No matter who calls you (Welk, Diamond, Pacific Monarch, Wyndham, TLC, GSI, etc), they are ALL timeshare presentations! You may or may not have filled out anything. As long has you live in the 21st century (meaning you have land-line or a cell ph#, bundled your cable-internet, have a credit/debit card, entered or completed anything online, own your home, have any PUBLIC records), they will have your ph# in their database and will call you.

Yes, you must sit through a 90-minute presentation to get your "gift" whether you buy a timeshare or not. Here's where the "fun" begins. Say, you "win" a trip to Las Vegas. Well, the timeshare folks will only give you a voucher to make reservations within the next 12 months. If you have to call a "travel agent" at Holiday Travel of America (Carlsbad, CA) -- then you better run and I mean fast, too. Head for the hills!! Realize you've wasted 90 minutes of your life for nothing. Whatever you do, forget about making a "reservation" for your "vacation" with Holiday Travel or any other fake or online travel company.

Here's why: 1) whatever day you plan for the vacation (ever how far ahead), chances are it will be unavailable, blackout date, etc. 2) if you do make a date, you will have to pay one or more of the following: taxes, air fair, registration or other "fees," 3) you will NOT be able to bring your pet, child under 18, etc 4) if you make it to the "hotel" it will NOT be a 5-star or even a 4-star but more of a Motel 6 in a crack neighborhood with vagrants pan-handling you for cigarettes, spare change, etc. and 5) your hotel room may be noisey, unclean and less than pleasant.

But don't take it from me. Just look up the reviews for Holiday Travel (Carlsbad, CA) on yelp.com San Diego. Happy holidays, folks!

Before I explain my experience with this company I want to offer a little advice that people on this website should really consider taking to heart and utilizing.  When a telemarketer calls you they are seeing if you are INTERESTED in whatever it is they are calling about.  Simply saying you are not interested does not mean that you might not be later down the road for a similar promotion.  If you DO NOT WANT ANY MORE CALLS FROM THEIR COMPANY you have to say just that.  These people are not criminals, they are simply treating you like consumers... and 9 times out of ten you yourself put their phone calls into action by filling out personal information for something you did not fully understand.

I worked as a telemarketer for a number of years in college and this is how it is in their world.  Ignoring their calls or picking up and yelling something to them, even if it is"do not call", means nothing if you do not talk to them like a human. #1 identify yourself.  If they are asking for you and you fail to identify yourself they will not "stop calling" because they are not sure if they in fact were talking with the person they were calling for.  #2 say, "I wish to no longer receive any communication from your company regarding this or any future promotions, sales, etc.".  "I'm not interested", or "no thank you" will not do you any favors.  Saying that you do not accept calls from solicitors is not going to make a difference if they are not calling you with the intent of closing a sale with you on the phone.  

Now that I have shared some of my insider tips with you, i would like to explain my experience with Diamond Resorts.  

I answered this call. I was told I entered into a contest at the mall near my house. It turns out i did in fact enter the contest! Not only that but I attended the live drawing where they showed me some models of their resort properties. Apparently the contests are sponsored by diamond resorts international (...If i remember correctly). They asked if I would be interested in learning about timeshares. I was upfront with them and told them that i travel lightly (a few times every couple years) and their packages would not fit my needs. They were not pushy about selling us a timeshare and at the end of the event my husband and I received two tickets to anywhere Southwest airlines travels!  In fact, the "timeshare presentation" was less of a presentation and more of a tour where they made me feel very welcomed.  They welcome input.  I explained why their product didn't fit my needs and Jeremy, our Diamond resort sales rep, was actually writing down my criticisms of their packages.  He explained to me that he likes when people are not interested but still show up.  It gives their company a better idea on how to change their products to better suit the masses in the future. I thought this was a scam but they are really transparent about not needing anyone to sign up or buy anything! I'm so glad I actually heard them out!  I didn't win the grand prize but I did get a chance to see some video testimonies of people that were sitting in the same room I was who had won during their presentation!  

This company (Diamond Resorts... I think they bought Pacific Monarch which may account for the good experience i had versus others) is far from a scam... it was actually refreshing.  But I suppose you have to live a little and consider that maybe, just maybe, you are going to be appreciated by a company for your help and time. I figured I would let everyone out there know my story since I just used the airline tickets to visit our daughters at UNLV... for free!  Well, not free... I did have to pay taxes.  $65 for two round trip tickets was well worth my hour and a half.  It was fun to learn about the benefits to staying at resorts when our family travels in the future.  You people who are scared of these calls are too funny to me.  They don't bite.  

I entered to win a weekend getaway at a bridal show...they called me saying that my name was drawn to win the 3 day 2 night vacation in Las Vegas, Chicago or New York. Then they asked me qualifying questions and because my fiancé and I choose not to live together until marriage I do not qualify! Seriously???

STOP CALLING!!!!

This was back in August. They gave us 4 choices, Las Vegas w/air, Mexico cruise, Disneyland with Hotel, or Southwest tickets anywhere SW flies.  we chose SouthWest tickets and we used the voucher in February.

And what would those "gifts" be? Hmmm?

Let me tell you my experience.  a lady called me informing me about an entry form that I 'allegedly' filled out.  she left two messages and finally on the third call, I answered.  She informed me 'where' and 'when' I filled out this entry form; I told her I really dont remember filling anything out.  she went over what was written, address, email address, signature etc.  I asked her if she could scan me a copy of the form and email it to me.  yes, it  was my sister's writing including her version of my signature. I called the lady back and apologized for jumping to conclusions.  long story, short I attended the presentation and believe it or not, I obtained my gifts and was out of there in a little less than 90 minutes WITH my gifts.  yes, it is a timeshare presentation.  we obtained our gifts and we didnt have to buy anything.

You sound like one of the crooks who calls strangers and considers it a "living".

Well get used to the abuse, it's only going to get worse until you rats are exterminated. Nobody is obligated to talk to you ever under any circumstances period. It's not our fault you'r unqualified for a real job.

Many of these complaints are inane!!!  do we have to live each day in fear that a telemarketing office is calling you? avoiding the numerous calls? this is stupid!! like watching a cockroach walking across your kitchen and ignoring it hoping that it will go away.  ANSWER THE CALLS, tell them to immediately put you on their DoNotCall list.  Don't be ignorant lemmings.  deal with these companies HEAD ON. not in fear.

They,kept on calling my cell phone number,day after day but never leave a message.

Received a call from this number saying I won a car. I received a message on my home number and on my cell number. The caller, from Diamond International, says they have been trying to get a hold of me since August. This is false. I'm tempted to use their number and keep entering silly sweepstakes.

They call me saying I won a car (from Camarillo Oulet) !!...... but,  I have to buy one time share unit first

Got a call from them just today. Hung up on me when I asked who it was. Called back and they said the company names was "Pacific Monarch."  Same things about registering for a car which I never did. I told them to take my number off their list and they said they would. Guess we'll see.

I received a call from this number at 9:09am on March 18, 2008.  They did not leave a message. Urrrrgggghhhhh very aggravating!

got a call from this number inviting me to a presentation about vacation packages; said I will receive a door prize; they have four different locations to choose from; closest to me (10 miles) was Encino CA; says they'll call again to schedule me

I received a call from this number at 2:40pm on March 11th 2008. Without a message. I called back and was told wait til they call back. I'm tired of these so called free trips anywhere we want to go but we have to sit in a discussion for an hour and a half but we still have to pay something for the trip. We put in for a drawing for something else and we get this trip thing .I wish it could stop.

received call @ 6:10pm this evening - no messege left - and I just got my phone maybe 4 months now and have not giving my number out to anyone but family.

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recvd several calls from this number - I don't answer, and they never leave a message.

add one more call with no message to the list.....

Got a call from this number. They harvest names and numbers from "win a free car" entries at the local theater. Called and wants me to sit through a time share demo. Guarantees a door prize of at least a home theater system. These are not totally scams as you usually walk away with something for your efforts but you do have to sit through the time share gig. We're gonna check it out anyway.

I been receving phone calls like crazy from this number where can I report it?

I received call from this number at 7:14pm 6/8/2009 and at 2:13pm 6/9/2009. No message was left.

I entered a drawing over a year ago and these stupid people are still calling me.  I don't think they'll stop.

They call every day sometimes twice a day.
They left no message.

New cell #, so I wasn't going to answer, no message left, but now that so many received calls from Time Share crap, I'll certainly pay more attention not to answer.

"Josh" called for my parents (who just love to enter those mall sweepstakes) and said that they were winners for the top 5 prize after leaving a card at the Inland Center Mall. He did not identify who he worked for or what the prize was. Sounded really fishy, so I'm glad that I had the good sense to look this up online before forwarding the message. The next time they call, I'm going to ask to be added to their Do Not Call listing.