TATOC Say:-
A new Consumer Rights Bill is expected in October 2015 and a new ADR Directive for alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes will be implemented in July 2015.
“TATOC often gets stick for sleeping with the industry,” began Paul Gardner Bougaard from the Resort Development Organisation (RDO). “Yet those who criticise do not understand the relationship and why the two bodies need to work together”.
The TCA:- Reply
Sleeping with the industry was the 2014 allegation now it’s more like humping the hippo. We know your relationship to well, we know the LOVE nest is cosy and the need you have to work together will provide a benefit to the industry but the consumers, and well they feel out in the cold with a frozen credit rating.
TATOC Say:-
Over the past twelve months, TATOC and the RDO have worked closely together to address the latest challenges to the industry and the consumer – bogus claims companies, exit strategies and the enforcement of the directive.
The TCA:- Reply
You have done this with the aid of your magic roundabout companies. I have to say that some good comes out of the work they do and there should be a continuance of it. The only problem is that out of everyone they investigate they recommend no one , not a single legal company, not one law firm which is independent from themselves.
TATOC Say:-
The TATOC Consumer Helpline continued to work with the Timeshare Task Force and has enjoyed success against some of the leading scam companies.
The TCA:- Reply
The timeshare task force is another figment of the RDO imagination as its run by the tarnished Mr kwikChex.
TATOC Say:-
“But while we have success it is proving very hard to get the authorities to act”.
The TCA:- Reply
wow wow “it’s getting hard to get the authorities to act” the RDO said it would take private prosecutions, have they, have they prosecuted anyone? No! they have not acted or fulfilled their advertised pledge.
TATOC Say:-
The RDO has now raised a formal complaint, supported by TATOC, about the lack of enforcement.
Naming three of the main culprits, Garnder Bougaard explained that they were allowed to operate and weren’t being pursued because of the cost of prosecution.
The TCA:- Reply
You have culprits firms, who scam consumers yet you don’t name them you don’t exhibit them to your summary.
So an allegation which you raised with the police will not investing because it costs too much? Wow what an allegation, so you have that in writing that the police will not investigate because it costs too much. What you’re saying is that the UK police force refuses to protect UK consumers because of cost implications. Is that the allegation you are levelling against the Police. Is that what you call reputational management?
DONT TALK TWADDLE. I think you’re out on a limb with that one Mr. RDO.
TATOC Say:-
In June 2013, the RDO agreed that all its members needed to offer some form of exit provision in certain scenarios. In November 2014, the board approved additional provisions and these are now part of the RDO code of conduct.
“We had to try to explain to BIS that this was not suitable for owner-run resorts,” he added.
Eugene Miskelly from the RDO’s Legislative Council explained to delegates what the organisation is doing to tackle the claims companies.
The TCA:- Reply
A legislative council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies, not an industry outfit.
Bless the RDO think they have a legislator to impart law and governance over its members. Question:- What happens when they break the law? Where is it detailed what the punishments are?
Moreover where is the published list of the scenarios which the RDO believe that consumers can exit there timeshare contracts. Come on where is it? If you published it then consumers need not employ exit companies.
The significant fact is that this one legislates on others who are not in there colony. That’s like the UK telling the baboons in the Congo to eat kit-kats. Anyway all that said the reason that the PPI companies are entering this industry is there are rich picking, winnable cases and its profitable.
TATOC Say:-
Many sprung up after the liberalisation of the legal market and have enjoyed success with PPI claims. Some are simple scammers while others are class action lawyers. The internet has made their activities and reach easier than ever.
The TCA:- Reply
Yes they have and they have their eyes on timeshare resorts big time. Declaring that some are not scammers and you have been able to distinguish between the two, again why don’t you publish the good ones and why don’t you allow them to be affiliates or don’t you want them?
TATOC Say:-
For resorts in active sales the company’s focus on Section 75 of the Financial Services Act, while for mature resorts, the focus is on release from the contract with compensation.
The selling point to owners is release from their contracts, but for the companies involved, it is a way to generate sales from consumers desperate to exit their contracts.
The TCA:- Reply
You see by the very mouths of babes “from consumer desperate to exit” those consumers would not be desperate and would not be in desperation if the present environment was not created by TATOC and the RDO members. Come on Chaps you said it yourselves. If you expect to be respected and admired and it being within your knowledge that some are desperate why, oh why don’t you do the decent thing?
TATOC Say:-
Owners are hoodwinked into expensive court cases or buying new non-timeshare products while the original ownership is never transferred.
The TCA:- Reply
You are right in the term “hoodwinked” and that word was probably entered their dictionary from some of the resort members. None the less no one should be sold a legal dream, no one should be sold a legal action and no one should ever be encouraged another to enter the lion’s den of legal proceeding. Consumer should only request legal advice and services if they need it not because some cold caller tries to sell you the dream of compensation.
TATOC Say:-
“Don’t panic or be bullied by them and push back with as much information as possible. Be polite and firm but also pedantic and awkward and demand copies of the evidence,” he advised delegates.
The TCA:- Reply
Great advice I am sure that if the resorts supply everything the legal company want then the cases will be resolved quickly and the payout will follow sooner
TATOC Say:-
Importantly, he suggested resorts ask themselves if there a grain of truth to the claim and can they make it easier for owners to exit their contracts.
The TCA:- Reply
Good advice!
TATOC Say:-
“It might be time to introduce a more flexible solution which will help owners and stop them turning to the claims firms in the first place. It will certainly pull the rug out from under the claims companies.”
The TCA:- Reply
Now that what we want a flexible solution! You resorts will lose a fortune to these claim companies; you will implode the timeshare industry because of your own idiotic position and failing. You will create such a garbage dump that timeshare will be history, resorts will implode and opportunities passed. It’s all in your hands and it can all be reversed; it can all be sorted out. That said the industry can only achieve this, if there is a will, if there is a capitulation and if you want it. At present you don’t have that will, as you can’t see the woods for the trees and you just keep putting stale paint on rotting wood.
TATOC Say:-
How to promote the positive side of timeshare and bring the focus back to holidays was the theme of Flagship’s Jackie Murphy’s presentation.
The TCA:- Reply
The positive is not there and never will be there, if you continue to treat consumers the way you do, if you fail to act and report the very members who pay you. An unwanted disaster well happen.
We would support an industry mandate and that mandate should be given to the RDO. If they did have that mandate their resorts would have to pay them and the RDO could operate correctly and boot out the bad chaps and clean up the industry. But TATOC well that becoming a different matter.
TATOC Say:-
Murphy explained how the holiday environment had changed. People no longer just want accommodation – they are looking for experiences.
With the growth of the new sharing economy, it was time for the RDO and the industry to get behind a new campaign that promotes timeshare.
Introducing the new Time To Share campaign, Murphy explained how the aim was to counter the negativity towards timeshare and build a movement that promotes the positives.
The TCA:- Reply
How can you share a bag of marbles when one person does not want to share, how can you own something jointly when one has been locked out by the other. To share needs a consensus between the share holders or participants.
TATOC Say:-
“We will focus on the importance of holidays to the well being of families and show how timeshare’s inherent characteristics are perfect for today’s family.”
The plan is to create a visual brand that spans multi-generations and media. It will create content covering video to blogging, galvanising developers and owners to get involved.
The TCA:- Reply
A visual brand is not what is wanted. It’s a real and transparent brand that is needed
TATOC Say:-
Tony Rhodes, from Club Olympus Ocean Club in Tenerife explained how a mature must adapt to its ownership to survive.
After intensive sales in the early days with 75-100 new owners per week, things changed as the resort matured.
“Owners loved the resort but due to personal circumstances sometimes had to sell. We set up a re-sale service but failed and many owners were fleeced by third party re-sale agents.”
A light bulb moment led to the development of a new programme for owners who had hit financial problems.
“We gave back a percentage of the original purchase price, which could be repaid later, while allowing owners to keep their ownership without paying management fees,” he explained.
The result was happy owners who could still enjoy their timeshare when circumstances changed – and a drop in re-sale scams.
Other changes over the years was re-configuring units to meet the demands of owners, reducing the size of the club and taking advantage of rental opportunities. Communication with owners has been the key to success.
“We have reduced the size of the club by two thirds but now have a nucleus of happy owners and a successful rental business.”
The TCA:- Reply
Now that a forward thing club!!!!!!
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