Six arrested in Spain in timeshare claims scheme ‘scam’
Six European nationals have been arrested for their involvement in an allegedly fraudulent timeshare claims scheme based in Malaga and Alicante. The fraud squad in Zaragoza, Alicante and Malaga were involved in the investigations. According to Spanish newspaper Europa Press, the arrests follow a lengthy police investigation which was instigated in 2013 after a Belgian timeshare owner reported that he had been scammed. It is thought that the total amounts lost by consumers, who were predominately Dutch, German and British, is €345,000. The following companies are believed to have been involved in the scheme: Valerano Sanz, active between January 2013 to June 2013 Martinez Almansa,...
Grab your early bird tickets for the RDO7 timeshare conference
Early bird bookings have just opened for Europe’s top conference for the timeshare industry, the #RDO7 conference that will take place from 20 to 22 September at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel & Spa, London. Grab your tickets today! This year’s theme is ‘Taking ownership’ and the conference will focus on the need for all interested parties take control, highlight positive experiences and team up to promote timeshare. We look forward to hearing your input and ideas, coming up with new initiatives and finding ways to work together for the benefit of the industry. Visit the RDO7 conference website to find out...
On BBC bias woes and timeshare
I like to think that I have always been a firm defender of the BBC and its independence and objectivity. But I must say I’m having second thoughts after my experience when I was asked to go on its “BBC5 Live Investigates” on the morning of Sunday 13th March. Admittedly the previous item overran its time slot and our scheduled 30 minute piece on the “- problems of timeshare perpetuity (sic) contracts and owners’ inability to exit” was reduced to about 20 minutes. But I still don’t believe this entitled the producer and presenter to devote some 17 of those 20 minutes...
RDO7 keynote speakers confirmed
RDO is delighted to confirm that Kriss Akabusi will be giving the opening keynote at this year's conference RDO7 Taking Ownership, 20-22 September 2016, London. Kriss is famous for his achievements in athletics where his greatest individual triumph was his gold medal in the 1990 European Championships, beating David Hemery’s 22-year-old British record for 400m hurdles which Kriss currently 23 years later still holds. In 1992 as 3 times Olympic medallist, and a World, European and Commonwealth Champion, Kriss was awarded the MBE. Kiss is currently working on a two year MBA (Masters in Business Administration) program at Ashridge Business School, to...
Supreme Court Rulings 2015: Update
Last year there were two Supreme Court rulings made against Anfi in which two perpetuity contracts were declared null and void on the basis that the membership was for a duration of more than 50 years. RDO concurred with Anfi's conclusion at the time that there had been a misinterpretation of the law in Spain as it applies to timeshare schemes in existence before Spain implemented the provisions of the first Timeshare Directive in 1998. Clarification was sought by Anfi earlier this year from the Property Register and Notary Head Office, which was responsible for authorising the registration of the pre-existing schemes...
ASA Ruling on Timeshare Relief UK
KwikChex, as part of the Timeshare Task Force initiative, recently challenged two testimonials in an email for Timeshare Relief UK, a timeshare relinquishment company, stated "10th ANNIVERSARY NEWS SPECIAL. FINALLY - A BREAK FOR TIMESHARE VICTIMS. New Rules aim to end decades of pressure-selling and release thousands of people from costly and unfair contracts. Thousands of Britons trapped in onerous timeshare or ‘holiday club’ arrangements ...
Mindtimeshare S.L.
After a number of years operating as both Head of RDO Enforcement and Director of Mindtimeshare, Alberto Garcia has asked to stand down from his current responsibilities, and has set-out his proposals for a re-structure of Mindtimeshare.As from March 2016, he will cease to run Mindtimeshare, which has now been converted into a limited company, Mindtimeshare SL. The new Director will be Pedro Picazo Senti, of the Valencia law firm, Picazo Associados. Pedro has worked with Alberto for a number of years as his legal adviser and also for some RDO members in the past, so comes to the position with...
“Taking Ownership” – The RDO7 Conference Will be About Getting on Top of Our Game
“Taking Ownership” That’s the theme for the RDO7 Conference, which will be held this year from 20 to 22 September at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel & Spa, London. If we want more people to join the fun and take ownership of our timeshare resorts, we need to first step up as an industry and take ownership of our own game. It’s all too easy to lay the blame elsewhere when things are not going to plan. The economic crisis, negative press, timeshare scams and dodgy travel club operators… excuses are a dime a dozen, but they only weigh us down. Taking ownership means...
I’m No Social Media Marketing Expert, but I’m On Board! Will You Join Us?
We’re all back from RDO’s social media and digital strategy meeting, held in London late January, and, while I’m not that good at the technical side of social media marketing, I’m definitely a convert. One thing lots of people are already excited about is the new RDO Digital community we are about to launch for our members and their staff. This will be a platform where we will be hosting all kinds of training and discussion, and helping each other out as we work together to get better at social media and build up timeshare’s recognition and reputation. That said, I...
ASA adjudication on Easy Consulting SL
Kwikchex, as part of the Timeshare Task Force initiative, recently challenged whether an advertisement on www.directresortsinternational.co.uk was misleading because it omitted what it believed was a significant condition that the prices of the holidays referred to were dependent on consumers attending a timeshare sales presentation, and failure to attend would mean incurring the full cost of the holiday accommodation. Kwikchex also challenged whether the statement that referred to holidays "at RCI… Affiliated Resorts" was misleading because it understood that the advertiser had no connection with RCI. Easy Consulting SL trading as www.directresortsinternational.co.uk did not respond to the ASA's enquiries. The ASA was...