As we have recently reported all is not well with the lodge owners at Slaley hall. Our helpline and web comment section has been inundated with seriously angry owners, all of whom are faced with the loss of their timeshare weeks at Seasons run Slaley hall. Although, as we have reported, this seems to be a done deal, realistically owners will have to wait and see what the outcome of the Special General Meeting will be on December 17th. Below are some of the comments we have received, it’s not difficult to see the same pattern of complaints:
“There is clear evidence that Seasons have manipulated events so that they are now in a position to take away our timeshares. They are so obviously unscrupulous. What can TCA do to help the many owners at Slaley?”
“My husband and I bought our lodge in 2006 as we loved Slaley Hall and would often stay in the hotel. We decided that as no one could know what might happen to international travel, it would be nice to know we were guaranteed a weeks holiday every year for life. To think that this could be taken away from us, despite having a certificate guaranteeing ownership until 2069, because of the selfish, greedy actions of Seasons is incredibly upsetting and unfair. Seasons have not responded to my question asking for the rationale for the proposal to wind up the club despite asking twice so I’m no further forward as to why they want to do this (because apparently it’s not for money). However they have managed to orchestrate getting their own way to this point may ‘technically’ be within the bounds of legality, what they are doing is nothing short of immoral.”
“We are absolutely devastated to be losing our lodge weeks which we have two of costing over 14k plus maintenance fees. We have spent a lot of money which appears to be stolen from us in such a baffling underhand way. We can’t believe that this is allowed and how Seasons have sent reassurance letters out that mean nothing at all. It’s absolutely disgraceful that Seasons can get away with this.”
“So Seasons, through Slaley Hall Lodges Limited, as Management Company on the Committee appear to have been at it again.
Apparently at a recent committee meeting, although the agenda had been agreed, the Seasons contingent, which now includes the chairman of the committee, Jack Hurley, son of Sharon Hurley ( Kinsella) decided they had had enough.
So Ross Grieve (Management Co Rep and GM at Seaham Hall) called for a vote to close the meeting.
There were still important issues to discuss but not in the eyes of the Seasons members. The meeting closed.”
Seasons appear to have such low regard for due process except when it suits. Most annoying.
“This is clearly robbery. For 20 years we have paid our fees, enjoyed our lodge and collected family and friends to share it with us. We aren’t wealthy but worked very hard to buy & continue to pay our fees. For these people to walk in & take that from us is just wrong on every level. Especially having been given both written & verbal assurances by Sharon Kinsella that our leases/lodges were safe.”
Our Comment
2021 has been a year where underhanded tactics of various timeshare developers have come to the fore. Club la Costa and Anfi engineering the administration of their sales companies in an attempt to avoid payment of the millions owed due to the selling of illegal contracts coupled with the subsequent rulings by the Spanish courts ordering financial recompense. Financially, this is the biggest news of the year, however from an ethical standpoint, Seasons take the biscuit.
Is it any wonder that, at least as far as Europe is concerned, the sale of new timeshare is at an all time low. Even if the product had stood the test of time, which of course it hasn’t, one has to think about the total contempt shown to members or owners at the hands of these multimillion dollar/pound companies who seem to do what they want whenever they want without any due consideration to their customers. If it were any other industry, customers would be leaving in their droves but timeshare owners are often stuck in a contract they cannot simply leave, that’s another story for another 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