Please also check out the following recent warning:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=31523

David

Airtours, Direct Holidays, first choice,and THOMSON, YES, Thomson all now encourage their guests to go on Timeshare presentations by offering them a massive incentive to do so, ie 75 euros discount voucher off excursions for attending a presentation. So Yes, the holiday reps are involved!!!

I live here and still get stopped by them whenever I'm in LA / LC. I tell them I live here and I nearly always get one of the following in reply...

1) "Oh yeah? Where's your tan then?"

2) Oh Yeah? Whereabouts mate?

I have worked out a stock answer that shuts them up for both of the above...

1) "I have a proper job in an office and don't have to beg people to take a scratch card from me to make a few cents in the hope I can survive another week on the island, hence I get sunshine only on a weekend. Dont worry mate I'll be here long after you have gone back home skint, and your tan has faded to milk bottle white!"

2) "Somewhere (sometimes I name my area, sometimes not) you could only dream of affording on the miniscule commissions your earning from (insert the company name if possible) mate!"

You could look in an estate agents window and "Adopt an address" for your stay, giving them the area as your residence.

I never stop walking while saying the above - I don't have to as they ALWAYS follow you.

After spending the last year living and working here (IT Manager for holiday company, and previously a Holiday club ) I know which companies work which areas. Placing their name in the above answer usually works a treat as the management of some TS co's operates 'Mystery shoppers' to stop their 'staff' being abusive.

If you REALLY want to spoil their day... Rip the card up. They know which prize is on which card, and their management keep tabs on whos been given what to stop Jonny Scratch Card Tout giving the 'free holiday' card to his mum / friends. Rip up a good prize card and they are in big trouble as they can not prove where its gone. Oh, and its perfectly legal to tear something up that has been given to you!

I allow myself the satisfaction of realizing that the abusive ones are obviously not getting many punters in and are now desperate. They know they will soon be sacked and on their way home back to the UK. Meanwhile I will still live here, and you lot will still be making plans for your next holiday here.

There all just sad weak people who think they can come to a hot place and make a fortune from the likes of you without any effort or skills. These people will not and can not obtain a decent job in ANY country and cop out by taking this kind of work. Most last less than two months and that's how the companies like it. They want fresh upbeat attitudes! Once the realization that they are not getting rich, and in fact can't even survive here on their "wages", the companies sack them and get in another batch of hopeless cases.

Some companies even sack em before they are paid, this saves them even more money! Managers I have met brag about it. So if you're thinking of coming out here to be an OPC ("On Pavement Canvasser"), think hard. You will spend your entire time making virtually nothing other than a nice tan. Then you'll get sacked and go home penniless, an even more sad individual than you obviously already were in the first place!

There is no such thiong as a free lunch for OPC's

*Makum steps off his soap box*

Have a nice day

Brilliant!!! Best post I've read in a while - thanks for the tips!

Hear Hear Makum
Gives your soap box a virtual feel

I find the "no thanks mate we live here" line works pretty well.
Failing that I put on my best Glasgow accent and less than politely explain that unless they fancy a walk with me they are wasting their time.

Maybe its just me but I find the touts around the Veronicas area are less likely to accept a no than the ones in San eugenio/ Torviscus areas.

Loved the tear up the card part , will remember that one.

Less than a week till we are back Touts and all we love the place

Hear Hear

Couldn't have put it better myself mate

To be honest these scratch cards touts are likely to be the reason I may stop going to Tenerife one day... I've been visiting for 10 years now and they and the asian electrical guys jumping out of shops at you can make things very unpleasant..

I was walking with my 80 year old mum along the Las Americas/Cristianos border in Jan when one of these low lifes started up with the "are you English" rubbish...I didn't want to waste his time so we just kept walking and ignored him..A minute later a load of disgusting abusive language is being hurled at my mother and myself..Really nice eh??...

By the way , the lookey lookey men are positively charming in comparison, they simply take no with a smile and leave you alone..

Why oh why don't the Tenerife authorities realise that people have a choice as to whether to visit the island or not, and allowing these scumbags to behave like this may mean a lot of people deciding to go elsewhere!

We saw (and then followed) a couple having being 'caught' by the scratchcard trick on the way down the hill from Victoria Court in LC.

The offices being at the bottom of the hill which was their next stop on the way to 3 hours + timeshare 'chat'.

The timeshare person was as pleased as punch and was talking to them all the way down the hill with loads of smiles and the couple were engaging her as well - all looked rosy.

I was as keen as mustard to tell the couple that they are going to get ripped off but the wife told me to shut up.

However, at the bottom of the hill the timeshare lady walked straight on towards the shop/office block but the couple did a movement the red arrows would have been prowd of and did the quickest right turn and walked away from her without a word - laughing all the way !! - it was great to watch !!! The scratchcard persons face was a picture.

A synchronised peel off that deserved capturing on the video camera

I would definitely say it is a bit dodgy to chase after a tout. They usually work in packs, and who knows what might have been around a corner...... No point in really antagonising them. I have found the best thing to do is just ignore them, walk past and don't answer. If they ask if you are English and you say 'no' they will realise you probably are... Just ignore them and walk on. If you walk, head slightly down and with a determined look, they don't normally bother. But please everyone, do be careful!

Read the posts with interest on this subject.
We all have ways of dealing with unwanted intrusions into our life, whether it be at home or on holiday.
Albeit they are rude and overpowering, don't sink to their level.
A firm but polite "No thankyou" followed by "Have a nice day". then cease all communication.
It works for us.
We spend several months a year in Tenerife, we see them come and go.
Enjoy your holidays.

I always say to them when they thrust a scratchcard in my hand that " I dont play these cards EVER" It always works. Just dont stop walking and ignore them. I have never been followed for more than about 10 yards. They know when they are onto a loser and try to find another victim

hi all.. I'm just back (3 Weeks ago) from Gran CANARIA, and just like TENERIFE, the touts were plentyfull. i was in apartments next to the beach, so got them every day. I start with-no thanks..then...NO, thank you. then if its the really aggressive pest...NO ,(OR GO AWAY). my experience in both places has been the same, some off the touts say thanks for your time, have a nice day...that i can handle...the other ones...WELL.
PS i went with direct holidays, and they never tried too get me to go to a presentation

We were out in PDLA last week and my father/mother in law were stopped and given the 'you've won a holiday' scam.
I already had an inkling of what they guy was upto and despite me warning them of the consequences they insisted on going off with this guy for a '10 minute chat round the corner'.
I went back to our apartment and spent a very pleasant afternoon reading. Four hours later they arrived back after spending half of that time trying to get out of the 'trap' without actually parting with any cash; they wanted £600 to be paid over immediately in order to be considered for their rediculous scheme. This was apparently lost if you were rejected - there must be a lot of stupid people running these scams if they think we are that dumb - lol!
Needless to say on the following days they weren't so obliging to the 'nice young men' on the streets.
I suppose some people only learn the hard way.

I find this approach works best:

'Gambling is a sin and scratchcards are gambling... Can I talk to you about Jesus?'

DsOrco that's a good one; I'll remember that for next years fun and games

I find this approach works best:

'Gambling is a sin and scratchcards are gambling... Can I talk to you about Jesus?'

OMG!!!! Going to HAVE to try that one! :rofl I've not laughed so hard all day!!!!!!!!

*Edit Large emoticon removed. Please do not use. Thanks - Glynis*

We are off to Los Christianos in a couple of weeks, so thanks for the tip about Jesus! I work a couple of days in an Oxfam bookshop so I might buy a small, cheap bible or prayer-book from there, take it with me and wave it under their noses. That should make them run a mile.

Of course I don't mean any disrespect for any devout Christians out there , but I would bet they would do the same to get rid of these touts.

No, I was being serious!!!!!!!!

Ho ho ho

I could smell a scam a mile off when i was there last week my gf was taken in as she got the winning prize of either 1200 euros or video camera as someone else had already opted to take the lower 80 euro prize earlier in the day! even tho my card had a mixture of symbols i had still won 3 bottles of vodka! after sitting in aircon office with leather seats no one was available too give us 90 min talk about ur prize (surely i know what a video camera looks like) and told to come back about 3 which we did to find office was closed. mind u the tout was a good banter and i asked him str8 away how much he got paid so i said id go up for that. but i agree with forcefull ones have to show em a bit of force back. a bar rep in LA was been a bit of nob end cos apprently i was been daft for not buying two more drinks so i cornered him and asked to him to say who was been daft again?? and soon said he was! most of reps are kids or not many older than 22 they jus so desperate to stay on island they do shit jobs like this.

Best way is too come armed wiv ur own shit u wanna try selling scratch cards to him with the prize of kissing me backside or maybe u want some gucci or a bolex??