The one thing that used to amaze us at TCA is the amount of misinformation and in some cases downright lies within both the timeshare resort and peripheral businesses. Unfortunately, as we have been involved in the business for such a long time, nothing really surprises us now. We think it’s fair to say that most of the exaggerations or dubious sales pitches we hear of are nowadays water off a ducks back.
For the purpose of this article we have gathered together some of the outright lies being peddled by both developers and companies operating in the exit and claims market. As an independent organisation you can imagine that a considerable number of enquiries we receive are validation checks surrounding companies that have approached both current and ex timeshare owners. Using our time served and experience we can normally sort the chaff from the wheat and send our enquirer away in the confidence that they have received honest unbiased advice.
Timeshare developers
We’ll keep this part short because as a timeshare owner you will no doubt have fallen prey to overzealous high pressure salesman spouting fourth such wonderful reasons as to why you would be foolish to not accept the holiday deal of a lifetime. Here are just a few of the sorts of lies you may have encountered:
- It’s an investment.
- You can sell at a profit anytime.
- Maintenance fees won’t go up.
- You can rent it out to cover maintenance fees and bank the profit.
- You can sell it back to the resort.
- You can get out any time you like.
- You can exchange to anywhere in the world.
- This offer is only available today.
All of the above are real life examples. We could go on but you get the point. So from day one you have succeeded in getting involved in an industry that at best is dubious and at worst, we’ll leave you to fill in that bit.
Timeshare claims and exit companies
We have to begin this bit with saying that in this sector of the timeshare industry the good guys are outnumbered by a considerable margin by the bad guys. Here, to get the deal, the lies come fast and furious.
Only today we spoke to an enquirer who used a Spanish law firm for a claim against Silverpoint. The lawyer did his job, the court case took place, the judgement was in favour of our enquirer and he was awarded a full refund. We saw sight of the papers from the court and passed them by a specialist Spanish lawyer we consult from time to time, he confirmed that the documents were real, the case was real and the award was real. Unfortunately, Silverpoint is yet to pay but that’s another story.
Enter a scam company based in Majorca who persuaded our enquirer that his case never happened and that for the mere sum of £6,000 they could sort it out. The case was passed from pillar to post and eventually landed on a desk of a claims firm in Scotland; they told him he had no claim because he didn’t finance the purchase. Case closed, £6,000 gone all because of systematic lies.
More untruths
We’ve always understood that good sales people will compliment a competitor but naturally state why they believe their company is better. Not only is it extremely unprofessional to rubbish the competition, matters get so much worse when blatant lies are told in the quest for new business.
Our enquiry line spends considerable time rebuilding the reputations of those companies on our white list who have been attacked with both extreme and potentially libellous lies. Below we share some we have been told recently:
Canarian Legal Alliance – Thanks to the efforts of one of their lawyers, the courts in Spain now recognise the illegality of many timeshare contracts. The lawyer involved presented a test case in 2015 and won. Since then the flood gates opened, however we have learned that scammers are saying that CLA are under serious investigation by the Financial Conduct Authority, this is very strange because CLA are a Spanish company and have no UK presence, therefore the Financial Conduct Authority has no jurisdiction. In any case, timeshare claims are an unregulated business and as such don’t even fall under the remit of the FCA.
M1Legal – Probably the largest and most competent firm of Spanish lawyers in the field of timeshare court claims. According to the scammers, M1 lawyers are leaving in their droves because they have incorrectly submitted claims to the Spanish courts. One caller said the amount was €70m another said €100m. Could this be the same M1 Legal that was responsible for the £48m victory against Barclays Partner Finance? Is this not the same M1 Legal who have covered costs in excess of £100,000 to change administrators in the Club la Costa administration process all done for the benefit of claimants?
JLCA & AS – A large law firm with offices in Alicante, Madrid, London and Miami. Whilst an all purpose practice, JLCA & AS have a specialist timeshare department. According to the scammers, they too are under investigation, for the same reasons as above this is not true. They also state that JLCA take money and never carry out the work.
European Consumer Claims (ECC) – Probably the largest and most respected of the claims and exit companies with in excess of 100 staff. ECC is a registered UK company with a head office in Henley on Thames; they also have an operational centre in Southern Spain. According to the scammers, the ECC office in Tenerife has been raided by the Spanish Police and senior Director Andrew Cooper has been arrested. Very odd this one, firstly, ECC doesn’t have an office in Tenerife and even if they did, Andrew Cooper is located in Henley. Raided in Spain and arrested in Henley, is that what we call the long arm of the law?
Sarah Waddington – A qualified Solicitors Regulatory Authority regulated solicitor with offices in Herefordshire and Spain. Waddingtons is an all purpose practice that does have a timeshare division. According to the scammers, due to multiple complaints to the SRA Waddingtons is facing investigation and may be struck off. We kind of guess this would be news to Sarah.
Why?
The answer to this is fairly obvious, the companies above and other legitimate entities present a threat to business for the scammers. All have a pedigree the scammers could only dream of, a pedigree they will never achieve in a month of Sundays. That being the case, in the quest for money, if you can’t fight your corner fairly then throw as much mud against the wall in a hope some or all will stick.
The commonality regarding the legitimate companies is that that don’t have to fight or lie for business, they actually have a waiting list in some cases.
Next time you’re approached by a potential scam company ask them some pointed questions. The writer of this article had a boss some years ago who instilled something that has never been forgotten. He used to say, when in receipt of a bland unsubstantiated statement, “Where’s your evidence?” Apply the same when the scammers call, “M1 Legal lawyers are leaving in droves”…..Where’s your evidence? CLA are being investigated…. Where’s your evidence? And so on. We bet a pound to a penny that the phone call might end rather abruptly!
More questions than answers
Whether you are thinking about buying a timeshare or are experiencing problems with an existing ownership, both developers and rogue companies tend to “script” their sales staff. The scripts normally have multiple questions which you are expected to answer, however sales presentations are a two way street. You should be prepared to ask questions at every opportunity, by doing this it will assist in deciding whether you are dealing with a legitimate company or about to fall victim to a scam.
Remember, we politely say that you are not an expert in matters timeshare, we are. If you are at all in doubt then simply give us a call. Every call you receive about timeshare will result in a request for money. Paying an ethical results proven company will yield dividends, paying a fraudster will result in misery.
By way of assistance, below you may download an aide memoir of the sorts of questions you should be asking, keep it by the phone and above all, keep safe.
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