So we got a letter the other day, advising we had won a prize from a local business, advising we had to phone a Cheltenham number to confirm/obtain our prize. Absolutely no problem with that, it was a kosher 01242 number (from memory), so phoned them out of interest. Was told that I had won a prize of gym membership, worth £750 - contingent on a weekly payment of £3.81. And, I'd won a second prize of the same, for a friend/partner - which makes for a prize value of £1,500. Went to see the gym, which wasn't at all impressive, and was told that minimum membership was two years. TWO YEARS?!? at £3.81 a week? Times two? That's £800. So, while this is not a con, it isn't worth taking up. Apparently, I've seen written, that even if you move away, you can't cancel - you have to find a gym local to your new locale which is part of the same scheme. As any number of things can change during a two-year period, I'd recommend leaving this offer well alone. You've been warned.
TTFN.
We got a prize voucher today from the same company, so I googled them and found your blog.
ReplyDeleteThe prize voucher is already 'filed'.
Exactly the same guys. Lots of people on different blogs with the same issue. Filed it under "R-Rubbish"
ReplyDeleteDitto edward! Thank you for blogging and saving us the same time wasting investigation.. R for recycled!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up. My letter is going in the bin.
ReplyDeleteI got the same thing this week. It seems they've already been done by the ASA in the past for saying you've "won" something, when you haven't.
ReplyDeletehttp://lofi-gaming.org.uk/blog/2008/06/14/survey-uk-scam/
What is too good to be true is obviously either a scam or a hoax.
ReplyDeleteGoogle is our friend and I've found your blog : thank you for saving us investigation time :)
Received the voucher this week and decided to Google, found your blog, so now in the R bin.
ReplyDeleteSame as above; got the voucher today this quick google find sends it straight to the recycling. Thanks for blogging it Treb
ReplyDeleteSounds like they've been busy! Again, thanks for the time saving info, mine is heading the same way as most others...
ReplyDeletegot the same one today. Thanks for the blog, its heading to the bin
ReplyDeleteWell, aren't I the lucky one as I have got not one but two of these vouchers sent to me in the last month! I also Googled and got you blog. Thanks for the tip, I shall be filing them in the bin like everyone else (unless, of course, anyone out there wants to make me an offer for these highly valuable prize vouchers?)
ReplyDeleteOMG!! i just got one today, i showed it to my partner and he said, just ring it and see, so i did and i was told the £3.81 a week payments are not compulsery and its a years membership, so i was told wrong then?? i was also given the name of the woman to see when i go in, it all seemed ok to me until reading this.... thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteWe received the same letter with the same voucher and its going in the same place 'THE BIN'.
ReplyDeleteThis is our third type scam in less than two months.
Do you think in general we could be put onto a Scam Mailing list.
I.E. had a neighbour knock our door saying get in touch with Mark in London, very important!!. Left us a phone number. We googled the number and again it was a money SCAM.
I.E. scammed out of £500 on a Master Card transaction in Cheltenham, same phone code. Undergoing police investigations.
I.E. the letter arriving today.
All seems a little ODD!!!
Thank god for the wonders of the internet and GOOGLE.
Yes I got one too. Addressed to "mr/mrs" then a blank space, so they don't even have my name!! Thanks for the info confirming my suspicions.
ReplyDeleteJenny
i got one of these too and googled it and found this blog, thanks very much! x
ReplyDeleteReceived a letter today so they are still up to the same trick will not be phoning and may just send it straight back to them as return to sender
ReplyDeletereceived a voucher today 01/10/08 from the same company so you saved me a phone call and have now shredded it.
ReplyDeletethanks
There is an article about this scam on moneysavingsexpert:
ReplyDeletehttp://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1012967
Many thanks for the blog. I have a Neighbourhood Watch mtg tonight and will warn all our members. They'll all go in the bin. One of our members has already rung and it seems a free pen is now part of the deal. Wow!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your blog. I have been congratulated by Matters Consulting on winning a gift today. I googled it and found your blog. Mine was also addressed to Mr and Mrs no name. It has been fed to the shredder. My shredder is growing fat on things like this. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteThank god for Google! Looks like this company isnt going to stop any time soon. Thanks for blog, well handy!
ReplyDeletejust received this prize voucher, rang number and searched google, found this blog and have now fed the shredder....thanks for the blog!
ReplyDeleteJust to echo others, thanks for blogging this and making my investigation a quick one!! This has now been appropriately shredded and ready to use as rabbit bedding - exactly where it belongs!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a Scam. Just got letter through door from Matters Consulting addressed to Mr/Mrs, not even a contact name saying we have won a prize and to call 01242 number. Looked very suspicious so googled it and found this page. Very intresting others have had the same letter. I will not be calling this scam, and thank you all for warning us of this scam. This company (if they can be called that) should be closed down immeditaley. Will post back return to sender.. LOL..
ReplyDeleteI received the same slip in the post today. A quick look at the gyms facilities via thier website made it clear to me that this prize was not worth anything and should be filed pronto.
ReplyDeleteThe amazing thing is that these gyms signing up to this marketing program clearly need to attract customers away from the pricey big guys but by adopting this approach they are doing themselves more harm than good!
Northamptonshire area..
October 08. Got 2 in the post today addressed to Mr & Mrs (BLANK) then address. No hint of what prize tho. Really glad I googled address and got yr blog. Am Recycling the paper! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteKettering Northants
me2. thanks for the heads up everyone
ReplyDeletehi there got letter today aswell yip ty so much for the warning and i willNOT b foneing them cheers peeps tc all u wise ppl pam
ReplyDeleteThese people have no shame!!!
ReplyDeleteI received a voucher today so it was great being able to find all your comments.
We received the prize voucher today,decided to google it - thanks for the advice - now in the bin
ReplyDeleteAs above we received the same letter! Thank god i googled it 1st! Many thanks for posting it saved my time and effort. Companies should be had up for things like this! It's now been filed in the recycling bin. Cheers again
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else, received the letter, googled the company name...here I am.
ReplyDeleteGotta love the net.
It’s another clever way of scam. I received the same one by post and when I rang them they asked for my name which I was not happy to give and i asked if they could tell me what is all about?
ReplyDeleteThey said that they can’t before me giving them the name which I refused.
THIS IS A SCAM, SO ANY ONE GOT THE SAME SLIP, JUST PIN IN.
Hi Folks. Yes I to got a voucher through the post and the wife said ring up. What a turn up that they can't even get the phone number right - Its and air conditioning company! Thanks for your advice just following it
ReplyDeleteI too recieved a letter which said i had won £32,500, When i rang the number i told the guy who answered the phone i would give him £2000 to bring me my winnings by taxi now.
ReplyDeleteHe declined and so did i....
Filed accordingly....