Comments
To this day Clxb Absolxte are still scamming money out of hard working people that choose to take (in some cases) their yearly holidays in Thailand.
When will the credit card companies stop harbouring them by allowing Cluxb Absolxte to use and endorse affiliation with them?
Why won, t the credit card companies automatically refund/ claw back any monies (whether recent or old debit) from this company when requested?
They must surely know by now and have a dosiea of facts on Clxb Absolxte or (what ever new name they come up with) from people that have already been successful and had money refunded from this company. The banks surely can, t just ignore the mass of information given to them from their banking customers or ignore the stories/experiences on web sites (bangkok scams) with peoples complaints that the company uses unscrupulous practices by misrepresenting and manipulating the facts to unguarded tourists inorder to receive fianancial gain.
When will the credit card companies stop harbouring them by allowing Cluxb Absolxte to use and endorse affiliation with them?
Why won, t the credit card companies automatically refund/ claw back any monies (whether recent or old debit) from this company when requested?
They must surely know by now and have a dosiea of facts on Clxb Absolxte or (what ever new name they come up with) from people that have already been successful and had money refunded from this company. The banks surely can, t just ignore the mass of information given to them from their banking customers or ignore the stories/experiences on web sites (bangkok scams) with peoples complaints that the company uses unscrupulous practices by misrepresenting and manipulating the facts to unguarded tourists inorder to receive fianancial gain.
we think that club absolute is legitimate company and we are about to pay off our final payment and cant wait to have our first holiday!
Also I became a member with Absolute (in Chaweng), fortunately I did meet a person who was already a member for 2 years ( he bought a 35 month taste of destinations, this is a try out package. he paid 4000 euro for this one). He has not been able to use this at all. All the resorts were always full!!
We also met a couple who was facing the same problem.
I decided not to continue with them.
When you paid a deposit then you do have 14 days to cancel it with your credit card company. This will give you 14 days to get your money back.
If you enter their office they do have to give you back your money as well!!
DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH ABSOLUTE!!! IT IS A SCAM!!!
1) FIRST YOU WIN A PRICE ON THE STREET, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A WINNER!! AND YOU WILL ALWAYS GET THE FREE HOLIDAY!! WHICH IS WORTHLESS
2) YOU ENTER THEIR OFFICE AND A RECEPTIONIST MAKES YOU FILL IN A PAPER. QUESTIONS AS: WHAT CREDIT CARD DO YOU HAVE WITH YOU ON THE ISLAND? WHAT DO YOU PAY FOR A NIGHT IN YOUR HOTEL, WHEN DID YOU ARRIVE, ARE YOU MARRIED OR... ETC.
3) THEN A SALES REP. COMES AND START TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS, THIS IS SO GETS TO KNOW YOU SO HE KNOWS HOW TO SELL TO YOU.
4) THEN ANOTHER MANAGER COMES TO THE TABLE AND EXPLAINS THE GIFTS! AND TELL A BIT WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
5) THE SALES REP TAKES YOU TO THEIR RESORT, YOU WILL GET A DRINK AND A LITTLE SNACK. GOOD ADVICE: USE THE BATHROOM HERE...
6) HE WILL SHOW YOU AN APARTMENT WHICH IS QUITE OK!
7) THEN YOU WILL ALL GO BACK TO THE OFFICE( WHEN YOU STEP OUT OF THE TAXI IS A GREAT MOMENT TO LEAVE!!!) WHEN DO STAY THEN YOU WILL SIT AT THE COMPUTER AND THEY WILL START TELLING YOU ABOUT THE COMPANY. ALL !!
8) THEY START TO EXPLAIN THE MEMBERSHIPS, ALL LIES. TRY TO CALL A PARTNER RESORT HAHAHAHA
9) AT THE END THE SALES REP WILL TELL YOU THE PRICE OF WHAT IT COSTS: One of their managers left a map with prices under the table. He was probably thinking to much about his South-African Girl friend ( if that was true, he looked gay to me)
FULL MEMBERSHIP UNTIL 2049 COSTS:
A)STUDIO SUITE: LIST. PRICE IS aus$ 19.434 you will get discounts
B) 1 BEDROOM: LIST. PRICE IS aus$ 22.478 you will get discounts
TRI ENNUAL MEMBERSHIP:
LIST. PRICE FOR STUDIO = aus$ 16.327 you get discounts
LIST. PRICE FOR 1 BEDROOM = aus$ 18.814 you get discounts
They also have 10 year membership and a 35 months try out package
the try out will cost aus$ 4920
Do not do this!! is a waste of money.
just go to the resort and then leave!!!
We also met a couple who was facing the same problem.
I decided not to continue with them.
When you paid a deposit then you do have 14 days to cancel it with your credit card company. This will give you 14 days to get your money back.
If you enter their office they do have to give you back your money as well!!
DO NOT GET INVOLVED WITH ABSOLUTE!!! IT IS A SCAM!!!
1) FIRST YOU WIN A PRICE ON THE STREET, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A WINNER!! AND YOU WILL ALWAYS GET THE FREE HOLIDAY!! WHICH IS WORTHLESS
2) YOU ENTER THEIR OFFICE AND A RECEPTIONIST MAKES YOU FILL IN A PAPER. QUESTIONS AS: WHAT CREDIT CARD DO YOU HAVE WITH YOU ON THE ISLAND? WHAT DO YOU PAY FOR A NIGHT IN YOUR HOTEL, WHEN DID YOU ARRIVE, ARE YOU MARRIED OR... ETC.
3) THEN A SALES REP. COMES AND START TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT ALL KINDS OF THINGS, THIS IS SO GETS TO KNOW YOU SO HE KNOWS HOW TO SELL TO YOU.
4) THEN ANOTHER MANAGER COMES TO THE TABLE AND EXPLAINS THE GIFTS! AND TELL A BIT WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
5) THE SALES REP TAKES YOU TO THEIR RESORT, YOU WILL GET A DRINK AND A LITTLE SNACK. GOOD ADVICE: USE THE BATHROOM HERE...
6) HE WILL SHOW YOU AN APARTMENT WHICH IS QUITE OK!
7) THEN YOU WILL ALL GO BACK TO THE OFFICE( WHEN YOU STEP OUT OF THE TAXI IS A GREAT MOMENT TO LEAVE!!!) WHEN DO STAY THEN YOU WILL SIT AT THE COMPUTER AND THEY WILL START TELLING YOU ABOUT THE COMPANY. ALL !!
8) THEY START TO EXPLAIN THE MEMBERSHIPS, ALL LIES. TRY TO CALL A PARTNER RESORT HAHAHAHA
9) AT THE END THE SALES REP WILL TELL YOU THE PRICE OF WHAT IT COSTS: One of their managers left a map with prices under the table. He was probably thinking to much about his South-African Girl friend ( if that was true, he looked gay to me)
FULL MEMBERSHIP UNTIL 2049 COSTS:
A)STUDIO SUITE: LIST. PRICE IS aus$ 19.434 you will get discounts
B) 1 BEDROOM: LIST. PRICE IS aus$ 22.478 you will get discounts
TRI ENNUAL MEMBERSHIP:
LIST. PRICE FOR STUDIO = aus$ 16.327 you get discounts
LIST. PRICE FOR 1 BEDROOM = aus$ 18.814 you get discounts
They also have 10 year membership and a 35 months try out package
the try out will cost aus$ 4920
Do not do this!! is a waste of money.
just go to the resort and then leave!!!
Hi, I am on holiday in Phuket with my wife and was moments away from signing up this deal...I had an opportunity to sneak away from the 5 hour sales pitch that was only suppose to take 90 mins and spoke to a resident that is a member.
Lucky for me this was a honest woman who gave me her positive and negative feedback and I decided to sleep on it.
After speaking to the sales consultant about us needing time to think about it, the mood of the sales pitch changed for the worst.
I also found it funny that the "prize" we won was the holiday...and no other stock was on hand when the prize was revealed.
I've completely wasted a day of my holiday and am planning to tell the other tourists in the hotels about this reviews and my experience.
Thanks everyone for your feedback I feel relieved that I did not make this mistake.
I hope the celebrities knows the product that they are endorsing...I am sure to contact them.
Lucky for me this was a honest woman who gave me her positive and negative feedback and I decided to sleep on it.
After speaking to the sales consultant about us needing time to think about it, the mood of the sales pitch changed for the worst.
I also found it funny that the "prize" we won was the holiday...and no other stock was on hand when the prize was revealed.
I've completely wasted a day of my holiday and am planning to tell the other tourists in the hotels about this reviews and my experience.
Thanks everyone for your feedback I feel relieved that I did not make this mistake.
I hope the celebrities knows the product that they are endorsing...I am sure to contact them.
I'll add to the avalanche of complaints about Absolute. My wife and I went through everything almost to the tee recently in Chawang, Koh Samui. After a 2-hour spiel I thought if this is as good as they say it is, they won't mind me researching a bit on the internet and coming back to join tomorrow. That was when things changed. The manager, who had been so friendly and easy going until then got quite stroppy and made up all sorts of reasons why they couldn't do it that way. "The Thai government would shut us down. It would be an insult to all our other members" Etc etc. From there the small alarm bell in my head started ringing louder and louder and I "thanks but no thanks'. Walked out of there with a T shirt that's too small to fit, and a 1 week holiday at one of their resorts that no doubt would be more trouble and money than it's worth if we try to use it. It was a valuable lesson for my Japanese wife who was with me to see these Pommie crooks in action - and they have the hide to call Aussies convicts !! The Absolute staff are a disgrace to their own English people. And yes, I have no doubt they have their own staff scouring sites like this to write positive reports. Gotta hand it to them - they are good at what they do - scam trusting people. Even though they got nothing from us but 3 hours of our time, I really feel for the many others who I've now read about that they've conned. We're here in Samui for a bit longer yet and am spreading the word as far and wide as possible. Also hoping I get to bump into one or more of them again in the street. I'll enjoy giving them some 'hospitality' back - Aussie style.
Same Absolute con happened, Chaweng Thailand today. 2guys on moped, scratch cards, their faux astonishment when we "won" a prize. I still cannot understand what possessed us to follow it up to their office, but the thought of an iPad or $1000 I guess, I thought I knew myself better. 2 hours later, and viewings of 2 crumby "hotels" we'd never set foot in, and thankfully we said no and walked away. At which point they turned hostile. The whole thing left a very bad taste (from the ex-army salesman who bragged about his pitbull and number of lives he took in Afghanistan, to the aggressive shut-down when we asked outright what the fee was). These people are con artists and should be shut down. I've heard that the corrupt Thai government happily keep them afloat, which is an own-goal as far as I'm concerned, it certainly puts me off returning to thailand.
First lyI would say that people complaining are missing the point. So far what I read here is just a load of grumblers voicing off. To take the points one at a time:
The initial invitation is a scam? No, it is biased advertising nothing more. If a gift is offered and not delivered I agree its wrong but in my experience the gift is usually supplied, whether a meal or free week or T-shirt. I lived in free accommodation in Phuket for 10 weeks by going to presentations and got few days in Disneyland free the same way. How often do supermarkets and travel agents offer goods no longer in stock or available? The free gift offer doesnt detract from the timeshare main contract.
The price. Upto you. You pay or don't there is no scam in a high price. I have held a timeshare for ten years and the management fee is now starting to be really good value as the inflation effect is less than on the hotel rooms. Thailand is a bad example because major economic problems mean there are currently some very good hotel deals undercutting the timeshare market which no one could have anticipated.
I accept it is bad that no cooling off period is given. But that is a ploy used by many people trying to keep their desks clear of backlog and doesn't detract from the product, it is purely a tactic and perhaps one that gives out a clear warning sign!
My grouse is that the selling lies are actually more critical than at first sight. Truths I can handle but lies come to haunt afterwards. For example:
The two bedroom is a studio and a 1-bed unit with connecting door so can be split. This was sold as a bargain because the holiday choice is one week in a 2-bed or two weeks using the studio and 1-bed separately. Wrong, that was a lie. Its a 2-bed for one week with no split.
Absolute agree to rent the units for three years payable upfront offsetting the purchase price. A return of 7% pa. Wrong. Its a fiddle on the purchase price there is no rental arrangement forget rental at 7%. It doesn't exist. To make this lie worse the rental is even included on the sales contract.
The next major problem is one of warning. We get too caught up in the selling process and the apparent property quality availability locations etc. The real warning which should be in capital letters is that THE CONTRACT IS PAYABLE FOR XX YEARS AND CANNOT BE RESCINDED. Also, the payable management fee is index linked to xxx whatever and so will increase annually.
The initial invitation is a scam? No, it is biased advertising nothing more. If a gift is offered and not delivered I agree its wrong but in my experience the gift is usually supplied, whether a meal or free week or T-shirt. I lived in free accommodation in Phuket for 10 weeks by going to presentations and got few days in Disneyland free the same way. How often do supermarkets and travel agents offer goods no longer in stock or available? The free gift offer doesnt detract from the timeshare main contract.
The price. Upto you. You pay or don't there is no scam in a high price. I have held a timeshare for ten years and the management fee is now starting to be really good value as the inflation effect is less than on the hotel rooms. Thailand is a bad example because major economic problems mean there are currently some very good hotel deals undercutting the timeshare market which no one could have anticipated.
I accept it is bad that no cooling off period is given. But that is a ploy used by many people trying to keep their desks clear of backlog and doesn't detract from the product, it is purely a tactic and perhaps one that gives out a clear warning sign!
My grouse is that the selling lies are actually more critical than at first sight. Truths I can handle but lies come to haunt afterwards. For example:
The two bedroom is a studio and a 1-bed unit with connecting door so can be split. This was sold as a bargain because the holiday choice is one week in a 2-bed or two weeks using the studio and 1-bed separately. Wrong, that was a lie. Its a 2-bed for one week with no split.
Absolute agree to rent the units for three years payable upfront offsetting the purchase price. A return of 7% pa. Wrong. Its a fiddle on the purchase price there is no rental arrangement forget rental at 7%. It doesn't exist. To make this lie worse the rental is even included on the sales contract.
The next major problem is one of warning. We get too caught up in the selling process and the apparent property quality availability locations etc. The real warning which should be in capital letters is that THE CONTRACT IS PAYABLE FOR XX YEARS AND CANNOT BE RESCINDED. Also, the payable management fee is index linked to xxx whatever and so will increase annually.
Just remember when they give you a coupon to stay at the resort, for a week, it does say in writing that you "must attend an hour long talk on business proposal..." Attend it, then at exactly one hour, walk out. The hotels you (we) stay in are . Tell them that as a representation of their hotels, it is an embarrassment to present Club Absolute. Basically, steer well clear of any Club Absolute involvement. Like many above, I am out of pocket 53, 000AUD and struggling to get my share return happening. The excuses they give are pure to say the least.
In 2007 at Phuket, I purchased ownership for $8, 500, since I have had to pay around $520 a year for management fee's. Same comment as the other post, nothing but pressure sales. Haven't been able to book any weeks since the purchase. Always the same excuse, "we have no available rooms for that period". Then the weeks banked would disappear. The salesmen sold me on the idea that it was a good investment that could be past on to my children. He also told me that like any good investment it could be sold in the future for a financial gain. Well surprise, surprise, no one wants to help me sell it, apparently it is worthless. At first Absolute offered to help me sell it. Now I am being hit up for these yearly management fee's. I have lost well over $10, 000 and that hurts. Beware!!!
ERIC FROM SOUTH AFRICA
I have purchased 2010 into absolute time share...the one I bought is valid for 50 years which then expire.Ive paid 8000 euros and also get a free week every three years/What they didn't explain to us is that we bought space only for a studio .. ...that's very very limited if you try to book...I was also scammed with the prize of labtop...appearently they lost the voucher.When we want to travel to Europe 2013 and try to use the absolute time share for flights and accommodation (as they promised us at the presentation)we were told that absolute don't do flights and have nothing in Europe..Later 2013 we got a booking in koi samui at q signature (suppose to be 5 star hotel)The hotel was in a horrible state with lots of problems...too many to mention...and beside the poor hotel they had the audacity to waste 4 hours trying selling us more points..i am suppose to pay a levy of 151 euros every year for nothing
I have purchased 2010 into absolute time share...the one I bought is valid for 50 years which then expire.Ive paid 8000 euros and also get a free week every three years/What they didn't explain to us is that we bought space only for a studio .. ...that's very very limited if you try to book...I was also scammed with the prize of labtop...appearently they lost the voucher.When we want to travel to Europe 2013 and try to use the absolute time share for flights and accommodation (as they promised us at the presentation)we were told that absolute don't do flights and have nothing in Europe..Later 2013 we got a booking in koi samui at q signature (suppose to be 5 star hotel)The hotel was in a horrible state with lots of problems...too many to mention...and beside the poor hotel they had the audacity to waste 4 hours trying selling us more points..i am suppose to pay a levy of 151 euros every year for nothing
Its really funny how the positive comments of this company are well constructed and made to open a viewof opportunity on the company... they seem like sales pitches rather than opinions... Like who the cuck is dumb enough to believe that this Absolute company is legit...*Rolling Eyes*
Contact Information
Club Absolute
India
File a Complaint
let me tell you of our story. we were stopped by two people on a scooter, he was supposedly called Dave from Essex and she was supposed to be Eunice and ex pediatric nurse from London who had moved to Thailand for a new start. He was an Essex lad with Tatts and she was a striking black woman.
they were very friendly and asked us if we were English. they then went on to explain to us this promo thing based on scratch cards. both my wife and I thought lets do the scratch card as you never know. They explained that it was nice to talk to ‘normal people’ and that they would get a bonus if we won anything. If we did win we owe them a drink, nudge, nudge.
anyway a T shirt was won and a top prize of either ipad, money, holiday or phone was also won by me. however to collect the prize we had to agree to a 90 minute presentation. we looked at each other and thought why not. all we have to lose is 90 mins...
he arranged a taxi (paid for) and left her with us to make sure we turned up.
so we got to absolute holidays centre on the main drag at chaweng beach samui. We were handed over to a 'Dave' chap who was very friendly. to cut a long story short three hours later and after two resort visits we had the full pressure selling technique. my wife and I were smiling at each other as the more desperate attempts, bullying and lies were racked up. Dave said he had been born in Hong Kong (I also made several other mental notes and elicited some other information’s about him for future reference)(I cannot publish specifics here obviously but he was an interesting character). we were told by him at the beginning that at the end we had to give a clear yes or no answer.
we kept quiet to the bitter end when we were escorted in to a room and the 'manager' came in to see us. Can't remember his name but he went in to hyper drive re sales. there was an annual fee, plus a subscription totaling 10k GBP, which made us laugh. The packages were so too good to be true and were obviously nonsense.
I explained to him that we never make decisions on the hoof and would need to research. I added that I hadn't woken up that morning and decided that we must buy in to some strange time share club. the manager blew his top and said what had we been sitting through this whole presentation for when we had no intention of financially committing. I reminded him that we had been asked for a simple yes or no answer and that we had done that.
I asked for my present...
He stormed off and came back a few minutes later saying we had won a free holiday!
keeping our lips pursed we slipped out and examined the paperwork terms and conditions etc.
in summary it was not a holiday, just a free 7 days in a hotel in phucket (one of their associates) and only if we agreed to another 90 mins presentation there. There were no flights included... reading the small print the accommodation wasn't worthy anything as absolute held the right to cancel without notice...
lessons learn, yes we are greedy because we thought there might be a freebie, however I am pleased that we recognized it to be too good to be true but took the educated decision to go through the gauntlet just in case. I'm not bitter that we lost an afternoon but at least it has provided some humour and interesting tales from our experience in samui. I do however feel sorry for anyone who has been stung by absolute holidays.
by the way, samui is club 18-30 club falaraki. don't go there for quiet. everyone’s on the scam. very exhausting and tiring. Never hand over your passport to hire a scooter or jet ski as you are asking to be scammed again….. I have no idea why people on holiday lose their common sense gland.
Bemused, England.