Not wanting to pay for such things over the phone (just paranoid about credit card theft) I requested for their website and they directed me here. They insisted that I give them the transaction number after I pay for it online so they could get some kind of commission. (because I wounldn't need them if I was buying online). Feeling sorry for them, I obliged.
The website looked legit and there were many other "packages" for Family and friends. The operated "insisted" that I pay for the $299 package. He offered me better "deals" such as 4 $40 internet vouches and an mp3 player. When I asked him where I could use the vouchers he said "anywhere... such as ebay etc". Yeah right. That should have had my spider sense tingling.
So I Totally ignored him I went for the $199 offer, but when it came time to pay, it took me to the paypal site, but it resulted in an error. (Probably because they are not registered with paypal and have give you a bum link).
So they trick you into believing they are legit because of their Paypal affiliation -which they don't really have.Then they ask you to directly transfer the money into their accounts because of the "paypal problem". I asked him how he would know it was me if I did pay the money. He came up with some flimsy excuse about the call being recorded etc.... which didn't make much sense, since he could have just tallied it against my name. He mentioned that I would be posted the vouchers. The account details supplied were:
Freedom escapes
Westpack
BSB: 032 040
Account: 171820
I never transfer money directly into anyone's account so I just hung up and did a few google searches and came across these posts. [1] [2]
The short version is this: you get vouchers in the mail. They are useless. When you contact the hotels for your 2-4-1 they don't know anything about it!
I feel pretty lucky not to have been duped - but came really close. Keep an eye out if you get a call from freedom escapes!
4 comments:
I actually have some of these vouchers and have used them several times without problems. They update the hotel list frequently so perhaps the list that you have is old. I just ring the customer number when I want to make a booking and they always ask me for the date on my copy of their hotel list so that they can make sure I have the newest list. I am very happy with my pack and would recommend it to family and friends. Perhaps you should try calling their customer service next time you want to make a booking before making such remarks. It isn't a scam at all!
Interesting you should say that. I have since reported "freedom escapes" to ScamWatch and they informed me that it has all the makings of a scam. They have not informed me otherwise to date.
If what you say is true, give me the names of some reputed hotels where you have stayed at through "freedome escapes" and I will call them and verify that they have the deals offered by the "freedom escapes" website.
I look forward to the hotel names. :)
I don't know exactly what constitutes a scam. I suspect that Freedom Escapes is not a scam since they are a company that is easy to communicate with and they are completely open about what they do. However what they do is not for everyone.
On 4th March 2008 I bought one of their packages, that is 14 'Eat and Stay Free Accommodation' certificates. They have been completely useless to me and I haven't used one!
Here are the reasons:
1) I never go on pre-arranged holidays, tours or coach trip holidays. I don't want to be with groups of people.
2) When I take one or two weeks off, which I do about four times a year I either stay at home or *drive* into the NSW country (often Dubbo - - the zoo) or Melbourne where I *always* stay at the Victoria Hotel Melbourne in Little Collins Street. They have good rates varying in price according to the facilities one thinks one needs.
3) I'm happy with motels averaging $60-$80 (Motel Formule One in many towns and cities is very good @ $59.)
So: On the phone when 'they' called, I did not want to do it, but I wavered. That's when the sales person brought the big guns to the phone; perfectly normal, I've been in sales most of my life n I know what it's all about.
And they sold me. Whose fault was it? Mine. Nitwit. I've tried to sell the coupons individually via eBay: Not one sale. Obviously they all know better than me. They expire Feb 2010.
Hey Quentin,
Could you please give me the names of some reputed hotels offered through "freedom escapes" and I will call them and verify that they have the deals offered on the website.
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