We at TCA have recently been contacted by a concerned consumer who wanted to tell their story regarding buying their timeshare.
A few years previously whilst on holiday they were offered a day out at Anfi Del Mar. After arriving at the resort they were shown around the apartments and facilities and were told by the salesperson that buying into the timeshare would be an investment, and then were even told that by the representative that he also owned timeshare on the resort. From the start of the presentation they felt pressurised into the purchase and that the representative informed them they had to pay on the day with a card to take advantage of the price they were being offered! They were even then escorted back to their hotel by the agent to get their credit card so they could make the payment!
At no point were they told that there would be annually increasing maintenance fees (and the rate at which the fees would increase), that there would be exchange company fees they wold have to pay or that it was a perpetuity contract (an annuity that has no end). They were also told by the representative that the property would increased in price and if they ever wanted to sell it, it could be purchased back at the ‘current’ resale value.
The same story started to come out that we’ve heard many times before, the couple were not told about the cooling off period and were given no time to review the agreement they were signing. They felt very pressured and some might say forced into making a decision, signing and paying for the timeshare. At the point of signing, there were three representatives hovering over them which made them feel bulldozed into picking up the pen.
The consumer was then advised during some re-visits that the fixed weeks they had would be better exchanged for a more spacious apartment with floating weeks. When they came to try and book weeks they were mostly told that the weeks that they were asking for were not available.
They were promised access to part of the new build, and told they would be able to buy outright the freehold for an apartment and that they would be contacted about this, surprise, surprise this never materialised and after chasing them over a couple of years were then told that all the apartments had been sold so they couldn’t have the opportunity.
The couple have been left with excessive maintenance fees and a constant problem in trying to get the weeks that they want because they are hardly ever available. They feel they have been mis-sold to, pressurised and outright lied to by the representatives that they met that fateful day.
we at TCA feel it’s such a shame when we hear these consumer stories, there are so many people who are being taken advantage of, when all they think they are doing is investing in their future holidays and making future savings when in fact they are being contracted into a lifetime fees and let downs which are incredibly difficult to get of. Stay vigilant out there folks.
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