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Mon, May 19 2025, 15:00:08Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 123456789[10] ]
Subject: Tips when approached by timesharing individual


Author:
jason
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Date Posted: Fri, Jul 30 2004, 21:39:12

I worked as a telemarketeer in a timesharing company located in a commercial block along Cecil Street from Dec 1997 to Feb 1998. That was just after I graduated from a local junior college, while waiting for national service. The company had housewives, teachers, students etc working as telemarketeers... absolutely no QC, so long as he/she could get potential clients to come down for that presentation.

We were each given a 3-digit pager number eg. 9222, 9755 (hardly any handphones around then). Each telemarketeer would then start punching the telephone keypad. 92220001, 92220002, 92220003..... The telemarketeers had no idea who they were calling at all.

When a pager owner called back, the telemarketeer would begin by saying:
"Congratulations sir/madam. You have been selected by our quick-pick lucky draw computer system to win a pair of tickets to ..... absolutely free!! Only five out of xxxx people gets selected by the computer! All you have to do to get the pair of tickets is to come down for our 45 min presentation at ..... We provide free buffet dinner for your consumption while enjoying the presentation. There is absolutely no obligation for you to buy any products to get the free tickets. No strings attached at all, I can assure you that. Before I carry on, can I just have some of your particulars? What is your current occupation?"

From the occupation, if the individual earns more than S$2000 per month, he/she is considered a Q - Qualified. The telemarketeer would carry on to give the date, time, venue of the presentation, and ask for personal particulars such as name, age etc. If the person earns less than S$2000, he/she is a NQ - Not Qualified. The telemarketeer would inform the individual to wait for another call from the company for the details of the presentation, a call that would never be made of course.

To disguise the fact that the call was made from a timesharing company, the telemarketeer would use terms like "Travel agency", "Holiday makers" etc to introduce the company. A whole load of bullshit.

Once a Q turned up for the presentation, the telemarketeer would be rewarded $20. If the Q signed a deal with the company, the telemarketeer would be paid another $20. If a NQ turned up, the telemarketeer would get nothing. However, if a NQ turned up and signed a deal, the telemarketeer would receive $40. A salesperson at the presentation would get $500 for every deal clinched.

At that point of time, the timesharing scam was already in existance. This industry died soon after due to the terrible reports from people attending the presentations. It is of great surprise to me to see that up till today, so many people are still been conned to attend these presentations, and that the timesharing business has managed to make a comeback. Hard to believe that Singaporeans are really so gullible.... Only big names like Singtel, SIA, Creative can afford to give away free gifts to customers, often as advertising gimmicks. Can you really trust a small, unknown company to offer a free lunch WITH NO OBLIGATIONS OR STRINGS ATTACHED??

My piece of advice if approached by a timesharing individual:

1) Simply walk away.
2) Tell him that you are a lawyer and policeman, and threaten him with legal action if the gifts are not free.
3) Tell him you are a bankrupt with $500000 debts.
4) Tell him that you work in a timesharing company, and invite him to your presentation instead.

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