Jetting off to warmer climes in the next few months?

City of York Council Trading Standards is urging residents relaxing in the sun not to fall prey to the holiday club sales pitch which often promises more than it can deliver.

Holiday Clubs usually promise a lifetime of discounted holidays.

The schemes may look like timeshare, but they are not covered by the protection of the Timeshare Act 1992.

Many holidaymakers are approached while they are abroad and persuaded to attend a holiday club presentation.

Techniques used by bogus holiday clubs include "scratch card touts" who offer winning "holiday club presentation" tickets to "lucky winners", entitling them to attend holiday club presentations, which can last so long that holiday makers are tempted to sign up because they are so desperate to leave, or offers of "special discounts" which are only available if contracts are signed straight away.

Unwary holidaymakers may also be separated from their partner so they can't discuss the prospective deal and/or be offered prizes or free gifts, which turn out to be worth less than expected.

If you're on holiday and find yourself in this situation, don't sign anything and don't be embarrassed to walk out of the presentation.

Give yourself time to think through the deal, check that you have got written cancellation rights and check that everything you have been promised is in writing.

Membership of an exclusive club, which usually involves payment of an upfront fee and annual subscription, may seem to offer exciting, great value holidays, in luxury accommodation.

However, this may turn out to be no more than spare weeks in a timeshare resort or access to an internet booking service.

You will not be buying the right to book and stay in the property of your choice and you may find nothing is available in peak periods.

For further information about holiday clubs and timeshare or any other consumer advice matter, please phone Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

If necessary, your complaint will be referred to your local Trading Standards Service.