Buying a membership for a holiday club offers you the promise to buy cheaper holidays from particular companies, however these organisations don’t always keep the promises they make and there are some things consumers should think about and be aware of before purchasing such a membership.
- It is unlikely that you will be able to sell your holiday club membership. If you choose to make the purchase and decide at a later date that it is not something you want, it can be notoriously difficult to sell it on and you could end up ‘stuck’ with your membership. With this you will also have to pay your annual fees, even if you don’t end up using the membership.
- You think you are going to save money – but the reality is that maybe you won’t. There is a very real likelihood that you will end up paying as much as a high-street brochure price.
- In some countries, the European regulations have not been put into force to protect the holiday club members and this could leave you in a more vulnerable state.
- Most importantly, in my opinion, holiday clubs do not own any holiday accommodation and therefore no dates or destinations are guaranteed. Holiday’s are often not available in the locations or at the time that you want them!
When attending presentations for holiday club memberships it can be very intense and full of high pressure selling techniques. Watch out for things that may happen that make you feel forced to make a decision. This can be things like the presentation lasting for hours, and agreeing to the sale just to get out of there or discounted offers that are valid only for you and only for that day only! Also, be wary if you are kept apart from other couples in the presentation and the sales people might also ‘hang around’ so you can’t have a private conversation with your partner about the decision you need to make. Just remember, you are not their prisoner, you can walk away whenever you want to. If someone tries to force you to stay or coerce you into doing so, they are committing a criminal offence. Don’t take your money with you, leave the cards at home! You can’t pay if you don’t have it!
Most importantly – don’t agree to anything on the spot – take it home, think about it, look at the small print, be informed, not bullied into it.
If you decide this is the product for you, make sure you research the company and compare the company to other providers. Make notes of what you are promised and make sure it’s in the agreement you sign. Ensure that you understand what your rights are when it comes to cancelling the agreement and that you have that in writing. Always remember you should have a 14-day cooling off period in which you can change your mind.
There are some ‘dodgy’ people out there folks, if it feels like it’s wrong or a scam, it probably is. Don’t be dazzled or bamboozled by the free gifts and offers that are ‘too good to be true’, they probably aren’t true. Stay safe, it’s your money and your decision at the end of the day.
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