Warning: Club Ultima - Fact or Bluff

    I was about to start my blog regarding my recent travel to US but I felt the urge or maybe an obligation to share an experience which I feel is worth sharing and for the information of many.  
     As I pass by Glorietta activity center one morning I was curious to see an exhibition so I went to check, it was an exhibit of various businesses showcasing their products.  As I pass by one of the booths, a lady approached me to fill in a raffle coupon for a chance to win gift certificates which can be use to stay in their accredited resort or hotels. I was not quite interested during that time but the lady was persistent that she was the one who filled in the coupon asking for my details so I just let her do it after which she handed me the other part of the coupon in order for me to claim the prize if in case I won.
     Right on the following day, I've got a call and to my surprise, I was one of the winners of the gift certificate for a free accommodation in Caliraya Resort which I can use anytime with my family at no obligation to pay at all.  At first I was excited for I was looking forward to have an out of town trip this coming summer.  So she explained to me the process of claiming the said gift certificate in their office at the back of Megamall,  I ask her  if they have an office in Makati for I am from Makati but she said they don't have an office in Makati, so I said just sent me the details through text so I would know where to go but I had a feeling that time that there is something fishy with the process that she told me.  After a while I got the SMS from a certain Asian Reyes who she identified herself as the Reservation Manager of Caliraya Resort with mobile number +639778062748, the SMS says that it is the confirmation of my attendance in claiming my gift certificate for a free dinner in BSA Twin Tower Hotel, no need to bring cash, just bring one valid ID for proper identification and I need to watch a 90 minutes video clippings and presentation about Caliraya Resort in order to familiarize myself with their amenities.

I already had a doubt in my mind after reading the SMS for why should I need to watch a 90 minutes presentation.  So I search over google for reviews of Club Ultima and I found out that this has been existing way back 2011 with this kind of tactics.  They have been deceiving people about their marketing strategy and luring people into joining Club Ultima and paying thousands of pesos. 

MODUS:  They will call and inform you  that you won a gift certificate that can be use to any of their accredited hotels and resorts with no obligation to pay.  (You don't even know where did they get your details, perhaps in some events where you did sign up and you don't remember )  Upon claiming in their office, you are required to watch a 90 minutes video presentation in order to claim the said gift certificate but not only that, they will convince and offer you to join and purchase a club membership which costs thousands of pesos.  And in order to use the gift certificate you are required to reserved and pay reservation fees which is I think almost equal if not more than the cost of your accommodation so in turn your gift certificate is of no value at all plus you wasted your time going to their office and watching the 90 minutes presentation.

     Apparently, Club Ultima is a legitimate company but what is wrong is their marketing strategy wherein they are deceiving and luring people into buying their expensive club membership. Be careful, if it's too good to be true, it is likely to be a scam.