This appeared in my pigeonhole at work today. I’m assuming it was put there because it mentions computers, and therefore is obviously my responsibility. Anyway, as is always the way with these things, it’s a scam.
The company, TLAC Ltd, at Kemp House, 152-160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX (address included for the benefit of Googlers) appears to offer “thankyou prizes and awards”, not unlike Survey UK. As before, I hunted around on the internet, and found this message on The Guardian’s website.
To cut it short, you ring up a premium rate number to claim your “award”, spending more money on the call than the value of the “prize” you actually receive. Note the footnote for the digital camera (the cheapest of the “prizes”), which states “all electrical items require a payment of ¬¨¬£6.50 which includes insurance and delivery”, thus grabbing more of your cash for rubbish.
So it’s not a “prize” or and “award” – it’s a lottery. A rubbish one at that.
Sometimes there are things that just need to escape my head.
Pingback: deKay’s Blog » Blog Archive » The Prize Registry
Thank you for the information. I did receive an exact copy, having the same Despacth Code: TA00075.
It is indeed a money grabber.
I also got the exact same letter, and many like it within the last few months from this Amanda Fisher, all from different places/companies.
Biggest money grabber ever.
I got the same thing, sussed out that it would cost at least ¬£12.00 to get my ‘Award’ TA00075 same old despatch code
Lovely, thanks you saved me a small fortune!
I had letter with my catalogue statement. Also from TLAC but with a Banbury address sender Amanda Fisher. I am in Spalding.
I also received the same letter with the same DESPATCH CODE -TA00075! If i hadn’t of seen this information i probaly would of tryed to claim this rip off award!!!
Thanks for saving me from this CON.
DESPATCH CODE TA00075
I live in Guernsey C.I. and received a Home Shopping Direct Catalogue (unsolicited) with the wonderful news! and despatch code enclosed: Being a none UK citizen I actually went and bought UK 1st class stamp for my return envelope (to be unattached, WHY!!!) and then decided to Google – thank you folks you saved me a little fortune and unfortunately for Home Shopping Direct I will not use them ever as they agree to this scam!!!!
see above
thank you for saving me from this con, i was really tempted to call -especially when you re broke you can believe anything- but i just did one last cheque on google and i am glad i did.
correction: check
Same here. Just searched for TLAC and came here.
Funny……………I got TA00075 too!
Guess what? you got it TA00075, Amanda Fisher I too was going to send the stamp glad I checked google first. Thank you
Wish I had of checked this page out first. I recieved this along with Studio cat mailing. I have sent the despatch code to TlAC and have not heard anything back but guess what its despatch code TA00075. what a joke! thanks for publishing this!
Sharon:
Well, if you do win one of their “fabulous” prizes, do let us know!
thanks everyone for warning people of this nasty scam.have just recieved my order with a letter from tlac and guess wot ive won a fab prize!guess wot my despatch code is?……yep u guessed it TA00075!!!
Hai i got the same letter, with same despatch code along with a home shipping pack. and i searched through google about it. its a fraud, aware of this type cheatings.
why shipping companies are helping this types of scams,
and is there any laws against to this type of scams to the poor people!!!!!!
Thank you so much for information on this site i too got the same letter with yes you guessed it the same dispatch code, im in two minds as to contact the catologue company i recieved this from to ask why on earth they allow such scams to be mailed out with their goods.thanks again
thanks very much, mwah you save me going through that hastle,
I got this too in surrey, yep same dispatch (despatch!!) code TA00075. Guess either we are the unlucky ones or they are all the same. Would be interested to know if anyone has a different dispatch code and possibly be a winner.
You know what! i got a letter with the same code TA00075, lol, i think they are just money grabbers like BBC and ITV premium numbers. thanks for publishing on the net. googling is so useful, isn’t?
i got same.. very good way to make money.. nice but too old trick.. need some changes… thank u
<Thanks for the warning I was caught out the first time never thought to check it out it came in an order I had sent
the award was silver jewelry which I never received just had another one with my order from studio but had the sense to check it out this time same award number as all the above why can’t something be done by the law . After all it is a con.
I received this letter last August with my Kaleidoscope Catalogue, so I assumed it was genuine. I made the phone call and, guess what, I was told I had won a digital camera. I sent for it, but never received it.
Is there any official body I can complain to, as the phone call cost me nearly £10, and I was assured I had won the camera? Surely this must be fraud?
my grandma got one of these. it was included with a well known catalogue aimed at the eldery. shame on you daxons for including this with your catalogue. My grandma trusted it because of who sent it but fortuntaley she saved it for me to send before phoning them.
same same I just got exactly same letter and same as all of u decided to go online first glad I did now but mine came with studio cards my advice THROW THIS CON LETTER AWAY as soon as it arrives
I had the same letter this morning in with my studio order, my partner has been on to me all day to ring The loyality Awards Club, as it was too good an opportunity to miss.!!!! I thought i’d check it out on net first, so glad i did
I got this one with vertbaudet statement. all details same as above. dont bother its a con. they should be stopped, I bet the catalogues are geting paid for these mail junk items being sent out with their statements. it make me mad.
My wife recieved the same as all of you, and guess what same code. This was put in with the Studio catalogue these people should be stopped. They obviously prey on the needy and unsuspecting customer!!!!!!!!!!
As a customer of Simply Be and Studio Cards, I get one of these every time I receive a catalogue or statement. These catalogue companies should not allow these scammers to use them as their mailing agents. Although it says “independent promotion” at the top of the letter, a lot of people possibly don’t put two and two together, you’re right Clive, they prey on the needy and unsuspecting. How can we stop this??
I am very annoyed with Studio. I agree with last comment made about Studio. I beleive there are a lot of Studio customers using this promotion award scam. I think Studio should take some resposibility for the advertisements they send to there customers. I will be contacting Studio with this complaint.
Just received the voucher with Despatch Code TA00075. this was included in a parcel of goods from VERTBAUDET who put children first.
Needless to say we will not be making the call or using VERTBAUDET again.
Thanks for the warning.
Regards
B Armstrong.
I’ve received the same letter(same despatch code) with my VERTBAUDET order.Luckily I’ve checked your comments.What a rip off!!!!!I guess the world is getting mad if there is nothing that can be done about it.
Studio again!!!Yes same thing happened to me, same code TA00075 same prize digital camera. I was a mug and phoned the premium rate number. God knows how much that will cost???
I live in Weston-super-Mare, and thats where i have to send the reply too…..These catalogue companies should be held to account and made responsible for there customers misfortune.. Then there is a saying if it sounds to good to be true then it probably is, and you never get nothing for nothing..Everything has a price!!
I just wish i checked this site before being conned..!!
My letter was also from Studio. I would phone them to complain but you get put through to Bangalore or Delhi or Dhaka or somewhere similar so I hardly think I’d get any joy from “Albert” or whichever typical English named person I happen to speak to.
I am so glad you posted this and I thought to check before phoning.
Same despatch Code too TA00075
Same despatch code and also from Studio.
I will be contacting Studio with my thoughts!!
I imagine that they will lose a lot of custom with a stunt like this.
I got the same letter with my Freemans Catalogue. Did Google and found this so really glad I did. One big scam. Surprised that the mail order services are not aware of this.
I got same letter with same despatch code:TA00075 with my Freeman’s Catalogue.But first I thought that I need to check on internet first and I found your comments.Thanks guys, you saved my money,because I was really tempted to phone.
omg i got 1 of those mith my catalouge statement today and i was gonna reply to it i am so glad i didnt now lucky searching the internet first i hate these scams
I got the letter with the same code TA00075 today with my Vertbaudet order. Was rather suspicious and googled this. Thanks for highlighting this con!
Oh NO!!!! I just phoned, got the digital camera, and only came on line to see what sort of camera it was before i sent off my 6 quid for the ‘insurance’.. In the back of my head I was sure there was something odd going on!!!! What a mug I am! Redoute sent this one. Can we do anything to stop this?
mojokings: I have no idea, but if it does arrive, I’d love to hear about what you got!
Guess what I have a unique code of TA00055 what a surprise. Got it from Look Again
sorry made a mistake not unique it is of course TA00075
i have had many of these letters same Unique code! TA00075
What a load of Rubbish!
Hi. I had the same code TA00075 from Studio. I did not think checking on the net first and I ended up calling the premium rate number from which I revieved the claim number. Now that I have already used up nearly £10 I am just going to send the claim form.
As you all know, I have won the digital camera (obviously), but please can someone tell me whether I will have to send £6.50 (insurance and delivery charge) with the claim form now or once I recieve the item.
Has anyone even recieved the item they won. Thanks.
Hi, I received TA00075 and what is disappointing is that it came in an envelope amongst various other offers (genuine ones)from a reputable mail order company – it would be nice if they didn’t encourage this sort of thing wouldn’t it. Thank you everyone for posting to this site, my copy of the letter will now go into my re-cycling bin.
I too received the same letter, with same despatch code. I received it with other papers from La Redoute catalogue. Shame on them.
Can’t believe this. I thought it would be a scam to be honest, so decided to check on line but its shocking how many people have actually rang the line. I got mine with La Redoute catalogue too. It did cross my mind, what if it’s real but like some1 said earlied. You get nothing for nothing… these people must be stopped.