The Vacation Store Review

TANSTASFL! You just wanted some blog fodder!

Ugh, I remember my first one of these ’scams.’ How naive I once was.

Anything on your new dad?

So everything what this innocent ppl are sayin is tru… You go there where u meet these skany dressed spanish girl Wendy and Diane where they will ask you to fill out some form and rudely asking you how you vacation.
Next a ‘representative’ will come and assist you to the other room where the presentation will take place.( Mind you they have a plasma tv inside to make you think thats something you may win…RIGHT!)… What i also noticed is that those representative dont answer any questions… they always say ill get my manager to answer that… i listened in on other peoples conversation and its the exact same thing Wow was actually amusing
From there you will get an annoying ugly looking indian speaker by the name of Charu Pal…cant even understand her accent where she will try n make you feel bad about the way you vacation and her way is best. after the presention thats where ur suppose to get that delicious meal but it was hmm Ok… After eating your so kind representative will take you across the hall into another room where they introduce the program
49000 pts for $21 995…if u refuse this offer heres where manager(s) come to your table offering only TODAY incentive and drop the price
i met Roula wife of Damien w.e
then that dumb speaker Charu came again
i sat for another 10min where a man came n dropped the price even lower who couldnt even speak english… i recall him sayin he was Russian… very ugly man too
finally the last one… rudest of them all Darcey some spanish lookin dude
…it can go as low as $1500 no points involved… how does that work?
and for some reason somebody is always somebodys manager… they all do the same job same position thats all BS.
after they finally let u out at 11 they take you for your prize where youll get some stupid trip to florida or mexico –where u pay airfare taxes food(what a prize)
i was so furious… i jus wasted a night where i couldve spent it with my wife… but we learn from our mistakes
Lettin everyone out there kno be AWARE OF TVS

So… I got this call on Friday, the 23rd of October. From the very beginning I was very careful of what I said to the “scam” artist on the phone. After telling me what all the so called prizes were, he said to me in a confused voice ” For someone that just won a fabulous prize, you dont sound very happy”… and thats when I replied “Im not stupid, and I know this is a scam” The guy went through my coupon that I know I didnt fill out, and gave me the information that was supposivly on it, and just as I thought some of the information was WRONG, but going on with the fact that I knew it was a scam from the beginning, I told the guy that the info was correct (even though it wasnt)….Anyways the guy went on to transfer me to his manager, so he could tell me when to meet them and what not. While they were transferring me, I looked up the business name on google, and found out that is was in fact a scam. Well…I went on to tell the “manager” what I had found and he tried to tell me I was wrong, then I was getting mad, and told him to shut up and listen to what I had found… he said “NO! you shut up you b*tch”..and hung up the phone on me.

I WIN!! in the end I was completely satisfied on how the call turned out, and hopefully the guy tells all his scam buddies not to call my house anymore.

Yup, got that call at 10.00 this morning, saying I won one of 5 prices, but I had to bring my wife, I told them she away in San Diego for a week, she was a bit purturbed at that, sensing that I upset her I asked her if I could bring my “bimbo” and she said great yes. and wanted me to attend the meeting at 6:45 pm. but I needed time to check them out, so I had her call me back in 10 minutes.

I googled this company (TVS Vacation) aka Grand Centre something. and came across all this stuff.

I went through one of these many years back, I went to the prize drum after 3 hours of hell and pulled out a “dinner for two” at the downstairs restaurant….

anyway, she called back, I told her I am sorry we will not attend, she was very pushy and offered to pay me out of her own pocket if I wasnt happy (Like yea thats going to happen).

Gawd…

anyway, said goodbye and saved myself 1/2 tank of gas and a lot of grief.

thank you for your information. you saved my “bacon”

Brian

Just got off the phone with them. My “scam” senses were tingling and a quick google found this discussion! As soon as I told the guy I had just looked them on online…he hung up on me!

Thanks all!

I happened to apply on one of the work-at-home jobs as a home-based telemarketer. The name of the company is “Digits Interactive”. I was very happy when they gave me a phone interview and pass. An hour later they put me on a training with other telemarketer trainee. Then i found out that 3 of the clients they’re serving is “the vacation store” and “global united”, which both has its own issues. The other one is “all card association”, which, according to Sam Archer (someone with American name but with Indian accent), our trainer says, all card association was located in Miami, Florida, but according to the sample conversation they sent us, Kevin Reid (another one with American name but with Indian accent) spoke to the customer and says all card association is located in Chicago, Illinois. I’m confused so I searched that company on the web and found none. I went to Chicago, Illinois and Miami Florida’s directory and found out that “all card association” doesn’t exist. I wish i could attached the sample conversation. Anyways, the name of the recruitment manager is Eddie “Ed” Burns, again, someone with Indian accent. They’re teaching us how to persuade people. I don’t agree with how they treat customers. They are so rude and arrogant. And very pushy too.

Thanks for the post, i just got home from work and received this phone call that i’ve won a prize. I decided to
Google search the the name of the company “TVS or The vacation Store” and found this scam info. while i was on the phone with the telemarketer i made me decission there and then HANGED UP THE PHONE..people don’t buy into this..don’t get scammed.

thnx

beware of The Vacation Store!!
WE did not know what is it about and wentr there last year. After that they started harrasing us with their phone calls. I filed a complaint with Phone Busters, RECOL as well as with a local police station. It helped apparently – they stopped calling us. Since then we moved – and those bastards have our new phone and started calling us at our new place.
Those are numbers (appeared to be Los Angeles, CA cell phones)
(213) 709-6917
(213) 709-6831
(213) 709-6793
(213) 709-6842
(213) 709-6808
(213) 709-6791
(213) 709-6792
(213) 709-6880

I went through all of the above last Saturday. I emailed TICO, as they made a big deal about being affliated with them. In other words, if they went “belly-up” TICO would be there as the insurer for them. During the several phone calls I had with The Vacation Store, I was told everytime that TICO was involved. The sleazy old guy that did the obnoxious and rude presentaion in the little room where I ate wrote their name on the white board. He wrote in large letters “TICO” and then continued to talk about Conquest Vacations and how, when they went bankrupt, consumers were left without being ablee to take their vacations. I contacted TICO and they are NOT a member and have not been registered with them. The CEO contacted me via email and they are being investigated. Maybe we can shut these predators down. I’ll keep you posted!

I just received TVS phone call tonight. They told me that I had filled out a vacation survey (which I must have somewhere since they had all the correct answers). Then they said I had won one of five vacation choices: airfare & 4-star hotel included. They clearly said both airfare & 4-star hotel are included several times over. I kept asking “what’s the catch?” They said it’s just to promote their new travel agency, to come to the dinner, someone will speak with us, and then show a driver’s licence only as I.D. to pick up the vacation prize which must be used within two years. I figured it was a scam, but the dinner is next week, and I thought well I’ll google this, and see what folks say, and perhaps just go for the free meal if nothing else. Hmmmm… Spider senses tingling.

Oh, in addition to above post, they actually named off the five choices of destinations (Vegas, New Orleans, etc.), and said if we arrive five-ten minutes early, we also get a trip to Niagara Falls or Mont Tremblant, Quebec.

I asked the telemarketer if at any time they ask for our credit card number. He said no. I asked if the one-on-one talk during this dinner presentation was to sell us a timeshare or condo, he said no.

We’ll see! I may just go to the dinner just to be able to post here again with details.

I’m baaa-aaacckkk!!!
All of the above folks’ comments are true. I went solo to this din-din at 216 Chrislea Rd. The TVS floor is set up with generic travel brochures and big pictures on the wall of cruise ships, vacation destinations, sunshine, & beaches. There are some sort of “trophies” on desks and in corners but they all looked like copies of one and the same.
The only “too personal” question asked on any of their phone calls and questionnaires is, do you make over $50 grand. I did not have to give credit card info (nor would I have!).
I was assigned to a representative who had such a strong Russian accent that I could barely understand him. He was pleasant enough, but I had to say, “pardon”, quite a few times to try to figure out what he was saying because of his accent and because the piped-in music was blaring. He chatted about his family, fishing, his own various trips around the world, no pressure.
Then, a lady gave the presentation just with marker on a large wipe-board showing facts & figures. Of course, she spoke clear English and was an enthusiastic, motivational type speaker. She gave some comparisons of what you would spend on timeshares, all-inclusives, cruises, etc., and compared it to their point system.
The point system is basically as already quoted on other forums:
49,000 points with a 49-year expiry on these points.
Each time you take a vacation, you use so many points and pay what sounds like a good deal for the suite type hotel room(s). The points used just keep deducting off the 49,000 until you have used them all. You could technically take 24 – 50 trips on this plan, depending how you use your points. It all sounds pretty good in theory if that’s the way you like to travel.
I cannot recall the exact figures (I had gathered up their scribble pads of papers to take home at the end, but they whisked them away from me) – something like one suite-bedroom, 2 persons = 500 points, and $460.00 total for a full week stay.

Finally… time for the meal. Had a mediocre but plentiful lukewarm dinner, but the rep sat at the table with me throughout the meal. Even when I went to the washroom, when I came out, I noticed he had followed me to that hall – to make sure I hadn’t made a quick exit??!
After we finished the meal, each rep takes their prey to an “office” type cubicle to chat further with more details; i.e. – how much.
Yep – he starts out with simple 8-1/2 x 11 pad of paper – no letterhead – no printed documentation to support any of this:
49,000 points = $21,995 !!! Today only for this great offer.
When you quickly say no, he says wait a minute, I’ll check with my manager to get you a better deal. The switch-off of reps was mind-boggling (each getting younger and “prettier” and clearer English-speaking, so I highly doubt they were the “manager” of the one before).
In no time at all, they went through at least six, possibly seven different male & female reps coming to talk to me.
It was an “instant” change-off of workers too. There was no time for them to “discuss my file” with the previous rep to find out my needs and so on, yet they acted like they had done just that before coming to sit with me and try to make the deal match my travel needs and funds.
It was almost laughable. They went from $21,995 down to $1,500. The only stipulation: the $1,500 was just a trial of 5 years and 10 weeks, no guess what, they just received authority to bump that trial to 8 years and 16 weeks of vacations (instead of points).
After about the third rep, I asked to see a copy of the contract. They sent in another rep – again “instantaneously” (all these people must have been standing right around the corner) with a simple legal size piece of paper with writing on both sides. I read the entire thing through and made them wait.

I do not think they liked my “calculations” of the cost of their vacations.
They kept looking at my questionnaire on which I had noted my last three vacations and total costs of each. They kept saying: look you spent $1,000 on this entire one trip. You could spend $1,500 for eight years and sixteen weeks of trips.
Then in a separate breath, they would say, look only $460 (or sometimes even $299 if it is a hot deal last minute special), for a full week’s stay at a four or five star hotel.
I replied, no it’s $460 plus approximately $150-$300 each trip (a portion of the $21,995 or at lowest $1,500 membership fee), plus you have to get there.
My vacation total on my questionnaire included everything, lasted two weeks, there & back and food, etc.

Also, there is a yearly $99 maintenance fee on top of the membership.

They even tell you your vacation club membership can be used by your friends or sold (but when questioned about selling, this has to be done through an independent broker).

They have been in business 16 years and have 18,000 families as members. I had the audacity to say, that doesn’t sound like very many members for 16 years of business.
About the fourth rep in, said I’ll be right back with a business card. He never returned. Instead, someone else came in with the next best offer.

When it finally came down to my last “no”, they sent in one of the young gals who greeted us at the door to take me to get my prizes.
Now, on the initial telemarketer phone call, we are told that the prize is their way of getting their company known since they don’t advertise in papers, etc., and as a complimentary gift for us coming to hear about their travel agency.
You are given a piece of paper only (two if you arrived early). Both require you to send $16.95 for postage/handling/processing to just an Ontario numbered company. Supposedly, then, you will receive the documentation and info to make arrangements to book your trip(s).
Two nights accommodation plus airfare (but from Buffalo!! = this was never stated in any phone conversation or meeting chats) to one of five destinations.
Also, two nights accommodation (no airfare/travel) to Niagara Falls or several other destinations.

** I do not intend to mail away $16.95 to who knows who just to see if I could actually book a couple nights somewhere.
LET ME KNOW IF ANYBODY RECENTLY DID, AND WHETHER IT WAS LEGIT, AND YOU SUCCESSFULLY TOOK THE FREE HOLIDAY ?? !!

these guys are unbelievable, they called and asked for me (I was stupid and filled out one of those draws).

I said ” I am sorry he is away for two months on business trip” they then asked who I was ” I gave them a fake name” and then they started to sell me.

unbelievable.

stay away, stay away as far as possible.

Thanks for the info. I got called, googled this post and decided what I needed to do – not go.

Sandy, great move contacting TICO. I hope they can do something.

i know realize why this website is called idiot on a stick. obviously this sounds like disgruntled employees bashing a company. i went and looked up the vacation store on the better business bureau and they have a b+ rating same as the bank of montreal and better then canadian tire who has a b-. so anyone falling for this i feel sorry for you.

Today is Jan 14th 2010. I just met with Patricia and all the foresaid blogs are accurate. This is a ridiculous scam, but while I was there they got a sucker umm I mean a member to sign on. It is terrible.The fun thing is that my husband unbeknowst to them is a detective for the 52nd precinct. Oh yeah fraud dept. I;ll let you know.

Thank you everyone for your comments, just got a call from TVS tonight and googled while i was talking to them – I promptly told them I was not interested in their scam!

thanks so much for your comments was going to go today but after reading such bs about this scam….save me my time, my gas and i had a fabulous lunch with my partner….

thanks to site like this intelligent people can be aware of these scammers…..

Everything in the above mentioned emails is true, the phone calls, the presentation site, trophies, latina ladies, shady presenters, posters, websites, food, cubicles, etc.

To make a long story short: my sister+hubby bought into their 5-year trial membership @ 1,500.00 in 2008, and got their member’s folder, which actually is titled :Resort Villa Vacations, located at 690 Rowntree Dairy rd, suite 201 Woodbridge, ON L4L 5T7. The 216 Chrislea address seems to only be their presentation location.

The vacation “prizes” they then received where all so very restricted that they never made it to Cancun, Las Vegas nor Orlando, cause you could only book tue-thursdays, not incl. holidays, and the administration fees were like around $600.00, only to make the “not guaranteed” reservations. Furthermore, the prizes were only 6 months valid!!

When my sister signed up for the travel membership, she was told verbally by those gangsters that she would receive a membership confirmation from them by mail within a week, so that they could still cancel the membership within the 10 days cancellation period. Needless to say, that the “confirmation letter arrived 14 days later and that Roula-witch told her that they’ve surpassed the 10 days cancellation period and were thus bound to their membership agreement. My sister yelled at that woman and said that she would go and stand in front of their presentation site and warn everyone from this scam, but Roula told her that she would sue my sister for blackmailing and trespassing private property. My sister swallowed the humilliation and violation of her dignity, and is now just paying the dues and waiting for the 5 years bond with those money-suckers to be over and never to be associated with TVS, eresortvillas.com, Resort Villa Vacations Club Inc., Bona Vista, nor Triad International ever again.

My sister also mentioned that an other couple had bought into the points programm early into during their “cubicle session’, which wa then ‘celebrated’, however, she now came to the conclusion, that that couple was probably one of the scammers themselves, a tactic to make the whole deal look more ‘attractive’ and less harmful.

My sister+hubby fell for those gangsters after feeling absolutely mentally exhausted after the 4 hours presentation ordeal, and thinking that the 1,500.00 won’t tumble them into financial distress anyway, which it didn’t, but the violation to their dignity was the hardest to swallow.
They’ve since been to a couple of other shady time share/vacation club presentations, just to slam a big fat NO to those shameless scammers after initially enthusiastically giving the scammers some hope of a jackpot sale and wasting all their skills & efforts in the process.

Btw, according to our researches, eresortvillas.com just expanded their “business” with zipartist.com, so beware!

http://www.who.is/whois/zipartist.com/

Also check out:

anthony@eresortvillas.com in

http://www.dialing4deadbeats.net/deadbeatlist.htm

AND LAST BUT NOT least to the MORON JAKE in the posting of Dec. 17:

Please check the Better Business Bureau website again, cause the company “Resort Villas Management Inc.” aka http://www.eresortvillas.com, located at 201 – 690 Rowntree Dairy Rd, Woodbridge, ON L4L 5T7; currently does not have ANY rating at all, see it for yourself at (you idiot, you probably work for those scammers, and the only reason people have probably not filed a complaint, is because they have been humilliated to the core by signing up with you scammers, I hope you all rott in hell):

http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/business-reviews/travel-clubs/resort-villas-management-in-woodbridge-on-12103#

This is definitely a scam….even after telling the guy who called to say we had won these prizes about all these comments…he told us that we could leave our wallet at home and just bring 2 pieces of id…not the case read comments above…it is borderline harassment….and by very ugly ppl that wear a tonne of make up that looks like it was put on with a putty knife…this evening wasted 2 hours of our time because half the ppl from the first session didnt show up…an absolute joke…we finally said we just want to leave and got a gift that would have probably cost us about 2000 or more….dont fall for it…it is just like time share

I received a phone call from TVS. In short I told them That I would go. I called them Back to make sure who they really are, but I got the message: The number is not assigned. Then I checked them an hour before I go On internet and I realized I should not go. No one should go to these idiots.

wow stfu yr invited ,ur greeted by prof dressed girl u listen eat dinner and get some sort of prize let me tell u anyone tht goes most likley didnt cancel on such a special night so stop being so obsesive on stupid shit like this its called a form of advertizment cleary there will be rules and clearly no one will throw at u a vaca worth 1000000$ for sitting for fkn 2 1/2 hours of yr life GET OVER IT MAN!!

- TVS member

All the above is so true. they lure you in saying you are guarenteed to win one of 5 prizes. It was all a scam, and guarenteed that noone has won any grand prizes.

Thank you so much to everyone. I almost wasted precious time going to this “prize-drawing” and I am NOT one to be easily swayed! Oops – a moment of weakness, I suppose.

I really appreciate your comments.

Receive a call last week, decided to go and claim our prize, we knew what we were in for and had our answers figured out ahead of time. – in the waiting room, I filled out the “required” forms and flipped one over and saw the maintenance fees and yearly fee – I circled one and showed my hubby – we just laughed – again I just want my “prize” then when I handed in my form and the girl noticed I had not been informed the presentation was 90 minutes, she asked if I could stay and I said yes (dummy) anyhow, I sat back down and another girl approached with two hangers asking to take my coat, I said no, I’ll keep mine – my husband had on a sweatshirt not a coat, she said there are no coats allowed in the dining room, I advised her that I didn’t want my coat with other coats that may smell of smoke or something and she walked away, then another girl came and got us and took us to a room – she asked about the explaination of the 90 minutes and asked me to fill out a form, so I did, it was my mistake that I thought they said 60 minutes on the phone but I had my notes from the telephone conversation and I checked and I did write down 90 minutes, BUT the address given was wrong – anyhow, I filled it out and got our photocopied information sheets on how to send in for my prize – I have to pay $19.95 – not sure about that from what I have read the fees are crazy – I called the 1-866 # later and they said the policy is no coats in the dining room – what is that about? well, after reading all this I am happy that I did not have to sit through the presentation -