Legitimacy of a company giving me a free trip? - help

LadyAKA · #1 05-21-2001, 10:31 AM

Can you ladies and gents please help me out I need to figure out if a company that has given me a trip is legit ... see I went to the home buyers expo here in the city and I was filling out everything I could to win something and it turns out I won, but how do I go about checking out if these people are legit. They want only 50 bucks which will be refunded after I go on the tour, but I get scared because once you open up the door and give people your credit card number things can happen. Please tell me what you all think and tell me how I should go about finding out if these people, this BOND GROUP is legit. thanks all!!!

Please repsond here on the forum or send me an email at teeya1@hotmail.com - thanks!!!!

#2 05-21-2001, 11:46 AM

Ok my take on this. I feel if it's a "free" trip, why do you need to give them anything, even if it will be returned to you at a later date, and especially a credit card number? What was the reason they gave you for the $50 deposit so to speak? You won, you shouldn't hand over anything but your regular entry information (name, address, phone, etc) to receive your prize. The $50 should be paid by them, not you, you're the winner. I've always been cautious when people want my credit card or checking account number for things camouflaged as free. Maybe you can call the Better Business Bureau in your area and ask them what avenues you should seek in finding out what you need to make your final decision....but girl I don't know about that credit card thing though. It's too much going on in this world scam wise.
I've won a free trip to the Bahamas in the past, was it legit, could have been, but when they wanted me to send a check or money order for fees, as Jill Scott said, "Please, I decline."

rita68 · #3 05-21-2001, 11:49 AM

Try checking out the Better Business Bureau website or just do a general websearch on that company. I did this when I received an offer for a free 7-day cruise...found out that the company had been sued and was featured on 20/20 segment on scams. Also, be cautious of companies that want you to pay money in order to redeem a prize that you won. I hope this helps..

LadyAKA · #4 05-21-2001, 01:12 PM

Thank you all for your responses, please keep them coming.

Total Elegance, the 50 bucks is to make sure I go on the tour when I get to the resort. See I won a trip to Virginia beach, something about they are a new company and this is one part of how they advertise. If I don't go on the tour once getting there, they keep the 50 bucks. All else is paid for. I have heard of similar things before all I really want to do is check out the group .....

But I will start to ask them more questions and see why I can't perhaps pay by money order. again thanks!!!

Ania · #5 05-21-2001, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LadyAKA:
Thank you all for your responses, please keep them coming.

Total Elegance, the 50 bucks is to make sure I go on the tour when I get to the resort. See I won a trip to Virginia beach, something about they are a new company and this is one part of how they advertise. If I don't go on the tour once getting there, they keep the 50 bucks. All else is paid for. I have heard of similar things before all I really want to do is check out the group .....

But I will start to ask them more questions and see why I can't perhaps pay by money order. again thanks!!!

THREE WORDS-BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU!

LadyAKA · #6 05-21-2001, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ania:
THREE WORDS-BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU!

That is actually on my radar ... a friend said yeah what if they changed their name, like these companies sometimes do. I can't win.

Shalom2U · #7 05-21-2001, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rita68:
Try checking out the Better Business Bureau website or just do a general websearch on that company. I did this when I received an offer for a free 7-day cruise...found out that the company had been sued and was featured on 20/20 segment on scams. Also, be cautious of companies that want you to pay money in order to redeem a prize that you won. I hope this helps..

Shalom LadyAKA~

The segment I saw was regarding Pots&Pans and the folks were ripped off over $2500.00 when it was all said and done.
In my neck of the woods they have a radio program where you call in regarding these types of "Vacations" "Time Share" "New Hotel Opening", and as I recall, the host of the program said this (as many have already posted) ***IF YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR IT...IT'S NOT FREE***

No matter how good it sounds, it is benefiting $$$ the pockets of someone and it
AIN'T you...save the $50.00, and each month going forward, save $50.00 until you have enough money to send yourself on a trip with no DECEPTION behind it!

Shalom~
PS****Drop me a E-line/Fe-mail when you can--

kitten03 · #8 05-22-2001, 12:08 AM

I agree w/ TE,
I was always told if you had to pay for something besides food and other miscellaneous things...it's not free. It might be safer to save the $50 or go get something nice with it. Treat yourself like a winner.

LadyAKA · #9 05-22-2001, 11:51 AM

After the strife, I think I am gonna go. Do you guys have any other suggestions, ideas?
IF not just wish me luck, or shall I say PRAY for me ... I just don't want to waste my prayers on this :-)

Thanks all for your help thus far!!

#10 05-22-2001, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LadyAKA:
After the strife, I think I am gonna go. Do you guys have any other suggestions, ideas?
IF not just wish me luck, or shall I say PRAY for me ... I just don't want to waste my prayers on this :-)

Thanks all for your help thus far!!

LadyAKA, did you ask them if you could pay by money order instead? I'm just so cautious when it comes to credit cards.

buterscotch1 · #11 05-22-2001, 02:51 PM

It sounds like a tour for "Time Sharing" property. A few years back I won an expense paid trip to Atlantic City, and the guidelines were the same, pay a fee, follow the tour, recive your "Trip Voucher" and your refund check at the end of the tour. Everthing worked out fine for me, (I did check with the BBB too) and others that I know. The company will likely ask for names of family and friends to send the same information to them.

[This message has been edited by buterscotch1 (edited May 22, 2001).]

LadyAKA · #12 05-22-2001, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Total Elegance:
LadyAKA, did you ask them if you could pay by money order instead? I'm just so cautious when it comes to credit cards.

I did not ask this yet, I have not even spoken with the company again, I have been listen to what others say/think first. I am just being tempted, I hope I am not led in the wrong direction ...

Again thank you all for your help.

Eclipse · #13 05-23-2001, 12:50 AM

LadyAKA,
If you are going to try this, make sure you use a REAL credit card (not the Visa or Mastercard check cards that a lot of banks give out instead of ATM cards). You have (I think) 60 days after the charge to dispute anything charged on your card and you do not have to pay during that time. If you use a check card your money is gone immediately and there ain't a whole lot you can do about it!

I don't know if you have ever done these before the the high pressure tactics are off the hook! My husband and I did a local presentation where your "gift" for your troubles was a $50 gift certificate to Outback Steakhouse and a free weekend at one of thier condos in FLA. We went in knowing that we were not going to purchace a time share, but they pull every trick out of the book to get you to buy. After a while we started to "think about it". Luckily for us, we came to our senses, otherwise we woule be about $20,000 in the hole right now!

If you are only looking for a vacation, make sure you stand firm and don't even give them any "objections". (It's too expensive, I don't go on that many vacations, etc.) That is the first rule of persuasive selling: find out the objection and over come it!