Very nice work! Thanks for detailing all of your research to us. It'll save many people from doing their own due diligence, and perhaps get some others on to a nice vacation deal. Good job! I hope your vacation goes well and to your satisfaction.
Got a call a few minutes ago from this number. If it truly is long distance, it's running itself up a bill. When I get such calls and don't recognize the number and know no one at that area code, I just leave the line open for a while and tuck the phone under a pillow. They can talk to themselves. I have a second line (unlisted) for friends to reach me in case of emergencies so don't mind tying up my line for a bit.
Sept 20 2011, I received a call from the above number and answered because I thought it was a 403 local Calgary number, and was immediately told that I had won 1600 travel points as a valued Sears/Bay customer and to press 1 to accept.
I then got a lady who explained (from a script) that I had won 1600 points towards an exclusive travel package to Cancun, Mexico and she just needed to know if I was over 28 and had a valid Visa, Amex or Mastercard - I said yes to both. She then transferred me to another woman who explained in detail what the package included - 7 days, 6 nights at the HACIENDA TRESRIOS resort RIVIERA MAYA in Cancun. It also included Limo transfer to/from the hotel, ALL meals, ALL drinks, ALL spa amenities plus 40% discount on local excursions to the Mayan Ruins, swimming with dolphins, the eco-nature park, etc.. It did however exclude flights and long distance room calls.
She said the package for 2 adults and 2 children (under 12) was valued at over $3500 USD and provided a website which I went to and, sure enough, the place existed (5 star), and prices for a "spa package" started at $550 per person, per night!! I also did another search and found similar deals to Cancun for 6 nights upwards of $1300 per person (including flights via Toronto) but basic accomodation (no spa) in run-down looking resort/hotels. I also searched the cost of flights from Calgary direct to Cancun and Westjet run from about $500 depending on day of travel.
Anyway, I kept asking what the catch was and why I needed a credit card and was told that the only cost to me would be $1698 USD plus flights (and I guess travel insurance) for my husband and I. It still seemed like a pretty good deal but I asked why/what was in it for them. She kindly explained that all we had to do (once we were in the resort) was spend 90 minutes of our time and tour the facility, listen to their presentation (free drinks), enjoy the rest of our holiday and hopefully come back and rave to our friends about what a great time we had there. This lady said she was with a marketing company and, if I was still interested, she would transfer me to their Customer Care department. I figured "what the heck" we are long over-due for a holiday.
Oh, and somewhere in all this, they threw in a 4 night 5 day stay in their other "all inclusive" resort in Orlando, Florida (excluding flights) and we had 18 months to take them up on the Cancun offer, but 30 months to use the Orlando portion. Also, my payment of $1698 was fully transferrable or saleable to another adult provided they were over 28 years old (their target market, I suppose). I double checked and once the credit card transaction went through, it was non-refundable. They also wouldn't let me call them back once I'd had a chance to check with my husband - this was a time-limited offer which would expire if I ended the call.
Anyway, I decided to go "all in" so, the Customer Care lady transferred me to yet another person in their legal department who took my credit card number, expiry date, confirmed my name on the card and confirmed the charge of $1698 USD would be made. I agreed to go ahead and, while still on the call to "Premier Cancun Vacations" I got the usual call on my cell phone from my credit card company asking me to confirm within the next 24 hours that this was not a fraudulent transaction. I figured that would allow me a cooling off period, and give me time to talk to my husband.
The legal department then e-mailed me a confirmation with a booking number and a link which confirmed everything I'd been told over the phone. I was also told that I'd be receiving a package in the mail with the booking confirmation and their full colour brochure showing all their resorts. They gave me two phone numbers, one for Reservations who only needed 45 days notice of our travel dates and one for Customer Care in case we had any further questions. The said that I would be getting another call within the next 24 hours, then this morning we got a call at 7.20am from 1-800-490-7452 which I traced here at the 800-Notes site.
All of the reps (about 4 different females) spoke perfect English and other than the 3-4 minute section I was told was being recorded, all of the reps allowed me to interrupt to review the information, make notes, take down names and ask questions.
With the research I did during the call and the research my husband and I did afterwards, it all seems legit. So, other than having to listen to their 90 minute presentation and possibly being harrassed by time-share reps (which I'm sure we can out-run by booking endless spa treatments or by heading to the beach) we are looking forward to a good holiday.
PS In my experience time-share sharks are usually young kids on commission and they're on the look-out for "fresh white meat" so, try to visit a tanning salon before you travel and try to speak the local language to avoid standing out from the locals. Or, just tell them you already own a property near-by and they'll soon back off.
Very nice work! Thanks for detailing all of your research to us. It'll save many people from doing their own due diligence, and perhaps get some others on to a nice vacation deal. Good job! I hope your vacation goes well and to your satisfaction.