Is It Timeshare?

After just having finished uni for the year, like most people I was desperate for a job. I trawled the internet and newspapers and eventually found a perfect opportunity: canvassing in an airport. Well, how hard could it be inviting holiday makers to complete a short survey and enter into a free prize draw?

Passengers asked to complete the survey were skeptical. Is it timeshare? Am I going to be bombarded with phone calls? Do I have to attend a meeting? According to the staff team leader, no, no, no. Having been told that no, it's not timeshare, no, there is absolutely no cold calling and no, it is just a free prize draw, you get one phonecall to tell you you've won and hurrah! Off you go on your free week of luxury.

However, sounding much too good to be true, and feeling unlikely to be told anything truthful by the company, I conducted a little of my own research. As it turns out, this is the real story: Tempted by the prospect of a free holiday, passengers hand over their name and a telephone number. Everybody who qualifies WILL win a holiday. Club la Costa will be a regular occupier of your phone line, congratulating you on your win and arranging for you to attend a meeting to pick up your tickets. At said 2 hour long meeting, staff will attempt to persuade you to buy timeshare at a "discounted price". If they fail, you may be fobbed off with vouchers. But, if you still are lucky enough to get the holiday, it will be on the condition that you attend 5 two hour long meetings during your holiday where, again, you'll be encouraged to buy timeshare. In the meantime, back at home your details are being sold on to other companies who will be ready and waiting to pester you from the moment your plane lands.

While it seems like an innocent holiday survey, it is anything but. Yes you can win the free holiday, but there are just a few catches. I would advise not to even bother unless you really don't mind the hassle of a million meetings. But if you are invited to join the survey, please spare a thought for the canvassers. They really are oblivious and are just doing, what they think, is an innocent no-strings-attached questionnaire.