Holiday Scratch Cards Scam Targeted

The Trading Standards Service is warning holidaymakers to beware of bogus holiday clubs.

The prospect of escaping the cold, dark winter nights in Northern Ireland is luring some unwary consumers into signing-up to what the official consumer watchdog has branded fraudulent.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment's Trading Standards Service (TSS) is today taking part in a Europe-wide day of action - centred on Belfast International Airport - to warn holidaymakers about bogus Spanish holiday clubs, which they said cost tourists millions of pounds every year.

November is a peak time for the club operators to target holidaymakers, as they seek the winter sun in Spain and the Canary Islands.

The typical technique used is to hand out scratch cards to tourists, all of which are 'winning' cards. To collect the prize, holidaymakers are required to attend a prolonged presentation where they may be persuaded to pay large sums of money and sign a contract to join an 'exclusive' club.

In most cases, consumers are misled as to the price, range and quality of holidays available and usually find they have bought little more than access to an internet booking service which offers the same service they could get at a travel agent free of charge.

Now, research by the Office of Fair Trading has shown that 78% of bogus holiday club victims are aged between 35 and 64. The average loss per victim is £3,030.

Trading Standards Officer, Damien Doherty, said: "It is important that people are made aware of this issue and we are at Belfast International Airport today to provide information and advice to travellers about the bogus clubs.

"Holidaymakers should think very carefully if approached by a scratch card tout or if they attend a presentation. They should consider if the promises made by the salesman in the contract are reliable, whether the contract can be taken away for consideration or cancelled at a later date and what exactly they are getting for their money.

"If they have concerns, TSS' advice is to simply walk away.

"Bogus holiday clubs ruin thousands of holidays every year, leaving holidaymakers with large bills for almost worthless holiday club memberships.

"TSS is committed to raising awareness of the tricks used by these scammers and to ensure that action is taken to combat the worst offenders," he said.

Also taking part in the day of action are the OFT's 'Scambusters' team, Trading Standards officers across Great Britain and staff from the European Consumer Centre in Spain, who will be at the arrivals area of Tenerife South Airport to reinforce the message about bogus holiday clubs to holidaymakers flying in.

Advertisements have also been placed in the baggage hall of Belfast International Airport, as well as in the Thomas Cook and FlyBe in-flight magazines, which will be seen by thousands of holidaymakers.

See: www.consumerline.org

(BMcC)