We have done several posts on this subject that have resulted in being contacted by many duped consumers and moteliers that have been approached (and abused) by holders of these worthless vouchers.
We have a vested interest and disdain for fraudsters that appeal to the gullibility and desire of the consumer to travel by offering false hope. The accommodation industry depends upon a certain amount of trust by consumers that purchase accommodation from legitimate operators. Anyone that plays in our domain with the object to cheat and deceive will attract our wrath.
We believe that it is important to make people aware of the scam and have consistently advised all concerned to make a stand against telemarketing companies that promote holiday vouchers of dubious worth by making a written complaint to the Commerce Commission. We are delighted to learn this week that the Commission has been successful after taking a case against Discount Premium Holidays Limited.
Read more about the court findings HERE.
It is interesting that Discount Premium Holidays Ltd were based in Australia and probably using Indian based telemarketers to randomly solicit unsuspecting Kiwis. The Commerce Commission has made a point of stressing that it was able to prosecute an overseas based company, however we note that Discount Premium Holidays Ltd is a New Zealand registered company.
We are aware that there are other businesses that are also using the holiday voucher racket that are registered overseas and will continue to operate outside of New Zealand consumer law. While the New Zealand Commerce Commission will be unable to take legal proceedings against dodgy overseas telemarketing companies soliciting Kiwis, they will be able to collate and pass on information to their overseas equivalent agencies that can take action.
Up until recently, Discount Premium Holidays were making up to 600 calls a day to people chosen randomly from the phone book. It would be hard to say how many sales were made and how many of these vouchers will now be in circulation, however it is likely that many of these will be attempted to be exchanged for accommodation over the pending busy holiday season.
Accommodation providers should be made aware that they will need console many disappointed punters that purchased holiday vouchers in the false hope of receiving a discounted break away.
