European Timeshare Consumers Get a Hotline

That's right -- recent events in the UK timeshare industry have led to the emergence of a new consumer resource with an informative hotline. The OTE has joined forces with the TATOC (Timeshare Association of Timeshare Owners Committees) in an effort to crack down on scams and to promote consumer education and intelligence:

The Timeshare Consumers Advice Line (http://www.timeshareconsumeradvice.uki.net) has launched an advice line and web site for people buying or reselling timeshare properties

...as a member of the OTE, Timeshare Computer Link Ltd has setup an advice service beyond its normal timeshare resale activities. timeshareconsumeradvice.uki.net provides information on the best ways to buy or sell a timeshare property, along with, when ever possible, advice on getting the most out of timeshare holiday ownership.

More information can be found here www.timeshareconsumeradvice.uki.net alternatively you can call the advice helpline on 01926 84 42 42.

From PRWeb: http://www.prweb.com/releases/timeshareconsumeradvice/tca/prweb1231294.htm

More International Trouble

Timeshares are not only problematic here in the United States -- many Europeans also struggle with the same issues. Like here, the word "timeshare" is not always present in the sales pitch or the property being offered, but the business model is basically identical. "Holiday Clubs" across Western and Eastern Europe are quite popular, and scams are so rampant that last year the European Union organized a legislative crackdown that has yet to take effect.

We found this story from Malta's "Independent" on one of our many searches. Does the language sound at all familiar?

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A man who had a lucky escape from a timeshare con has warned others not to fall for the same trick.

The man, from Cowcliffe in the UK, who did not want to be named, was contacted by a Spain-based company that claimed someone wanted to buy his timeshare in Malta. He said: “They asked me if I was interested in selling and said they had a customer willing to pay a very good price for it. Then they said they needed a bond from me, and asked for my credit card details. That’s when I thought there was something wrong.”

The man contacted the consumer advice organisation Timeshare Consumers Association, which told him it was a fraud.

He said: “Somebody is going to fall for this at some point. People should be made aware of what’s happening.”

A spokesman for the Timeshare Consumers Association said: “This is a complete fraud. There are a lot of people who have a timeshare who want to get out but don’t realise it will be worth a fraction of what they paid for it.

“These companies, almost always from Spain, ring them up, having got their names and numbers from a stolen list, and claim they have someone wanting to buy. They then ask for credit card details for so-called security reasons.

“You should never send any money to any company on the promise of selling your timeshare – whatever reason they might give you.”

The original article.

Share of Paradise: the Canadians get it Right

We caught a fascinating article this week from the Ottawa Citizen that analyzes the pros and cons of timeshare owning. And while the author is Canadian, there are plenty of references to the US Market -- in fact, the same advice essentially applies to timeshares on either side of the northern border.

The author and his wife are happy timeshare owners, but even they admit that the market is severely flawed, teeming with corrupt sales representatives and scandals. An all too familiar story is recounted:


"We'd been listening to the pitch for two hours when we said enough's enough, and told the salesman we had to leave for another appointment. He ignored our pleas and continued to press on.

After several polite repetitions of the 'sorry, we must go' approach, I insisted we had to depart immediately. The salesman demanded to know what our appointment was. When I told him it was none of his business, his face contorted in rage, he shook his fist in my face and invited me to step outside to settle the matter.

In seven happy years as timeshare owners, this was the only such incident we experienced, and it's one we can now laugh off. Happily, it's not typical. Yet even timeshare's fans admit the industry's sales pitch needs a serious makeover.

'The product and the delivery of the service is exceptional,' said timeshare industry expert Jerry Sikes in an e-mail interview. 'It's the sales and marketing stuff that give the bad rap.'

Sikes, who is president of Professional Resort Operators Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona, says that 'until the developers truly change the way they choose to market and sell the new product, the effort to change the public image will be just smoke.' "

While we disagree with one important point here -- that in many cases the product (timeshares) and the delivery of service is anything BUT exceptional and often empties consumers' pocketbooks on what are essentially worthless vacations, Mr. Sikes has a very valid argument. What worthwhile timeshares that do exist are essentially being ruined by poor sales tactics and an ugly reputation. Maybe if that ugly reputation didn't equal a multi-billion dollar industry yearly we would see some change; until then, it's up to the consumer to be on his or her guard.

Read the full article here.