Hi Tony

 

Just back from Bali last week.

 

Walked out the front door of our accommodation at Nusa Dua and only got 100 metres down the road and the 3 of us were handed cards.

The other 2 opened theirs and had won T shirts. I refused to open mine and wanted to walk away but was eventually compelled to open it. WOW, I had won the big prize. The local fellow was ecstatic that I had got the "big One" and it was worth US$50 to him which he would have to share with his co-worker, but it would be enough money for both of their families to live on for a week. Being softies we relented to this hard luck story and hopped in the taxi that he waved over.

Same old story as everyone else. Told we would have to sit through a 30 minute presentation and then we would get our "prize" including free lunch vouchers worth 100,000 rupeah each.

 

Arrived at the office and was lead into a room full of fellow Australians all sitting at tables. We were assigned an Australian professional bullsh*t artist who waffled on for ever and then, with permission from his senior, (what another load of cr*p), we were taken out to see 2 resorts. Upon our return the conversation seemed to go on for ever with leading questions about our holiday fantasies and preferred locations but we were really over it by now and just wanted to get the hell out of there.

 

He finally laid his cards on the table and wanted $25,000 (which included a special 20% discount for today only (groan). When we said NO he then called over the "big boss" again and was then able to offer us a special half price membership for only $12,000 but we had to pay 20% deposit on the spot.

We are not complete idiots and just wanted out after wasting 2 1/2 hours. We were then ushered to an office near the back door and hurriedly given 2 T shirts (which we gave to a poorer local), the promised meal vouchers (which we didn't use), and the famed free holiday voucher for 1 week in Bali or Phucket (with a US$100 booking fee and myriads of conditions that makes me believe no one will ever be able to take)

 

This scam continues and wasted half of our first days holiday.

Anyone who is approached with these cards etc should immediately refuse them and not fall for the sob story of the poor local (who really is poor but we cannot be responsible for the living standards of everyone in  Bali)

 

Gary Redman