As part of my duties I am to search the internet in respect to locating soundings.
When doing so against Club La Costa there appears to be a continuing base of consumer complaints about the various clubs and enterprises associated with CLC.
Below are a few isolated comments made by Consumers which others ought to consider;
“Each year the maintenance fees are increasing and availability decreasing”
“We have no choice but to book at the beginning of the year, we were told at the time of signing up that would be fine”
“Longstanding CLC member (about 14 years), platinum level, lots of points. Can no longer afford maintenance payments and, as can never get availability, want out of the contract.”
“We have not once been able to book where and when we wanted to go since we had timeshare. 2 years ago we went to Tenerife where we were advised that the amount of points we had was what was causing us the problem with booking and we were told to change to fractions and that would enable us to book whenever and wherever we wanted, but it simply was not true. We were still not able to book anywhere last year and lost points that we had saved. We are desperate for advice on how to release ourselves from this burden.”
“We felt pressured into buying this after spending all day with a salesman. We left it too late to cancel after we got back and have been paying now for 2 years at nearly £300 per month and seen nothing of it. Now they are demanding fees of nearly £1900 which I can’t afford to pay and wanted out of this right from the start. I was told if I didn’t make payments that I would be suspended so I thought I would not have to pay anymore fees but this is not true. I would like to sell, exit get rid full stop and save on this money that I have to pay out every month.”
It has been reported – that a welcoming salesman greets you and guides you into a presentation pit where you will be subjected to 3+ hours of constant pitching by people employed to get you to hand over your pennies and run. But you get tea, sandwiches and “free holidays” so what’s the problem? You leave feeling like a winner because of all of the free stuff you snagged for only a few hours of your time.
They explain that – you pay what they ask and you leave with the free rose tinted glasses that they handed to everyone on the way in, excited at the prospect of returning next year in the summer months. You dream of the beautiful show suite that you viewed at the presentation and the fact that you paid a deposit means it must all be true?
It is said that – what you didn’t realised is that you signed away your wages/pension/savings for the next however many years in order to fund the beautiful timeshare that you will visit once or twice a year in a month that you didn’t want and in an apartment that no one was shown at the presentation! Along with this you forgot to calculate the maintenance fees in the presentation and the salesman “forgot” to mention that these fees WILL increase.
In TATOC’s brochure they describe an article “confessions of a timeshare rep” in contrast to that and to give proportionality please find another one which maybe more honest as to what SOME of these timeshare salesmen think of you the Consumer;
“I’m a sales representative for Club la Costa and have been for 3 years. I have always watched these forums with interest. It’s amazing the amount of c**p some ppl come out with. A lot of ppl are so sceptical of timeshare it’s unbelievable. We don’t do hard sell anymore. I’m quite aware a lot of people have bad times and these presentations, but most of them bloody deserve it. The reps work on commision only basis and if we’re sat infront of a pair of fools they shall be treated as such. I’ve been to many of the resorts and they’re beautiful, that same quality through a travel agent would cost a hell of a lot more. We’re offering ppl a good product that works well, and we even give u guys vouchers and a cheap bloody holiday if u don’t buy!!! What other company gives u stuff for not buying>?!?!?!??!?!”
If there is any truth in what this person states then this ought not to continue. People are losing the money that they worked hard for whilst the salesman notes it as a job well done.
When you read these blogs existing Consumers are in some way imparting their knowledge onto others, they do so to assist their fellow man in coming to grips with their experiences.
The TCA is a free service; we assist Consumers free of charge.
Did you pay a deposit or full amount of over £100.00 and under £30,000.00 on a credit card? Or did you take out a linked loan? Do you feel that a misrepresentation or a breach of contract has occurred?
- A breach of contract is where the supplier fails to do what the contract says it must, either expressly or by implication. For example, there is a breach of contract where goods that have been paid for are not supplied at all, or are not up to standard.
- A misrepresentation is an incorrect statement of fact that causes the consumer to go ahead with the contract. For example, there is misrepresentation if the supplier persuades a consumer to buy an expensive piece of software – by telling him wrongly that it will be compatible with his existing PC operating system.
If so we may be able to assist you in making your own claim for compensation under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
This claim will not only exit you from your timeshare but will potentially get back all the payments made to Club La Costa.
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