The key sentence is in the last post, right at the bottom;
“At the end of the day, the savvy consumer will ultimately be the only guaranteed winners”
But are they? These consumers are paying thousand’s of pounds to escape the timeshare resorts.
There are hundreds of companies (some bad and some not so bad) that are willing to take their money and get them out. The Consumers are turning to anyone but the resorts for help. Why? because they don’t trust them, and how could they. They were probably presurised into the timeshare, have been pestered every holiday since to spend more and have never really got what they paid for. Or they turned to the resort after years of great holidays, now in retirement and unable to afford the holidays, and the resort turned them away.
Timeshare isn’t a bad product. If sold correctly for a reasonable prize with fixed fees and availability, consumers can be happy.
The article written in part 1 however, is right. The industry has got progressively worse and has become desperate to keep hold of consumers. So why aren’t they letting them out!!
The industry needs to regain its ethics and the way to do that it to listen to its consumers.
– Provide exit strategies
– Let your consumers leave
They SHOULD be letting them out for free but we have to face reality. Even if they charge a year or 2’s worth of maintenance fees for an exit, that money will go back into the industry which will in turn help them sustain the business. So why aren’t they doing it? Why let the exit companies, paralegals, claims handlers and whoever else, take it?
Most people would question why the hell we think the money should go back into the industry. Our answer, because its better there than in the hands of the rogues who will catch the next train as soon as the next fad arrives. It also ensures that the Consumers use the correct company to gain the legal and sufficient exit that they require.
Too many companies claim to offer a service and run away never to be seen again. That shouldn’t be happening. The Consumers shouldn’t need to search for help.
If the industry becomes transparent. If it rebuilds it reputation and provides clear exit routes, the Consumers who want to leave will. But the future Consumers who want to invest, will do it knowing they have invested well.
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