Absolute World Group
Reviews and Complaints

We’ve been on holiday last August’s and we were convinced to purchase a membership with them, , unfortunately our financial status been changed for some reason and when I emailed them bout canceling our purchase been told that it is not possible, in contrast of their purchase agreement the right of the purchaser to be refunded of all the payment that has been made and the return of all the goods that have been received their contact person been out of reach ! Not to professional I can say !

I got done years ago by this scam. If you see a Club Absolute scammer, run away!

We had bought and were very unhappy, we found an Asian company called iVacAsia.com and they helped us sell it in 45 days, thank god we found them. Hope this helps someone.

Same thing happened today - pressure selling methods £6500 for 10 year offered 12 month payment plan offered. Wouldn't trust these guys as far as could kick them. Plenty of promises but a scant contract weighted in their favor. The irritation on their faces when we said "we're out, your contract sucks" was priceless. I'll book my own trips thank you very much!

Hi,
I recently learned from my parents that they were lured into this scam while in holiday in koh Samui well over a year ago for - to my shock and horror, not the $3000 ish that I'm mostly hearing about here but the FULL AMOUNT. For a lifetime membership.

This makes me sick. They are both really honest, hard working, good hearted people and on their holiday of a lifetime. Granted they are absolutely gullible, they really didn't deserve this. No one does. And the fact that they paid the full amount doesn't mean they have the money for it either. They found themselves in this truly beautiful place having a nice break from all their hard work and someone promised them they could have a break like this each and every year. So they dug into their life savings, the money they were meant to retire on and made a horrible mistake.

Some of the comments here about people being stupid and not deserving their money back are really heartless. They didn't go buy a dress, get home and try it on then just decide they didn't like it (which would be considered totally fine btw) - they bought a bargain of a dress, got home, and found their shopping bag empty. If I had to take a side with naive or evil, I would go with naive every time.

Now, I want to do something to help them get out of this. We are in Australia, so if anyone has any advice on what we can do from here - if we go see a lawyer what do we need etc, I would appreciate ANY help or advice.

They are currently being harassed to pay their maintenance amount, which I'm desperately trying to convince them not to, but they seem to have resigned to the fact that they lost their huge initial 'investment' and should keep paying up in order to at least get a free holiday or two.

My worry isn't so much the $180 maintenance (though I don't want to see these ### take another cent from them) but more that if they pay and do go on a free holiday at some horrible place they offer them that they will forfeit any little chance they have left at suing these people. As they will have technically 'delivered' on their end of the deal.

Any advice is really appreciated TIA

KylieMav - it's a bluff, we filed an official complaint with the police while still in Koh Samui and they told us they receive many complaints about Absolute Destinations. The popular wisdom supports the theory that shady businesses like this bunch simply pay off local authorities to turn a blind eye to their scam. No one has been sued for breaking their contract in any country, do not sign a silence agreement with Absolute if they offer a refund in exchange. Buying silence is their next go to tactic.

We have just been caught up in this scam too. We have only lost $250 and i have cancelled my card but after reading all these complaints we marched straight into the Koh Samui office and were basically told not being a thai local means no cooling off period and that is why they dont sell to Thai people. We were also told under thai government they do not need to provide a cooling off period and to not bring in the police as they would all be against us and support the Absolute Destinations company. I felt intimidated by this as we were then told that its like "if you hit someone and kill them while drunk on a motorbike everywhere else in the world you are guilty.. here you pay money and it all disappears" which lead me to believe they pay off the police. We were given a letter by Justin to take to our solicitor when we return to AUS and have 14 days to review the agreement, i our solicitor finds a flaw only then can we cancel and get our refund.. if not we are stuck with this stupid scam. Has anyone actually been sued as I have read on other sites complaining about this scam that they legally cannot sue? I have no intentions of paying as I refuse to lose any more money so I was just curious if anyone has infact been sued or is it all just a bluff to scare monger you into paying up?

@geraldusa: we signed up last week when we were in koh samui and i have already contacted capital one visa given the info you provided ( thanks so much for it!) they put me through to a supervisor immediately and he was very aware of the law that applies, BUT he said it only applies to timeshares and this may technically not be a timeshare. how did your contact person at chase visa handle this stipulation? i am worried they may not give me my money back based on that which is frustrating. please let me know as soon as you can. thanks!

please help! we are honest people and got sucked into Absolute world whilst on holidays in phuket, we are into our 2nd month of payments. Call me easily lead. How do we get out of this? we were not told of any cooling off periods whilst in thailand. please help

Just returned from Koh Samui and was approached by 5 Absolute touts our first morning along Chaweng Beach Road and another 3 times the next day! Politely brushed them off until the last, more persistent guy responded to our statement that "You guys got us last year and we don't have 6 hours to waste on a timeshare presentation" with, "But think of the savings you would be enjoying if only you had become members last year!" Suffice it to say he beat a hasty retreat when I clarified for him that we had not simply been suckered into the excruciatingly long presentation but had fallen for the litany of lies and purchased a membership. I sincerely hope more folks realize their intimidation tactics are only that and realize that you don't even need a lawyer to achieve a refund. File a dispute with your credit card company or appeal to your bank for assistance, but, whatever you do, DO NOT throw good money after bad in the false hope of recouping your losses. It's an elaborate con game and you will not beat these sharks at their own game if you follow by their rules...Best luck to you all!

Hello all,
I'm a russian speaking tourist from Kazakhstan, who had unhappy, but fortunately not long, experience with this scam scheme, which btw is getting more and more recognition among russian speaking people, 'cause these Absolute guys are mainly dealing with Russians. But obviously sometimes they caught european and american tourists too. There are a lot of discussions in russian segment of internet. The short summary would be - if you by unlucky chance managed to sign any contract with them and didn't able to cancel it and get your money back (as described above), then the only way to minimize your losses is to stop using their service as soon as possible despite the money already paid. On the later stages your losses would be much higher.
If you purchased so called a trial contract, which is usually for 1 year, and went for your prepaid vacation, Absolute will be considering you as the second chance prey. They will provide the best available accommodation for you, and will put the maximum pressure to persuade you to upgrade your current certificate. That's the benchmark. Please stop here. Don't give them a penny. Because as soon as you upgrade, you've swallowed the bait. Next time they will use thousands of tricks to get you upgraded again and again. They even will be blackmailing you, that if you don't upgrade you will lose your current status which would mean losing all the money already paid. So, the only way is to stop where you are.

This is a scam!
they take your money offering flexible any easy holidays and have no intention off ever furfilling your reservation . Not once since 2008 has there been any availability in any of my holiday request to any of my destinations I have requested. I don't know how you people can sleep at night ripping people off the way you do.
I have voiced my concern several time about incorrect advertising false claims also wanting a refund for not providing the product and services that were paid for but do you think anyone from absolute wants to talk to me! No they don't!
Beware this is a scam.