The truth behind Class Actions - RDO lifts the lid on dubious schemes

The truth behind Class Actions

You've seen an advertisement or had a call out of the blue - something in itself to be wary of as your details have probably been obtained through a stolen database - and are now considering whether to join a class action against your resort developer or even exchange company.

So what's the reality behind these schemes; is this just another scam, a way of obtaining money from timeshare owners under false pretences?



Companies wound up as part of investigations into Fraud

Between 2007 and 2009 the Spanish police and other enforcement agencies such as Trading Standards in the UK stepped up their efforts to tackle companies that were defrauding timeshare owners and the general public at large. This has resulted in the closure of almost 60 companies, some of which were wound up by the authorities and others ceased trading of their own accord, frequently due to pressure as a result of investigations that were being carried out.



AN OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM RDO (RESORT DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION) TO THE PRESS RELEASE OF JUNE 15: “TIMESHARE INDUSTRY IN SPAIN IS SET TO COLLAPSE”

Brussels 15th June 2010 - Contrary to the statement made by Claims Directive, a company located in Arguineguín Gran Canaria that claims to represent timeshare owners’ interests, the timeshare industry both in Spain, the rest of Europe and USA as well as other international territories is extremely robust.



Consumer Alert - River Marketing Ltd

consumer alert

It has been brought to our attention that a Singapore based company called River Marketing Limited is including the RDO (Resort Development Organisation) logo on correspondence sent to consumers.

This company does not have permission to use the logo and has not applied, not been accepted, for membership of RDO. RDO vets the credentials of potential applicants carefully so that it can be confident that it represents the highest standards within the industry and takes any reported abuse of its logo very seriously.



If you think you have been defrauded, read on....

defrauded

If you have been invited to a presentation to discuss ways in which to dispose of your timeshare/ points or to join a class action scheme against your resort developer but then signed up for membership of a holiday club, we would like to hear from you.

The European trade body for timeshare, *RDO (Resort Development Organisation) is currently looking into the activities of a number of holiday clubs that we believe are deliberately misleading timeshare owners and signing them up to holiday clubs, often with the promise that any money paid will be recouped through a cashback scheme.



OFT Launches Scams Awareness Month

Scamnesty OFT

The OFT and Trading Standards have launched a campaign to raise awareness of scams by encouraging people to drop scam mail they have received into ‘Scamnesty’ bins located at public places around the country between the 1-26th February 2010. It is also possible to report bogus web sites, telephone calls, emails or even text messages through the Consumer Direct website (www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty). This has an online function for consumers to log/ forward scam emails and websites.



Consumer Alert: Resale Agent World Axial Asia

Resale Agent World Axial Asia

 It has been brought to RDO's [The Resort Development Organisation's] attention that a Singapore based resale company called World Axial Asia may be telephoning timeshare owners, informing them that they are representatives of RDO.

This company is not associated with RDO in any way and is not authorised to act on its behalf. Members of the public should be on their guard if contacted by this company and are advised to take legal advice before parting with any money.



BBC Rip Off Britain – holiday clubs

In Friday’s BBC1 Rip off Britain programme, presented by TV personalities Jennie Bond, Gloria Hunniford and Angela Rippon, the problems of signing up to bogus holiday clubs were highlighted. It was reported that these clubs promise luxury breaks at bargain prices but all too often leave their members out of pocket and thorough fed up. Customers are warned not to fall for the sophisticated sales pitch and should follow the advice below:

• Never hand over money unless you are given a contract that you are happy with



Consumer Alert - ‘Owners Action’, ‘ITRA’ and ‘Bridge View Consultants LTD’

Consumer Alert

It has been brought to our attention that an organisation in the UK using the names of ‘Owners Action’, ‘ITRA’, and ‘Bridge View Consultants LTD’ is contacting members of the exchange company RCI to inform them that they may be entitled to some form of compensation from RCI.

It is possible, however, that this organisation may be offering participation in a proposed class action as a way to sell them another product, such as membership of a holiday club.



Consumer Alert - Visions Solution and Services Pte Ltd

Consumer Alert

It has been brought to our attention that a Singapore based company called Visions Solution and Services Pte Ltd is making verbal claims to timeshare owners that they are an authorized agent of RDO (Resort Development Organisation).

This company is not associated with RDO in any way and is not authorized to act on its behalf. Members of the public should be on their guard if contacted by this company and are advised to take legal advice before parting with any money.



Consumer Alert - Holiday Group Sales Ltd, UK

Holiday Group Sales Ltd

Members of the public should be on their guard if contacted by a UK based resale company called Holiday Group Sales Ltd.

By using our logo, the company is inferring that it is a member of OTE (now called RDO) the European trade body for timeshare, whose members sign up to a code of ethics that protects consumers’ rights. This company is not, and never has been, an approved member of either OTE or RDO and is breaking the law by including our logo on its documentation.



Consumer Alert - Incentive Leisure, UK

Incentive Leisure, UK

The industry trade body for the vacation ownership industry, RDO (Resort Development Organisation), is advising consumers who have purchased a membership from the Incentive Leisure Group (UK) to check with their local Trading Standards office or their solicitor to establish whether they have been defrauded.

This advice follows a recent court case in the UK, brought by West Berkshire Trading Standards, during which the Incentive Leisure Group pleaded guilty to 11 counts of fraud. The offences admitted by the company concerned the likely value of the cashback scheme and claims that it was run by an independent lawyer.