(14 Dec) Matt Ferguson, an owner at Barratt, Forest Hills, loses his court case to show that a levy imposed by Barratt was unconstitutional.
(1 Dec) Malta implements the final part of their new Timeshare Act which gives purchasers a 10 day cooling off period.
(26 Nov) Department of Trade & Industry issue a warning about timeshare resales
(25 Nov) News of the World invites it’s readers to send in their experiences of timeshare resales for a future article.
(23 Nov) Three Britons have been arrested in Tenerife, along with a Lebanese citizen, Mohammed Derbah, charged with offences involving drugs, arms trafficking and timeshare fraud.
(22 Nov) Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament held a public hearing of timeshare experts, including representatives from OTE and TCA, to help the Committee formulate their proposals for a review of the European Timeshare Directive.
(17 Nov) Marriott Vacation Club announce plans for a new resort at Disneyland, Paris. Th resort is projected to open in June 2003
(6 Nov) We are receiving, so far unsubstaniated, reports of a number of arrests on the Costa del Sol of individuals believed to be involved in the Spanish resale scams – see 25 Oct below.
(25 Oct) TCA sets up arrangements with a Spanish lawyer to seek to recover money paid to fraudulant resale brokers. Click for information.
(24 Oct) Two “freebie” holiday companies are wound up by the court – Incentive Marketing Ltd and Holidays Direct Travel Ltd, better known as “Holidays Direct” – for failing to provide holidays they promised to 65,000 consumers.
(18 Oct) Residence International Ltd (developer of the Edinburgh, Glasgow and Paris “Residences”) is placed into receivership. Ron Haylock, recently elected Chairman of OTE, was a Director of Residence International. Ltd.
(18 Oct) TCA announce a plan to recover money paid by owners to fraudulant resellers operating out of Spain.
(11 Oct) Kenneth Noye, a close associate of jailed timeshare crook, John Palmer, lost his appeal against conviction for the “M25 murder”. It was disclosed that Palmer had assisted Noye to avoid arrest.
(30 Sept) Cendent (parent of RCI) issue a profits warning after the downturn in tourism confidence following the attack on 11 September.
(29 Sept) Morritt Marketing Ltd of Derby was ordered by a County Court Judge to repay a pensioner who had claimed that the verbal promises made to him when he was sold membership of Diamond VSI did not materialise. (Derby Telegraph report)
(29 Sept) Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) update their “guide to Timeshare” website –
(28 Sept) Scottish brothers, Scott and Steven Miller, were found guilty by a Paris court of defrauding “many thousands” of French citizens in “Free” holiday scam. They were both given suspended sentences. Eight others were on trial, six of whom were discharged, the others receiving suspended sentences.
(26 Sept) Essex based Somerville Leisure plc – also known as Dream Leisure Club – was wound up following a DTI investigation. Members of Dream Leisure Club should address their enquiries to the Official Receiver.
(21 Sept) Benalmadena (Costa del Sol) toughens up on street timeshare touts with heavier fines.
(10 Sept) DTI apply to the Courts for two companies trading as “Holidays Direct” to be wound up. The companies are Incentive Marketing Ltd and Holidays Direct Travel Ltd
(7 Sept) RCI announces that it will have disaffiliated 124 resorts by the end of this year because of “poor quality”
(15 Aug) Universal Vacation Club and Universal Vacations have been bought by RMI (Gibralter) Ltd. This acquisition will increase the RMI portfolio of eight resorts currently owned and managed.
14 Aug) Department of Trade & Industry wind up two “Free Holiday” companies – Expanding Horizons Ltd and Vacation Time Ltd, including the holiday club “Quality Vacation Club” – in the public interest.
(10 Aug) A High Court Judge ordered that the companies owned by John Palmer (see 23 May) should be investigated in an attempt to seize the proceeds from his crime.
(9 Aug) Ten US citizens are charged with a resale appraisal (valuation) fraud claimed to have defrauded $12M from 20,000 US timeshare owners.
(20 July) Consumer Minister, Melanie Johnson, launches a major campaign to warn consumers against the dangers of holiday clubs. The campaign is supported by ABTA who have asked their 7,000 travel agent members to make a leaflet – see 18 July – available to travellers.
(18 July) DTI publish a leaflet “Timeshare – making the right choice” warning holidaymakers about loopholes in existing timeshare laws which could limit their protection. to view on their website.
(12 July) The case in the Hamilton Sherrif Court between Barratt International Resorts Ltd and Mr Matthew Ferguson was not completed in the alloted three days and is expected to continue in October.
(12 July) Malta Government are to introduce the first stage of their Regulation providing protection for timeshare purchasers on 15 September 2001. The final stage, on 1 December 2001, will bring Malta into line with the European Directive on Timeshare.
(10 July) Dial-an-Exchange offer to help owners at Lanzarote Beach Club following the withdrawal by Interval International of exchange facilities.
(2 July) John Palmer’s girldfriend, Christina Ketley, was given a two year suspended prison sentence for her part in his timeshare fraud. See 23 May, below.
(24 June) The Annual General Meeting of the Palm Beach Owners Club was abandoned following alegations of irregularities in the voting procedure. It is expected to be re-convened in Edinburgh in a month.
(21 June) Seasons Holidays transfer allegiance from RCI to Interval International – and launch a scathing attack on RCI Points.
(20 June) Holiday Travel Watch launch their new website at www.holidaytravelwatch.com – to answer queries and problems with holidays and travel.
(9 June) “Timeshare News” is launched as an independent printed publication for owners.
(23 May) The largest timeshare criminal trial in the world ends with John Palmer being sentenced to 8 years in prison for defrauding some 16,000 timeshare owners out of an estimated £40M over a 6 year period..
(11 May) The Scotsman newspaper reports that two Scottish brothers have been accused of swindling 2,700 people out of nearly 100 million French francs (£10M) by selling them non-existent timeshares. Their trial starts in Paris on 21 May.
(2 May) Consumers Association “Holiday Which” magazine quotes a Grand Vacation Club purchaser as an example of a credit agreement signed incorrectly, The purchaser eventually had their agreement canceled.
(1 May) The Marriott Vacation Club Int. move into timeshare in Eurasia continues with their announcement of a new resort called Marriott’s Phuket Beach Club. Marriott are already involved in an up-market resort development in the Canaries.
(10 Apr) Kim Howells, Consumer Minister, launches a crack down on rogue traders – including timeshare touts (throughout Europe) who use pressure selling techniques. The “Stop Now Orders” will come into force on 1 June 2001
(4 Apr) The Grand Vacation Club (GVC) call centre at Burton-on-Trent is highlighted by Channel 4 News with a story that operators are put under heavy pressure to perform – including clocking in and out of the loo!
(2 Apr) Macdonal Hotels plc announce that they now own 100% of Barratt International Resorts Ltd (BIRL) having purchased the 50% they previously did not own from Barratt Developments plc
(2 Apr) RCI launch their “RCI Points” worldwide – and RCI Points Members re-launch their MORPS group, including www.morps.org
(31 Mar) The Daily Telegraph issues a warning about Holiday Clubs advising great caution..
(10 Mar) Club Resorts International Ltd – “CRI” – changes its name to RCI Points Ltd. Full report at www.morps.org;
(28 Feb) Holiday Which? magazine warns timeshare owners to avoid dodgy resellers.
(24 Feb) Owners at Stratford Court & Stratford Court Cruisers form a Concerned Owners group.
(20 Feb) Three owners groups are formed to enable an exchange of information about the operation of their Club. Click to link to: CRI Points members UVC members.
(13 Feb) A major resale scam breaks in the US involving 20,000 timeshare owners. The allegations claim a systemic fraud to persuade owners to make up-front payments for appraisal (valuation) fees totalling over $20M.
(2 Feb) Kim Howells, Consumer Minister, announces major funding to help Trading Standards officers tackle rogue traders across national and international boundaries.
(31 Jan) Cendant Corp. (owners of RCI) announce the purchase of Holiday Cottages Group Ltd., the leading UK brand in the holiday cottage rental sector. Holiday Cottages Group Ltd. have 12,000 properties in UK, France and Ireland.
(7 Jan) Sunday Express warns timeshare owners about resale touts who take any up-front money.
(5 Jan ) Timesharer Magazine is to cease publication, the current issue (Jan – Feb 2001) being the last. Started over three years ago as the only independent publication for UK owners, it was not considered viable to continue, according to the publishers.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk