Issue Date:  -  Tuesday, 11 April 2006

‘Free’ holidays can cost

Summer holiday sales in Florida have consumers hot under the collar

Up to twenty consumers a week are contacting Consumer Protection after being targeted by various types of so-called ‘free’ holidays that they have supposedly ‘won’.

Pop-up messages while consumers are using the Internet, along with telemarketing calls sometimes in the middle of the night, have angered consumers and the Consumer Protection Commissioner wants people to be on their guard.

“Whilst telemarketing and Internet promotions are common sales approaches, there is a very big danger in jumping at these so-called ‘opportunities’, as numerous consumers are finding out the hard way,” Patrick Walker said.

“We are being approached for help from up to twenty consumers per week, some of whom have been talked into paying around US$700 to secure the ‘free holiday’ that is claimed to be worth $1,700,” Mr. Walker said.

This is not the first time that the consumer watchdog has had to warn about accommodation and holiday schemes being touted out of the United States, usually involving timeshare or accommodation offers in Florida. (December 2005)

“Of great concern to us also, is the fact that some consumers are claiming their credit cards are over billed, telemarketers are being aggressive when questioned, and numerous evasive techniques are being deployed when consumers who are having second thoughts about the deals try to invoke refund conditions,” the Commissioner said.

“There are at least four companies that we know of who appear to be the main source of these offers and Consumer Protection investigators are making enquiries of our counterparts in the United States,” he said.

Consumer Protection advises:

 Overseas travel sales are not covered by the Travel Compensation Fund;
 The Door-to-Door Trading Act does not apply, therefore no cooling off periods exist:
 Don’t be lulled by the offer of cancellation and refunds offers – they are often difficult,
        and sometimes impossible to obtain after you have paid; and
 Contact Consumer Protection on telephone 1300 30 40 54 for advice before sending 
        any of your hard earned money overseas for unsolicited travel offers.

Media Contact:
Mike Winchester
( 9282 0961  0409 118 982