FOREIGN OWNED WITH THAI PARTNERS. SO DO NOT BLAME THE THAIS ALONE. WE ALL KNOW THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAIS ARE WARM, FRIENDLY AND GENEROUS. TAKE THAT EXPERIENCE BACK HOME AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS, NOT A ONE MINUTE ENCOUNTER WITH A SALES PITCH THAT IS WORLD WIDE AND AS OLD AS TIME SHARE.

Has anyone ever actually used one of the free week's accomodation? I was given a quality vacation club voucher for a week of free accomodation in one of 5 or 6 resorts, and as a typically suspicious type I reckon it must be a scam (nothing is for nothing!) - anyone actually been to one of their resorts?

These free weeks are only to get you along to a presentation where they try to get you to purchase their package. There are no guarantees that the accommodation you get will be of good standard. The deal is about getting money out of people, not providing a service.

Hi
I work at Absolute, HARD SELL???? You guys astonish me, I have a work permit, I pay Tax, I love my Job, I have a Thai Wife expecting my Baby. In my job I am courteous, upfront and inform my customers of the Dos and Donts of Thailand. I have made a lot of friends around the World who have seen value in our fantastic Product. Maybe one or two can give a bad impression, but let me tell you, they are not in our industry for very long.
We save a lot of money marketing our product from the street, we pass these savings on to our new customers which is why we are so succsessful.
I see people every day whose holidays are not what they expected because the Travel Agent mislead them! I am confronted by Tailors, Tuk Tuk drivers and street vendors every day "Yindee tawn rap"
There are far more serious issues in Asia to be debated, and far more people worse off than you.
Stop Whining get hold of your testicles and do something that will make a REAL difference to somebodys life instead of worrying about your traumatic ordeal in a developing country.
Oh and if you would like to see what our product REALLY does why not pop in for a 90min presentation- at least you would know what you are talking about.

Your friendly Absolute Salesman

get lost jimmy! you cretin! get a real job!

The only people who slag us off are the CRETINS that cant afford it-- As quoted by my boss this mornings meeting

Hi "anon" strange name to atttach to a child at birth!

Sorry took a while to reply - could you list me the REAL jobs currently available in Thailand that pay 30-60K bht a week and give you weekends off? Thanks mate I must be some sort of cretin not to have consulted you before my choice of occupation......oh and have a nice songkrhan

Absolute Club in Phuket is managed by Russian Mafia . Its is a new scam business in Thailand. BEWARE IT !

Jimmy, dont "peach" or cheat people around and choose a decent work , pal... ABSOLUTE CLUB IS A SCAM AND YOU KNOW PERFECTLY ABOUT THAT.....

A few years ago i filled in one of those survey's,after being approached by the students that usually do this sort of thing,while waiting for a boat down at Thaksin Bridge.I did'nt think much of it at the time so i was surprised to recieve a phone call the following day to say that i had won a weeks free accomodation at one of any of their many place around the world.All i had to do was to attend one of their presentations down near Sala Daeng,with no obligation to buy of course,and the prize would be mine.Just an hour of my time was all that was required i was told.Expecting a scam right from the moment i took the call i went along with it.I was'nt going to be talked into anything or part with any money so i had nothing to lose.The office they had set up was pretty busy with others who obviously were also winners.It had the look of a place that could just disappear overnight.It did'nt appear to be a Thai operation.The guy who did the presentation for me was English.The details are lost on me now,though in truth i was'nt giving it my full attention,but it was described as a "holiday club".You buy a place in one of their resorts around the world,paying so much a year for the up keep etc, where you can stay for so many weeks a year,or you can rent it out to other people when you're not using it or you can swap with others,that sort of thing.The guy was good i'll give him that and really gave it the hard sell.One thing i noticed was that there was nothing you could take away to read through and have time to think about things.They wanted you to sign up there and then.The guy wrote down lots of figures as he spoke just to emphasize what a great deal i would be getting,and he had a few brochures to show me photos of the places he was talking about,but nothing to take away.The one hour of my time turned into about two and a half hours,there was a video as well.When it came to the crunch and i told him i was'nt interested the guy visibly deflated in front of me.A more senior salesman was called who came on a little heavier telling me what a great deal i was getting.The price i'd originally been given was £3000 if i remember correctly.It then came down to about half that but then i'd lose a few of the options offered with the other package.When they evenyually admitted defeat i was given a slip of paper and was told i could claim my free weeks accomodation.Later i discovered that i should also have been given a brochure,with a claim form, so i could choose where i wanted to spend the week.I went back to collect it.They charged me B1000 for this.Although expecting this to be part of the scam i decided to go along with it just to see how far i could push it.There were many places to choose from around the world but with visions of booking something up at some resort only to be handed a large bill at the end of my stay i chose a hotel in Bangkok that would coincide with my next visit.I filled in the form and sent it off never expecting to hear from them again.Months later i got a call in England telling me they could'nt give me the dates that i'd asked for,surprise surprise.As i could be flexible they had to give in and give me the following week.Even then i never believed it.Returning to Bangkok i had a room and was'nt bothered if the hotel deal worked out or not,i did'nt expect it to.I went to check out the hotel beforehand over in Sapan Kwai,The Tower Inn.Much to my amazement i was expected and checked in the following week.Okay so its not the best hotel in Bangkok and Sapan Kwai is a little further away from things but it was fine.The only obligation i had was to sit through another presentation which consisted of some Irish chancer trying to sell me the same sort of deal as before and even he gave it up half way through.The week did'nt cost me anything and breakfast was thrown in.Now i imagine that a lot of these scratchcards and surveys are not going to work out this way but i think that with a lot of these free offers they're working on the assumption that you think it's a scam so will never claim you're free prize.It must really piss them off when you do.

We have just returned from Phuket, holiday was tarnished due to the retards trying to get us to do scratchcards and come see a presentation. We have passed our views on to the British and Thai embassy and also our travel agents. These idiots should not be allowed on the streets to harass tourists.

John/Sarah...
Did you pass on any other views to the embassies (and travel agents!!!)
.Indian men trying to sell you a suit by putting on a London accent?
.Thai men impersonating Bob Marley to get you to rent a Jet Ski?
.Burmese mothers using their babies to make you feel guilty enough to buy a wooden frog?
.Katoeys showing their operation to get you to pay for the next?
.Thai ladies calling John a 'Sek See Man' so as to lure him into the massage room? Where once out of your sight he will succumb to a happy finish. (oh yes he did!!)

As long as there is an audience there will be a show
And as long as there are punters there will be sales techniques (or call them by another name if it makes you feel superior)
Air your views by all means by why the derogatory remarks "retards and Idiots" these people are doing what they need to survive -There's no DSS here to pay the Rent!

"Retards?...Idiots?... Why didnt you tell them you have already done the presentation...just like I tell the guy at the service station on the M4 that I already have AA cover.
Its not hard guys - at least you know next year!

Jimmy , yes other comments were made to the travel agencies, but none bothered us more than the everday stopping and trying to get us to do scratchcards and listen to presentations. As for ladyboys, its not really my thing, but if you like it, each to their own. I dont cheat either, but again your morals are obviously different from mine.

As for my comments, ever heard of free speech? my comments were directed at foreigners who were trying to suck us in, not local Thais. We both thought the Thais were wonderful.

And yes it can be difficult to get away from those guys sometimes.

Jimmy, I like your reference to Ladyboys, however you should keep your sexual preferences to yourself.maybe you are a gay scam artist. I agree with John, the scratchcard artists are a complete pain.

Jimmy

Just out of interest. Do you have a work permit?

These idiots stopped us several times in Samui ( Chaweng beach ) English guys pleading poverty told us they get a commision if we go to the presentation, and they need the money. These guys are parasites and certainly put a dampner on our holiday as we tried to avoid them every day.

Well done timeshare team for lowering your reputation even further.

Just back from Thailand again and here is the latest update on the Phuket scammers.

Join their exclusive holiday club and you get discounted holidays anywhere in the world. The scam. It only costs $us17,500 for life time membership. But wait I'm 58 and probably will only be able to travel for 10-15 more years. Then I get offered the shorter 10 year membership version for just $us7500. Told I'm still am not interested the Pommy heavy boss comes out and offers the final sign up today deal of $US4000. Great discounts just so they can get me to sign there and then. Thats the pressure.

To prove what a great deal it is they can also offer me discounted airline tickets from Darwin to Bangkok at $428 return. Now I know what these tickets really cost and the best I can get is $650 return. The liars they are then say its not $428 return for one person but 2. Thats becauase they get special deals from the airlines. Sorry boys Tiger does not deal with people like you. Anything to get you to sign there and then.

Still not interested much to the poms disgust, but away i go with my 1 weeks acommodation paid for. I've done my part and sat through 3 hours sales crap, not the 90 minutes originally required by me.

But it was a useful exercise for fact finding. Turns out what they are selling is not an exclusive holiday club membership, but access to the world wide pool of unused time shares at resorts their fellow scammers sold to stupid tourists. You can actually access these time share pools yourself so you do not need these rip off holiday club memberships supporting pommy salesman living in Thailand spoiling everyones holiday.

Think about this. If I invest the $US17,500 myself in a term deposit, that in Australia at the momnet is paying 8.5% PA. The interest I would earn would be nearly $US 1500 per annum. So that's about the same savings their offering me on "cheap holiday deals", So I keep my $17,500 and still can afford cheaper holidays and not in some crappy time share resort.

Salesman Jimmy above tells us what other job is going to pay him Baht 30 - 60 thousand a week. Jimmy Thais work for 10 hours a day 6 days a week if there lucky and get 10,000 baht a month. Enjoy your Thai livestyle but it won't be at my expense or any others who reads this blog.

Hi Guys,
Replies as follows;

John/Sarah
I was not suggesting that my list of possible complaints to a travel agent were morally acceptable – in fact more the opposite. I was giving you food for thought. Yes, you felt your holiday was “tarnished” by the action of others. I was pointing out that during your Rose Tinted Dream Holiday there were many people (Human Beings regardless of their sexuality) that were doing what they felt they needed to get through life.
I am not suggesting that every tourist should be on a mission to save the less fortunate, but I am suggesting that you consider yourself “lucky” to have reasonable choices in life.
My point is that you complained of an issue that affected YOU the most and expect your Travel Agent to make it go away, if only it was so easy for everybody in life.

John/Matt
You have obviously got the totally wrong impression of me, I’m not Gay nor am I Homophobic. Can I point out that Katoeys consider themselves Women at heart and many are very beautiful, not “my thing” as you put it but if it was, so what!
You both seemed very defensive on the subject – live and let live.

Morals John? Morals are a measure with which we judge ourselves not others so if ours are similar or not are of no interest to me.

Sure John I’ve heard of free speech and I exercise it with a certain restraint. Take a holiday to Myanamar you’ll not see one scratchcard! You can’t have it all ways. Freedom of speech – I fought in the Falklands and lost very close friends. I’ve heard of it and fought for it.
And lastly, we employ far more Thais than foreigners (England take note!)

Owl
Yes, as I said before I have a work permit.

Doc smith
If going on a presentation is such an ordeal I cannot understand why you seem to do it on every holiday – The presentation was not at our resort as we do not organise your flights nor do we profess to and your description of the product is not what I sell and the prices quoted do not match our inventory.
You stated “Sold to stupid tourists” in your post……………..most of our members are Australian, make of that what you will – your words not mine Sir.

Anyway I hope you continue to enjoy holidays in Thailand as I will enjoy selling them and spending the money in Thailand.

Long live the King

Jimmy it was an expensive dream holiday for us and yes it was tarnished by idiots on the street stopping us every day. If you are that much of a humanitarian, then sell all your worldly goods and give the funds to the poor. As for being a veteran, there are many worldwide, and as for being involved in military campaigns, Im sure you know then that the real vets are the ones who never talk about it, let alone publish it on a scammers web site. Think on Jimmy.

Merely stating that I had not only heard of free speech but have also witnessed the price some pay fot it.
There are many humanitarians who do not sell their wordly goods - I count myself amongst them.
I also consider anyone who fought for their country as a REAL vet, is it something we must be ashamed of?
Anyway Im getting bored now with this battle of morality, back to my initial advice..... tell them you have already been on a presentation the previous week and bought something......its very easy and you will hopefully enjoy your next holiday.

Hey Jimmy boy...how does it feel when you scam people? Forget the sugar coating of your actions and all the rest of the crap excuses you deflect with...just let me in on the core emotion of 'selling' when you know what will take place. I lived in a remote hilltop village in Greece with a population of 25 people, no proper road or transport apart from my uncle's donkey. No government help or benefits, just me feeding my family from selling on the street...nothing but corn & roasted chestnuts. I bettered myself by educating myself through reading anything i could find and drive and determination to do better. Now i live as a forigner in Australia ( and have no rights or benefits for such basics as health or welfare and have another 3 years until i am eligible for citizenship) with 3 kids and my Australian wife so you can see we have close similarities in our situations. Now i didn't sell myself out...so what possible excuse could you use to fool yourself into believing you have morals. What a pity someone with your linguistic skill would rather scam and take a fools job than say...teach the english language. I pity you and would love to know how you sleep at night so next time i may compromise the sanctity of pure morals, i too may sleep in peace. i pray your children will understand when they are old enough to know you prostituted yourself even though it was not physically. Enjoy your stay in your delusional world

OK Kris lets just break this down;

Definition of “scam” as provided by this website –
What is the definition of a scam?
1. A fraudulent business scheme (noun)
2. Deprive of by deceit (verb)

So my first answer is that I wouldn’t know how it feels to scam people because I don’t scam people. I know that is very hard for you to accept but that’s the way it is.

I have volunteered myself on this website for a verbal public stoning in the hope that one or two may actually sit back and consider the “facts” on which they based their initial assumptions – I see plenty of emotion, self pity and mob rule mentality but very few facts about my company. Hitler was a painter so does that make every decorator guilty of Genocide? Of course not! I am a salesman and I sell a very good product whether you like it or not, if there are less scrupulous sales people selling an inferior product then it is not my duty to apologise or make excuses, nor inform you of my sleeping habits – However, as you asked, Buddhist meditation is certain to give you a good nights rest!

My core emotion from selling is happiness, which I feel when providing for my family (just like you) so the objective of selling is money (now there’s a surprise!!!)

The “Delusional World in which I live” we actually share my friend. The transport we use, be it Donkey or S Class Mercedes and the goods we sell, be it Chestnuts or Timeshare, are only relative to the company we keep.

With the upmost respect Kris – save your prayers – My son is 23 and just finishing Law school and will be coming for a holiday with me soon ( without my job I could not afford to have guided him through University). I have another Baby arriving in a few months and without my Job I could not afford to welcome the arrival in the Bangkok International Hospital.

Good luck with the Welfare in Australia

P.S After reading your previous post to JONATHAI I would assume they had a pretty extensive Library in your hilltop village in Greece! Well done Son, a living legend in the world of self development.

Jimmy - What a lot of bull... Answer these questions. Why are people forced into buying on the day and not given a chance to cool-off (even a day or two) if you are so sure about your wonderful product. Why is there no registered address on contracts? Why on investigation there is no substance to the all the claims made in the sales pitch. Why are people being warned in England particularly about the lack of validity of Holiday Clubs? Why is the law governing these contracts not in Thailand but a tax haven in another country. I believe the only reason these clubs are operating in Thailand is that in other countries that have wised up to activities of these operations. Argue or not, these clubs are not in the interest of the common people.

Another thing, I am positive that you are just trying to defend yourself and if the real truth sunk into your mind then I am sure you would not continue in this field. Often people blindly defend something in an endeavour to make themselves feel better.

Jimmy, you are a scam artist, and your company is a scam.

Jimmy you and your company are scum, get off the street.

Seen these scams from Algarve to London to Gold Coast

The key to crap is you must sign NOW
If you are prepared to listen to bullshit for hours to get afree T shirt or 1000Baht you may as well apply to Scamshare and get paid for it

Most Thais are honest genuine people and the furhter away from sleaze of Phuket Pattaya and Patpong the better it get s
Chok Dee

Hello I work myself in the Timeshare business as an OPC (outside personal contact). For me and most of OPC's I know take this business as a scam aswell but our goal is not to get you guys to sign up! It's to get my commission. I inform all the people I throw in the TukTuk that after 90min I have my commission and then they can get the f&!"@k out! They are also fully aware that they are not unique in winning the 1st prize. If they are intrested, they can stay the whole day if they want to and if they are not intrested, Say you just bought a house and you're in problem with the bank or whatever! Atleast I inform people that if they like it stay,if they don't I offer a solution on how to easy get away... I don't sketch up a fantasy world of the presentation and therefore none of the people I bump into afterwards holds any personal grief against me because everything lived up to their expectations.

I get about 30 customers a month 30x3000THB plus 30.000THB loyalty bonus, you do the math..

The big fat guy who scared you is nothing more then an alcoholic bum with bad nerves! IF you tickled his nipples he wold've folded similar the way a thai ladybar girl does when her farang lover tells her he loves her!

Why so many foreigners are working with this is because it's an easy solution for torublemakers to earn good money and living in the sun away from all the problems back home.

Other people are just sick of their old life and sees this as a new opportunity in life. I personally have made friends from every corner of the world, from both the timeshare world and the touristworld that have botht inspired me and taught me important lessons. I've done, seen and matured more then I could've ever imagined when I started this business as a insecure 19 year old hanging around all these 'bad' men.

See it as you want but it's not about the scam but the style of living that attracts people to work with this. If i stick a few guys that are knowingly aware of what's goin to happen I think that's fine.

Not to say that this kind of job is a part of my future as i do intend on going back home again trying to be an upstanding citizen, though I know in the back of my head I will most probably hear a voice saying ' Why did you leave? All you had to worry about back then was rent!'

Loads of people come and go in this business, as OPC's, Salesreps etc, etc Some people enjoy it do it for awhile and then goes back to normal life again... The reason people are doing this is 1. They make more money (when they are good) then most people they know back home. 2 Alternative lifestyles are more then welcomed and accepted 3. You HAVE FUN!

Listen to the argument: Stay back home in chilly scotland working at the factory doing the same thing you've done for the last 27 years? Or having the beach as your office, short working days, fun parties, funny people, take part in different cultures, seee stuff you wold never see all this for 4-6 hrs a day of 'Hey guys! Speak some English?''

And if you guys want to nitpick this message as good as you did with poor Jimmy (though I think he defends his Aboslute Club abit too much..... but he has to... he sells it ffs!) then you guys are not thinking out of YOUR box. Everything in this world is corrupted and there is no longer a GOD. Would you care about morales then?

The bst way to get all this dodgy clubs to stop is actually attending a presentation but not buying anything! See then the company has to pay the OPC's commission, transportation for client etc, etc. If nobody buys it will detoriate

Long message but what we chose to do for a living should be up ourself. I mean would you rather have this guy standing on the street on your vacation or having him back home living off the goverment up to all sorts of trouble and might decide to do something extremelly self destructive?

ITS NOT ABOUT TIMESHARE ITS ABOT THE LIFESTYLE
Kiss

Jimmy, you are right. the average Australian tourist is conned by the high pressure sales "sign now" pitch used by time share salesmen. Perhaps because the are naive, trusting and easily convinced by trickery. But that doesn't make the sales techniques employed justified. Yes you are selling a product that usually on reflection most people wouldn't want. If your product is so good why not offer a cooling off period that many countries now require. I am not personally aware of the "resort" you represent or what you are selling. But at least as you say you have been prepared to come on this formum for a public lashing.

You may well be the most honest time share salesman in Thailand but unfortunately there are 100 others that screw up your industries reputation.

Todd

Nobody is “forced” to sign anything at anytime. Before anybody applies for a membership they sit with an individual representative of the Trustee, and without the salesperson present. Our customers are given every chance to sit, read and digest the full details of the agreement……. Ho hum this is beginning to sound like a presentation on Holiday ownership at Absolute. The idea of a presentation is to answer any questions on our product and our company, so the client can evaluate whether or not they wish to join us.

You are asking me questions that have been picked from the scaremonger tree and do not have much relevance to what I sell!
Have you read a “contract without registered address”?
Have you been on a presentation?
If you have done both, then why did you not get an answer to that question at the time?
If you have done neither where then why assume that this is the case (because you would not be reading a contract without a having a presentation)
If you want answers to your blinkered assumptions then you will have to go on a presentation – 90 mins of all the questions you can ask – and guess what if you want to stay longer …..You can! How good is that?

If you think that’s avoidance then try this…..Walk into any major business and accuse them of being frauds, cheats, scammers and liars. Then tell them that their product is sub standard and you wouldn’t buy it – even if you could afford it. Tell them they are linked to a crime syndicate and throw in a few derogatory remarks for good measure.
After that ask them for a coffee and to show you around the premesis and give you a demonstration of their product and their working practices!!!

We do not only operate in Thailand, we are a Corporation and operate worldwide.
Other holiday ownership products just like ours are sold by Marriots, Hilton, Hyatt and the most well known – Disney….OH NO even Mickey Mouse is in on it!!!!

6.7 Million Households own holiday ownership – FACT
The most notably and extensive research (by Ragatz Associates) states that the high level of customer satisfaction is in excess of 80% has lead to one fifth of the new vacation ownership purchases being made by existing owners with the typical member owning 2 or 3 weeks for his own use.

Not all holiday ownership products are genuine – FACT
Absolute is the real deal – FACT
The philosophy of our Group of companies is to offer an ethical and professional service to all business partners and provide members with first class accommodation and service year after year.

Adam
I work in a quality, air conditioned resort – If I did work the street the only downside would be you sleeping in my workplace.

Vet
How’s Aldershot – long time since I was based there – can’t say I miss it though.

Doc Smith
Thank you for acknowledging that all Timeshare / Holiday Vacation Clubs are not the same and neither are the sales techniques. The border between persuasion and pressure is a very fine one and most salesman will step over it in their career, some of course more than others (and Yes some are outright conmen!)
I have only had two cancellations in over a year, both of which received a full refund (out of good will) due to the circumstances. If we openly “pitched” a cooling off period we would increase sales dramatically and increase cancellations, and of course increase legal fees, administration, labour and so on. We either charge the customer who cancels or add it to the price of future memberships, it is a problem for us either way. Because our product is not something you can take home and admire after purchase there is often a feeling of buyers remorse a short time after the sale, this is usually dismissed and when people actually start using the product they realise it wasn’t a bad idea after all. The cooling off period only increases the desire to pull out.

Yes, I have sighted a contract that has only a postcode address. The law was governed by another country that does not consider peoples rights. The salesperson did not make it clear that there was no cooling off period (misrepresentation). Fortunately, I did not proceed. Pressure is placed on a person so that do not get a chance to consider what they are getting themselves into and yes, a lot of people expect it to be a honest product. I do not believe you, Jimmy, again you are only trying to justify yourself. If it was a great product then you would allow customers to take a copy of the contract away for 24 hrs and digest the contents before entering into an agreement. It is only about money not a service.

We just finished our week free holiday after scratching our ticket last year, we had a real hard time getting our 90 min presentation, and if you miss it you pay for the holiday in FULL.
I cant speak too badly of these people they kept to their word after a couple of heated phone calls and our holiday ended up being free.
Give it a go, have a look. Ensure you attend your 90min presentation.
Otherwise as someone said previously " we have already done it" or "No".

Barfly - Sounds like it was a very stressful having to have 3 heated phone calls to get your free week. A real close encounter. Good luck for the future. I bet you are glad you read this website or you might have made the wrong decision.

OK Todd, the fact you didn't proceed with the contract does show that you had some reasonable chance to make a choice and you feel you made the right one. I feel the point here is that, Yes our marketing and sales techniques are direct and people are put on the spot for a Yes or a No because it works for us. Every business is about money first because without it there will be no business. I would love to live in Utopia where everybody treated others equally to themselves, but I doubt I would see it. When I came to Thailand I was amazed at how happy people could be that had so little. Our customers buy through want and desire, which of course we help instil. I am as guilty as the next for buying what I desire as opposed to what I need. I work because I need to and am as fair as possible in my approach. On Friday two members who returned for their first holiday presented me with two bottles of Australian wine and some chocolates.
Over 80% of the people we see have been to presentations before, even when they previously had a bad experience; they are looking for something better than they already get from the Travel Agent.

Barfly, I cannot understand why you had trouble getting the 90min presentation because that’s where we get our sales. I would assume it was a different company and not Club Absolute. Anyway it sounds like you gave an open mind and received the free holiday as promised.

TODD – You are quite funny!
The post from Barfly was reasonably positive and you interpreted “a couple” to mean “3”
It seems Barfly read the blogs after the holiday which wouldn’t have helped them in the slightest.
“A real close encounter” – I think you have a very dry sense of humour!

Jimmy the fact you claim you have a work permit to do this is an out an out lie. Either offer up the proof or shut the hell up. No time for fancy diatribes, either show the work permit or everyone will know you are a total liar. Better understand who is who here, you are just some farang big mouth scamming tourists. One call to Uncle and you will be going bye bye. It happens all the time. PS I work in immigration. This is something you won't need a scratch card for.

The scammer's company names are Quality Vacations and Absolute.

Oh my god, Sasawat we could not even be in Thailand without a work permit as you should Know working in imigration that you say...

Sasawat, I feel insulted by your threatening, abusive and racist comments!
I do not believe you work in Immigration with such an aggresive attitude.
I do not believe you are an ambassador for your country and so your verbal onslaught will not disturb my eternal equanimity.

Well done Sasawat for speaking for thousands of tourists and residents, I hope you do work for Immigration and get these parasites off the streets. WELL DONE.

Good on you sasawat, eject these people from your island, they are bringing the reputation of Phuket into the gutter, and keeping tourists away, I have many friends who will not visit Phuket (Patong beach area) and Samui because they are sick of these scammers. Again good on you Sasawat.

GOOD WEBSITE VERY INFORMATIVE

Jimmy no work permit? I cannot see where Quality Vacations or Absolute are legal registered Thai companies, therefore it would be impossible for you to have a work permit as you claim?

Jimmy, in immigration, we are follow the law and my opinion with all farang working here illegally, is they should be sent home. You won't be the first farang out of here.

Does anyone have Jimmy's full name and country of residence?

As for all those asking for a Thai Police Website, there is a Tourist Police Office on the second floor at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Please walk right is as the police and staff are very friendly and would love to hear your stories about this scammer. I am sure if word gets out that this many tourists are being scared away from Thailand by one tout, he will be picked up and sent home before you know it. Thai officials are aware that any threat to tourism is to be dealt with immediately.

We have lived in Kamala for 4 years and never had a scratchcard and I have just read all the notes here for the first time. I think Jimmy has bin brave debating with so many people on here. but nobody has said that he has conned them and you all seem to be using him as a scapegoat. He is outspoken but i dont think that is illegal. I hope what you say about yourself is true Jimmy maybe not all timeshare salesman are the bad.

The scammers stay on the well beaten path of Patong beach, the scratchcard scammers are rude and persistent, and the presentation crew are no different. I am happy Sasawat has come on board to help move these scammers away. They are ruining peoples holiday. Im sure you would have a different opinion if they all moved down to Kamala beach and stopped you every day.

Sasawat if u really r from imigration which u obviousley aint.........wot do u know about work permits? like no 1. we have to go to malaysia every once a year to get a year permit and it takes two days as we have to put our passport for checking and then we get it back the next day.. no 2. we have to go to Burma every three months for another stamp.......
I feel sorry to you guys who is getting fooled by this sasawat..
And i would love to hear views from a unhappy owner of these companies instead of views from people that just can not afford the product and just like talking about a product they obviousley have no clue about...

Gaza, you seem to be confused. No one ever goes to another country to get a work permit for working in Thailand. It sounds like you are doing a regular visa run. The people who do this DO NOT have work permits and are often working illegally in Thailand. Work permit is issued by the Department of Labour. To get one, you need a Non-Immigrant Visa. Once issued, it is valid for one year. After that year, you DO NOT NEED to leave the country to renew. You go to the immigration to renew the visa for one more year and work office to renew the work permit for one year. It is simple if you are working legally.

Well done Sasawat and Jackie, we should get round all the islanders and lodge a petition to get these scammers off the street, they do nothing for the economy and are putting off tourists coming to Phuket and Samui. It is high time something was done. Please carry on the good work of exposing these scammers.

Oh no. a linch mob in Patong! Everybody get off the streets-just incase they think your scammer.
Most expats come to Thailand to get away from the western beauracracy and nosey do-gooders.
And the Women are so much cheaper to entertain in Thailand - Why are you here Jackie???

Farang 2 - Translated sounds like "My money is running out and these guys seem to be doing more business than my shoddy girlie bar"

I'm coming to Phuket in October, Im more concerned about the Immigration Staff than the so called scammers!
Surely a scam has to be proven before sentence is passed.

Gaza, Jackie has it right and you have no clue what you are talking about. You are doing VISA RUN's because you are here with NO work permit working illegally.

To get a work permit you have to have a legal Thai company sponsor you and post 2,000,000 thai baht registered capital for every foreign work permit they wish to offer. This is AFTER you have already applied for and received a Non resident immigrant B visa which is applied for outside of Thailand. From the sounds of things, you have a VISA and NO WORK PERMIT. Good way to get deported once you get caught.

Jimmy the whole forum is still waiting for your work permit, or if anyone knows Jimmy's company, I will check to see if they have issued a work permit for him or not?

Somehow I think these people are here with a VISA but no work permit and have found this scam as the only way to financial support themselves here in Thailand with no work permit or job. If you cannot get a legal job here in Thailand you have no business being here and taking advantage of tourists who save to come here for a holiday is the worst. I would personally like to see one of them made an example of and tossed in prison here. That might persuade the others from doing the same.

Dr. M.K

It is obvious you cannot read because if you had read all the posts, you would surely know that the this scam has proven to be exactly that a scam.

I have a feeling Jimmy is using other ID's to substantiate his scammer status here.

No one in their right mind, after reading all of these posts could logically agree this is not a scam.

Sasawat, now I am being accused of using other IDs!
As for the Whole forum waiting for me! Do you really think I am going to publish my personal details on this website?
If my word is not good enough then carry on disbelieving me. I AM WORKING LEGALLY.
How about you publishing your personal details and substantiating your claims first, or better still use the proper channels.

Sasawat you are no imigration officer at all, just proven by your remarks....... sorry guys who are listening to sasawat garbage....
Visa runs are for toursists (correct) thay also for people working legally in Thaialnd to get non-B and non- 0 visa stamps, I have been in Thailand for 4 years, I owned a bar in Koh Samui for 3 of those years and everything you hav said is unbelievable garbage and the way you are talking on this forum you are probaly scaring more people of coming here......
I am not going to remark on anyone elses comments because i am not like that sad man sasawat, you all have your own opinions so please believe what you believe and if it sasawat you believe, so be it..

My boss said ur a nob Sasawat........

Yea sounds like a nob head to me too. They would not have disclosed that they work for Immigration if they truly did. Good try but I think they have rumbled you Sasawat. Try again mate.

My husband and I just returned from Phuket and only got approached once by an aussie guy trying to get us interested in a free day trip then marketing date. We just told him that we were not interested as we are already part of a holiday company and he was fine. This sort of thing has happened in other countries as well and we have never had any trouble by just being polite and saying a firm no. Nothing is ever for free so dont forget that. Thailand is an amazing place to visit - dont be put off by others comments go for your self and see what it is like but as always when you are out and about ...Have your wits about you. Happy holidays

Exactley right Colleen, just say no and they wil politeley leave u...
Again right Colleen go 2 Thailand it is a beutiful place must be visited by every1 and no worries there are no vultures out there that has been viewed saddley on this forum

These companies target particular age groups and mainly couples. I am sure that some people are not bothered by these pushy salesmen. I am also sure the sales reps are only doing what they are told to do. The management of these holiday clubs are the ones that set the rules for such scams.
The people in Thaiand are wonderful, but it is a shame that these self interest people from outside Thailand are spoiling it for others.

I was approached by two friendly Thai girls, asking me to scratch two cards. On one I won a t-shirt and the other I obviously won at star prize. It seemed pretty geniune, but I was force to watch a long winded presentation, in the end I go so bored and furstrated I got up and left. Its all a scam, run by blood sucking foreigners who have nothing better to do than scam holiday makers to sign up there and then for thousands of euros. Its bad enough avoiding the massages, taxi's, Indian tailors and now this!

Noel HE HE HE HA HA HA HE HE HE HA HA HA HE HE HE get a LIFE

Think yourself lucky Noel - on the same day I was at work and some Guy came in and so we gave him a presentation on our exclusive Holiday Club only to find out he didn't have a pot to piss in and couldn't afford it!

ha ha u all were screwed up the ringer listen 2 any twat on this forum..........enjoy thailand it is the BEST

Just back from my second holiday to Thailand and had a great scamfree time. How? I just said no! Some are rude and persistent... I've been chased down streets before... but this is a developing country, these people are POOR. You need to cut them some slack, even the Westerners.

Reading the board I find some of the "terrifying" situations quite amusing compared to what goes on here in London on a Saturday night. Guys "storming off" on their bikes? Very scary I'm sure.

And some of the replies to Jimmy here have been deeply offensive, maybe you guys are the ones with the manners issues. If you go around the streets of Thailand making homophobic remarks as seen above I'm sure you would get abused.

And out of interest exactly how do you guys have so much time to spare in Thailand as to stop and go for a 90 minute presentation?

We joined Absolute Private Residence Club last year and have just had a fantastic Holiday in Koh Samui. I must say I was a little apprehensive when I first parted with my money but I have no regrets at all at joining. The company Chairman was visiting the resort and asked me (by name) if I was enjoying my stay, how nice! My fourth visit to Thailand my first withh the Absolute Company and by far the best.

Noel
The only reason you stopped was because they were "friendly Thai girls"? Try removing your Brains from your testicles and you may be able to make decisions a little quicker.
When you arrived you SIGNED for a 90 minute presentation.You were not FORCED to do anything.
The fact that you were bored probably means you were more interested in the "friendly Thai girls" and not really listening.
What I fail to understand is how you come to he conclusion it is a "scam run by blood sucking foriegners who have nothing better to do"...... could you explain what exactly the scam is? I am interested to find what EXACTLY was a SCAM.

Jae
Well said! It is the overreaction and dramatisation from people that I cannot understand.

Tom, Rita
Nice of you to put in something positive..........How did you come across the website?

I am glad I found this post. I was consdering taking a job with Club Absolute. My wife is Thai, and as you know, it is very hard for a foreigner to find work there. Although I don't believe it is a scam, you are not being ripped off of anything (are you)? I was consdiering being a sales consultant. There web site claims that they will get you the Work Permit, and send the letter that the embassy needs to get the visa.

However, after reading all the things mentioned here, I have one question for you Jimmy. the following is right off of their own website.
"We sell our products off site and on site worldwide and in Thailand we concentrate our biggest efforts to expand our member base. We have various ways to generate our clients from a range of very successful marketing programmes to generate interested parties to view our sales presentations in all our locations. Now we are generating around 2,500 presentations a month and are not short of quality tours.
The clients are pre-screened at least twice to make sure that we deem them “Qualified to Purchase”.
After the screening process they will then be handed over to the Sales consultant, who will proceed with his multi-media presentation after (obviously) a brief introduction and friendly warm up. A sales presentation can vary in time, but the average time is between 2 and 3 hours; one of our sales managers will at different times of the presentation come and speak to the clients and at the end of the presentation will come in to do his best to close the sale for you!"

Jimmy, I ask you this, how do you PRESCREEN people that you are pulling off the street?!?! Obvioulsy, with your own admission, this is an outright lie.

I am really sad to learn of all this, since I had been looking for a long time to find employment in Thailand, just so my wife could be near her family ( not to mention I love the Thai people and the culture)

It is not my responsibility to deal with employment enquiries but I will reply to your question from a personal perspective. I also have a question for you, when or where did I state that we do not prescreen clients?
The phrase "Qualified to Purchase" is so that we can allocate the clients to the correct Salespeople. Our marketing costs a lot of money and so we cannot justify losing a highly potential customer just because they did not speak the same language as the Salesperson. If the client does not "Qualify to Purchase" they are treated with the same courtesy and given a presentation and receive their Gift. However the Tour does not appear on our Marketing Statistics. Would a client who joined us yesterday be in the market to buy our product again today? Of course not so of course there is screening. I could go into greater detail but as you have chosen a scammers' forum and decided to remain anonymous, and also accused us of lying, I do not feel obliged to disclose the company's marketing policy. Maybe you could use the correct channels next time!

May I just add that we have thousands of applications for employment every year and here are three fundamental necessities for employment with us;
1. A positive mental attitude.
2. Belief in our product.
3. Common sense
It appears you lack all three and only want the work to enable you to get a Work Permit and Visa.
Good Luck with the Job hunt!

I found this website having 'Googled' Club Absolute as a mission to find out how genuine/beneficial the product they try to sell really is. Not good news for Club Absolute that their name is linked to this website. I have had the personal experience of sitting through a very tedious presentation about a holiday club that could not even provide accommodation in two of the three dream destinations we were asked to give. I just want to raise three issues really before I leave others to continue with the offensive and very unnecessary personal comments made above.
1) Jimmy describes three fundamental necessities for employment with Club A, one of those being 'belief in the product.' If this is the case, and staff employed really do have 'belief in the product,' then why are you unable to provide customers with literature to take away and a 'cooling off' period to decide whether handing over 10 grand is the right thing to do? European Union legislation requires that by law a 'cooling off' period must be allowed. Obviously Club A work differently. I can personally say that I am not a person who would hand over large amounts of money "just like that" and would never do so without having gone away and done my research and given thought to the positives and negatives. I am ever so confident that my view also applies to the majority of other people too!
2) For those of you who have said that one person asking you "aggressively" to partake in a scratch card competition has put you off ever returning to Thailand, come on, really? Was it that bad? I very much doubt it. Thailand is a wonderful and safe country. I'm sure you must have had worse on a Friday night at home?!!!!
3) Club A talk about selling a product offering 5 star luxury accommodation. Having done my research (!!!), the products on offer in Phuket and Koh Samui get far from positive user reviews. A big fan of TripAdvisor.com, I have found that Club A Sea Pearl in Phuket is only rated 86/111 hotels in Patong with some negative vibes. Samui Peninsula likewise being rated 123/196 hotels in Koh Samui. I do not see this equating to 5* resorts.

As can be read from my comments, I did not dismiss Club A completely, hence the research I have conducted, yet there are many unanswered questions and doubts about marketing practices.

MKUK

I found lots of information in UK about Holiday Club scams below is just one example in the Daily Mirror UK.

CON HOLIDAY
CONSUMER INVESTIGATION Thousands of Brits are falling victim to high-pressure selling and parting with up to £25,000 to join clubs that promise exotic trips at bargain prices..but that luxury break often turns out to be a shabby flat on the Costas
By Stephen Hayward Consumer Correspondent 19/08/2007
Related Articles
More Sunday
Have your say on What are you talking about? in our Forums
News picturesTens of thousands of Britons are being conned out of cash with promises of cut-price holidays in exotic locations.

Victims are pressed into paying between £2,000 and £25,000 to join holiday clubs offering cheap luxury breaks which they say fail to materialise.

Middle-aged and elderly couples are the main targets of the holiday-club sharks who promise a lifetime of five-star hotels anywhere in the world at knockdown prices.

But instead of a dream holiday in the Bahamas or the Seychelles they are often offered low-grade hotels and apartments in the Costas or the Canaries which can be bought just as cheaply at any travel agent.

Even holidays closer to home don't live up to the billing. One couple chose a break at a castle near Edinburgh - and found themselves in an unheated flat on the outskirts of Glasgow in December.

Other buyers find they cannot choose holiday dates and are committed to annual subscriptions even if they don't go away.

Many victims are approached while on holiday by sales reps who give them scratchcards saying they've won a bottle of champagne or a free holiday. To collect their "prize" they must attend a presentation which turns into a high-pressure sales pitch lasting five or six hours.

Consumer watchdogs are so concerned about the hard-sell tactics used by some club reps that they are leafleting UK and foreign airports warning holidaymakers about the £1billion-a-year business.

David and Lesley Sylvester, both 60, from Derbyshire, agreed to go on a cut-price £99 week's holiday to Tenerife. As part of the deal they had to attend a five-hour sales presentation by agents representing a company called Club Class Concierge - and ended up handing over thousands of pounds.

"The next morning we recognised its implausibility and asked for our money back," said David.

But unlike timeshare sales, where clients can cancel within 14 days, the Sylvesters say there was no "cooling-off" period, and they couldn't cancel. The couple who ended up in an unheated flat near Glasgow had paid £10,050 to join a holiday scheme called Estrella Dorada Mediterrenees.

When they tried another castle holiday, this time in Austria, they were taken to a rundown students' hostel in Vienna.

They took the holiday club to court in Barcelona where a judge ruled the couple should get a refund.

New EU laws announced by the European Commission will bring holiday clubs into line with rules that now protect timeshare buyers - but these won't come into force until 2010.

Steve Wright, 48, signed a £5,000 deal with a company called Designer Way Vacation Club, after attending a sales presentation in Huddersfield.

He said: "I was fortunate because I found out in time and I've written off the £950 deposit."

British members of the Designer Way Vacation Club, operating in the Canaries, were charged between £8,000 and £12,000 for a website "key" giving them access to "grand" discounts.

Instead, they mostly got normal online travel agencies whose offers they could have found themselves on the internet.

The UK's Office of Fair Trading reckons 400,000 Britons get sucked into holiday-club scams every year.

Sandy Grey, of the Timeshare Consumers' Association, said: "I would urge people not to go anywhere near these scams."

No one was available to comment at the Spanish HQ of Designer Way Vacation Club.

One couple chose a holiday at a castle near Edinburgh but found themselves in an unheated flat outside Glasgow in December

The same couple then tried another castle holiday in Austria..they were taken to a run-down student hostel in Vienna

HOW TO AVOID THE RIP-OFFS

The independent Timeshare Consumers' Association advises would-be members to walk away if:

You don't get an unconditional 14-day cooling-off period.

Any attempt is made to take money off you during the cooling-off period.

You are not given the chance to take the contract away to read it before signing.

All the verbal promises made to you are not put in writing.

You are not given, in writing, detailed examples of places, times and prices available.

Are you the victim of a holiday club scam? Call us free on 0800 289 441 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

MJ - I have answered Question 1 already on May 01(2 posts) and May 03 on this forum. One of the oldest excuses given to a Salesperson is "we'll be back tommorrow" or "We are going to have a think about it". Usually this means "We are not going to buy your product and we don't want to tell you why". The chances of them coming back are very slim, we would rather have a NO and carry on with business instead of making future appointments many of which do not turn up. Please bear in mind we do thousands of presentations every year and our statistics prove (check again May 01st) our method works for us and our members. No Company has 100% of it's customers satisfied of course! You ask for literature to take away, we feel a one to one multimedia presentation backed up by Internet access and a tour of our accommodation and developments in the area is more enjoyable and reassuring than a handful of glossy brochures which can be obtained at any travel agent. Your experience being "tedious" tells me the Salesperson failed miserably.
Q. 3. Our company does not promise to achieve 5* on all our resorts. During your presentation you were at our resort and had the chance to see others in the area - how could we claim it was 5*? Although we do have 5* resorts within our portfolio. I'm not going to argue the statistics given by other websites. Generally bad comments travel faster than good. Surely a tour of the resort and a chance to speak to existing members is better than the unsubstantiated comments given to a website?
The fact you have unanswered Questions tells me again the Salesperson failed and needs to go back into training! (Dont you dare say it was me!!! ha)

Ruby?
You didn't get my name right - MKUK should be MJUK!
Forgive me but it sounds like an Ad for the Sunday Mirror to me! The mistake with the name would confirm that!!

If I may add Ruby, the above comment is that of someone stealing my identity. I very much appreciated your input relating to the Daily Mirror and am not overly concerned that you misspelled one letter in my name!!!

Jimmy, as I said earlier, I don't believe it is a scam, however, how do you prescreen customers when they are taken off the street by win and scratch tickets?!?!? Out of all of the presentations that you do, what percentage actually sign right then and there?

M to a T. They are simply asked questions (nothing too personal). It would be better if you contacted the website that you did originally and you will get full details via email. As I said it is not my position to publish my Company's working practices, I am on this website on a personal level because I believe in what I sell and I believe there is a lot of scaremongery from some people. My sympathy to those who have had the unfortunate experience of being scammed in the past.

Does anyone actually have a story of losing money in Thailand at one of these presentations?

To MJUK Y
ou are not very negative talking about Club Absolute, but one thing you state about the Samui pnisula rated 123, oh my god sorry but stayed there many time and have been back and forwards 2 Thailand and mainly Koh Samui, the penisula is probaly at least in the top 20 as u can see i am not exagerating like some people on here, it is a outstanding resort so soory but i disagree with that comment from trip advisor you say. MISSINFORMED INFORMATION, i call it, check it out and make your own opinion.........

You are very right Dave the samui pinisulla is beautiful, we stayed there through a travel agent and we did go through a prsentation and I can say it was not tidious as people have said, it was very interesting adn I understand Jimmy in the way they market as the salesperson clearley told me the reasons for buying today, me and Fred were pretty sad that we could truthfuly not afford the wonderful package that was offered to us and when we said no, the salesman very nice guy took me to collect my prize and we have booked a week next year in the same resort which we won after the presentation, its booked and we cant wait. So all I say people is enjoy Thailand at its best...

No scam proven in Thailand then??!!

Hi Jimmy, I am just wondering whether you actually own a vacation club membership yourself mate? not being sarcastic, just wondering if a salesman puts his money where his mouth is and if "no" do any of your fellow salesman own one? Interested to see the answer to this mate.

Good question Kiwi, I have been in the job for 1 year now and I dont own a membership.. reasons can not afford it as it is not cheap and I can use the companies anyways which I have done for my mum and dad...
There is about half a dozen that work here and do own a membership like I say iI have only been doing this job for 1 year and in that 1 year I have signed people up and they hav stayed here in Thailand and around the world on our membership, I believe it is the new way of holidaying and travel agents wil b old hat...

WOW!!! After all that "aggrevation, pressure and hassell one would think you wingers would need another holiday.
I too "won" a 7 night accomodation package. I wa stopped in the street and I scratched away. No big deal. I was given a free tuk tuk voucher to the presentation. I sat around a bar for over 40 minutes chatting to the salesperson and we had a great time. Then the presentation... I must admit I was interested but not in a position to buy and I would not have anyway, because it is in my nature to check. I then had a "harder sell" done and "no, not today" was my reply. I left them with all in good spirits and no hard feelings with a, "wee appreciate your time" farewell. I didn't feel I needed therapy after and although this is my first time to Phuket, I will definately return. What is wrong with you people? The approach maybe different but the sell is the same, just on a larger scale to a department store selling large screen TVs etc. Everone wants and needs to mke a buck somewhere. Ladies go to a hair salon, have their hair cut... "your scalp in a little dry, maybe you should try this product, it will clear it up straight away.... you hair is dull, try this". It's all selling and if you want you buy. If not, you decline. Look on the brighter side of life my fellow travellers.... enjoy your holiday and be stronger and more street wise next time. Life is about learning and you got a free lesson in dealing with street hawkers... be thankful