Phoenix First travel company?

[Coppernob]

Does anyone know anything about a travel company called 'Phoenix First'. They say they are not a timeshare company or a holiday points company, but they are offering a free holiday for going to one of their presentations. We had a very good free holiday once from Sunterra for sitting through a presentation. It was well worth the few hours we put up with the sales promotion, so we've agreed to go on this one with Phoenix First, but I can't find out anything about them on the web, other than them being on the 'Crimeshare' blacklist!

[kaylew]

I'v just read the reply,s as i thought there is no such thing as a free lunch

[dijohn]

We went to a presentation on Sunday at Fradley Park in the Midlands. The invite was from Phoenix First but the holiday club was dwvc. They avoided direct questions and were quite rude when we refused to sign up the �1600 on the spot plus �3900 further joining fee (plus yearly membership). You apparently can claim this back as cashback after 5 years but there is a very small time window in which to do so. Although we got our voucher it was thrust at us on the doorstep as we were shooed out, no chance to discuss the contents - which were not what had been said either on the phone, in the letter, or at the meeting itself! The salesman was unable to show us any saving at all on the type of holidays we take. We like backpacking and motorcycle touring. The Fourcan email girl was much more helpful and polite but it had turned out that our free holiday does not include extra airport tax, transfer fees etc so it might still be cheap but isn't free.
It is also for standby flights and standby accomodation, (pot luck from 3 months, 3 possible destinations,2 possible airports) which is useless to us as we are teachers and need to specify the exact dates we can go. You also have to attend a presentation during the holiday itself. The salesman was quite adept at avoiding questions and would rather show you pretty pictures on his computer.

Another option they offer is for free UK hotel accomodation provided you buy breakfast and evening meal there. Does anyone know if this option is any good? Are the meals edible and do they cost a fortune or does it work out that there are no hotels in the places you want to go to?

[oxfordrocks]

Had the "Phonecall" on Friday, recieved the "Letter" on the following Tuesday.

What concerned me was the conditions-
Both of us MUST attend.
Certain amount of joint income.
Bring 2 forms of I.D. with you
Must be a certain age.

Thanks to all the ABers posting on this subject, I will not be taking up this "offer".

BTW Phoenix First is run by a company called "Incentive Leisure"- plenty of info on them http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=incenti ve+leisure&meta=

The word TIMESHARE crops up with alarming frequency.

[oxfordrocks]

Further to my recent post, as I explained Phoenix First are part of Incentive Leisure Group, who .in turn, are part of Timelinx.

Incentive Leisure Group will try to get you to sign up for a "holiday club" run by (another) company called "Designer Way Vacation Club" (DWVC"

A good expose of their tactics appears here:-http://www.rimeshare.org/95.html
Check out the FEB. 25th 2007 entry.

Or, see here:-
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/investigates/tm_h eadline=exposed--the-holiday-club-rogues&metho d=full&objectid=18700126&siteid=89520-name_pag e.html

[pigman]

In response to coppernob ref Phoenix First - Did you go to their presentation and what was the result? I've just had the same letter inviting me to a presentation near Lichfield on 13th May. I can sit through 2 hours of spiel if it really does mean a decent holiday for only �32.50 each, but I am very sceptical.

[Coppernob]

Hi Pigman

No, basically it wasn't worth it. If you read all the replies to my original question you will see that the sales spiel was for a company called DWVC who sell membership of their organisation to receive discounted holidays. Avoid them! Look at the links posted in other people's replies.

The free holiday (to be provided by Fourcan Travel) didn't turn out to be free at all, there were so many taxes and charges that, although cheap, it was certainly not free. It was also last minute standby flights and standby accommodation. When you agreed to go you simply replied to a pre-recorded phone message and were not able to get any information about where you were going or the flights until you had paid the money. So we abandoned it, having wasted our time at the presentation.

[Bandit68]

Thanks very much everyone. We filled in a competition form at a food exhibition in Edinburgh and got a phone call from Phoenix First saying we had won. Then the alarm bells started when they wanted both of us to go to the presentation with ID and it was going to cost �32.50 each for our "free" holiday.
We originally thought it was on the level as the event we were at was organised through Taste Scotland and one of the promoters is E4 television.
Needless to say we won't be attending now.

Thanks again guys, invalubale info.

[kiwigirl]

Thanks for this information - definitely saves us two plus hours this weekend by NOT attending the presentation. I got a call saying I'd 'won' after attending the Edinburgh Taste festival, was skeptical but wanted to think that I'd won. But pleased I did my research as definitely a waste of time.

Thanks heaps!

[mav1403]

i had a call from them last week and are meant to be going to lichfiels, staffs, on sat the 30th june. they say i have won a holiday thats anywhere in europe for 7 nights including flights.

the presentation lasts a max of 2hrs to tell you about the different hotels on offer.

there are so called reps at this meeting with a max of 5 couples per rep.

phoenix told me thats its NOt time share or anyhing like a holiday club but a new hoilday company starting in the area.

we shall se because im a lawyer specialising in hoildays. little do they know.

[Diamondgirl]

Glad to read everyones views. We also got the call from Phoenix after attending the food festival in Edinburgh. (was more than a little suspicious, as two weeks ago we received a very similar call from Club la Costa offering a similar 'free holiday' - which of cours after checking out did not get involved.)
Luckily, I'm suspicious of such things, so I made my appointment for this Sunday at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Glasgow, which I have no intentions of showing up for or even cancelling.

[mama mo]

Hi to all enquiries re phoenix first , I too have been contacted re free holiday. I am quite lucky as the I live in edinburgh and know the address of the registered office which is Beaver bank house Logie green road, Edinburgh, EH7 4HH. ( sorry no fone no yet for this address) An other address is based in Glasgow 278 St Vincent Street, tel [phone], fax [phone]. We are attending a 120min promo on Sat 30 the june so i will post any other developments, if i find out anything that may help. Does anyone know if u pay to upgrade your holiday from 2 4people and flights u get anthing at all

[billybob123]

Hey Coppernob, thanks for this post. We received phoenix first phone invitation around May and made an appointment in Manchester, but the more I thought about it the more sucpicious I became of it and didnt go. Anyway they've phoned about 4 times after to rearrange it, and had given in to go today at 3pm...needles to say I won't be going on their "free" holiday now! I knew it was a con, just needed someone's opinion. Thanks again!! x

[DebtMan]

Well I'm so glad I found this thread.

We had a call a couple of days ago and now I have the confirmation in my hand.

The phone number on the top is unavailable and the number that says to phone after 2pm to upgrade the holiday is also, likewise, unavailable - bearing in mind it's actually 12.45pm at the moment.

I wanted to ring to cancel before I found this thread as my partner has just been informed the her employer is closing business. Guess I'll just have to wait for them to ring and find out why I didn't go.

Also, I won't be filling out any more 'Win-a-holiday' cards at shows.

Ho hum...you live and learn eh?

DM

[christina47]

I was approached in the Glasgow Secc to fill in a form to win �500 in voucher to spend and all of a sudden I am getting a phone call to say you have won a holiday for 4 and have to take it within the next 18 months I asked the chap on the phone is this time share and he assured me it was not who is he kidding you get nothing for nothing in this world. Thanks to everyone for the information. Rather than go the the presentation I will be informing them when they phone back tomorrow to clarify the date my answer will be sorry I am watching the paint dry.

[nonnyd]

I filled in a questionnaire at Dobbies garden centre which stated a prize of �500 of shopping vouchers. Then I received a call to say I fit the profile of those who are awarded a free holiday. I was told it could be taken anytime in the next 18 months even through school holidays and that the only catch was that when I had had a glorious holiday I would spread the word on their wonderful company. I was SO sceptical! I do not like the fact that you have to provide two forms of ID and also the fact that they do not advertise.

I have an appointment for the Hilton hotel in Glasgow, but we really had decided to give it a miss before we received their confirmation letter. I was sure there was a catch, so it is good to have my suspicions confirmed by the previous responses. Thanks to those who have been and wasted hours. I do not have the time to waste.

[redhead66]

i got a phone call on the 3rd Jan 08 and was extremely sceptical. Im suspious about everything. Filled in some form at seafest in arbroath in the summer. I received my confirmation letter 07/01. But thanks to reading everyone elses comments i will not waste my time going to the presentation in aberdeen. So a heart felt thanks to all who have attended and all who have shared their knowledge.

[skippy_25uk]

My dad been my dad likes filling forms at events if there is a chance he can get a free holiday!!
We went to the Ideal Home Exhibition in Glasgow and there was a stand fill in this a chance to win a free holiday like fools we did. Dad got the same call as everyone else. My dad is currently off work due and the thought of a free holiday is just what he is looking for. He thinks.
Today the letter arrived saying we are going to Aberdeen. I looked at the letter and the first thing that hit me right away was the fact there was no Email or webiste details.
Which made more worried what has he gotten into again.
He goes its only a new company just starting out and pointed out that is one of the first things companies have these days. So he has asked me to have a look on the Internet to find out more!!
I am gald that I have after reading what everyone is saying.
I knew this was what was going to happen I just knew it. We actualy are members with Macdonalds which was Barratts and very happy.
Thanks for letting me know what this all about.

[Coppernob]

It may be worth pointing out that I think Phoenix First is only the 'front' for various other companies who are selling their holiday gimmicks, but you can't actually find out what is being advertised until you go to the presentation. Certainly the one we went to from a Phoenix First invitation was a waste of time, and the holiday offered turned out to be a non-starter as far as we were concerned.

But we have had two very good free holidays from going to presentations, but these were both with Sunterra (previously Grand Vacation Club). We didn't sign up for anything on either occasion, but I think they have now stopped using this method of advrtising, because the folk who are members (at great cost!) didn't like the accommodation being filled up with non-members getting a free trip!

[hot as ice]

pheonix first is a marketing company based in st vincent's street in Glasgow. Now if you attend shows such as ideal homes, dobbies, good food shows etc etc and someone says to you would you like the chance to win a holiday for 2, what would you do???..............

a) sign the survey
b) walk right by them and not bother with it or
c) read the terms at the bottom which clearly explain that your details maybe used in other promotions or for marketing purposes

obviously if you didnt like the small print you wouldnt sign it now would you?????????????