For the last three decades, the TCA has been publishing articles exposing the lies perpetrated by fraudulent operators working on the peripheral of the timeshare industry. Recently we have established that these lies have gone to even greater heights.
Cold calling from a company who no one has heard of, or can find no evidence of existence can, and is a potential stumbling block to the completion of a scam. Now if credibility can be created by pretending to be an official body, hey ho, problem solved.
Not from where they say they are from
The European Commission
Can we honestly believe that staff at the EC would be making cold calls relating to timeshare? We think not. The last time the European Union visited timeshare was when the EU Timeshare Directive was introduced in 2008. Whilst a welcome piece of consumer protection legislation, it really didn’t go far enough, that aside, we can state with 100% certainty that no one from the EC is cold calling timeshare owners.
Solicitors Regulation Authority
From the sublime to the ridiculous! Look at the name, the SRA does what is says on the tin, it regulates UK solicitors. Once again, can we honestly believe that the SRA would be cold calling timeshare owners, not a chance?
Trading Standards
Trading standards is a reactive rather that proactive organisation. Historically, TCA has assisted Trading Standards on many occasions but all as a result of a consumer enquiry. Ask yourself, how or more importantly, Trading Standards would have a list of timeshare owners who they are diligently cold calling. Simple answer is they don’t and certainly don’t call random people out of the blue.
Citizens Advice Bureau
Once again, a reactive, not proactive organisation, and as if it wasn’t obvious, the clue is in the name “Citizens Advice”. If you have a problem you can contact the CAB for assistance, they simply don’t go fishing for those who may have a problem. TCA are often recommended by the CAB as a trustworthy source of timeshare information, but that’s as far as they go. They are not in the business of cold calling anyone, let alone timeshare owners.
TCA comment
We believe we have demonstrated that these responsible organisations will never get involved in either cold calling or timeshare scams, because that’s exactly what they are, responsible. The brass faced nerve of these callers by quoting they work for these organisations is only an attempt to add credibility to their scams, so don’t be fooled.
We could say if in doubt, call these organisations for verification, however that would simply be a waste of your time and the cost of a call because we can state, without fear of contradiction, that 100% fact, none of these organisations will either cold call or have any interest in timeshare, except if you have raised the issue with them.
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