Timeshare/Vacation Company offering a trip: Should I take it? About This Page:

[Axiluvia]

Basically, I signed up for a contest in the mall (yes, I did sign up for this!) and got called the next day, saying I won a 3 day, 2 night trip to one of four destinations (Orlando, Jamaica, Cancun, and Las Vegas) with paid air-fare round trip and paid hotel.

Since they are a timeshare company, we probably will have to sit through thier spiel at least once, but the question is, would this be worth it? They're also supposed to give us a limo-ride and a free meal at a restaurant, and a $500 gift certificate.

I've checked with the BBB, and its a legit company. I've also checked out their website.

Should I bother, or call and cancel?

[Belle*]

Well, you didn't really win a contest. They made that same call to every single person who filled out a form at the mall. It's just a marketing ploy. Not to say that there may not be a trip involved, but the chances of it being what is advertised are pretty slim. Basic rule of thumb - if you have to provide ANY type of financial information - credit card, social security number, etc. do not touch it with a 10 foot pole. And chances are, once they've given you the spiel, your credit card is the first thing they'll ask for. Just to "guarantee your trip".

[ripkensnana]

OR they may tell you that you have to pay tax on the thing, which will come to (Hmmmmm....let's see) just about what you'd pay for the trip to begin with? That's what happened to us. DH got a phone call, and got all excited that we'd won a hotel stay in Orlando, all we had to do was pay the tax on the hotel room....which came to over $300 for five nights. Not bad, and probably less than we'd have paid for the room on our own, but more than the timeshare company paid for it at a group/contract rate. Especially when he went ahead and paid the "tax" up front, then was asked to pay the tax on the room when we checked out, which came to about (if I remember correctly) $20-$30.

Point being, BEWARE!!!!!

[HiddenMickey]

Definitely don't respond to that offer. I have a coworker who's wife did reply to something similar. It turned out to be a big fiasco.

If you want to do a timeshare offer...check out the websites for reputable timeshares and see what they have available in the way of cheap trip offers. Often they have some good come-on trips to get you interested. I'd suggest looking at Marriott and Hilton.