The truth behind Class Actions – RDO lifts the lid on dubious schemes
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? From evidence collected by RDO's enforcement team, headed up by a former Spanish police inspector, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the majority of these schemes are bogus, their...
If you think you have been defrauded, read on….
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. To submit a...
Benefits of Membership
Belonging to RDO helps members to grow their business in a number of ways, notably through: Quality Endorsements Members can use the RDO logo on all their sales literature, business stationery and websites. The logo acts as a positive endorsement for customers who can be reassured that they are dealing with a company committed to offering the best in European timeshare and fractional ownership. Europe-wide lobbying RDO represents the collective voice of the industry and communicates the views and interests of the European timeshare and fractional ownership industries to national governments, the European Commission and Parliament, the media and other consumer bodies and associations....
Key appointments at Club La Costa
Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels (CLC) has recently announced a number of key appointments at the company: Leslie McCann has joined as Marketing Director, while Richard Carrick has been appointed as a consultant and Martin Andrew as new Commercial and Distribution Director. Leslie McCann has more than 30 years’ experience in the timeshare industry, and was Group Marketing Director for LSI and Seasons Holidays plc before joining CLC. Most recently, he acted in a consultant role to the Royal Karma Group. He will be responsible for introducing and developing new marketing and sales programmes and will operate out of the...
Flagship Consulting celebrates PR awards
Travel public relations specialist Flagship Consulting recently picked up two awards at the annual Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Travel Marketing Awards ceremony in London. The consultancy won the “Best Strategic PR Campaign” award for their consumer awareness campaign for campsite online guide www.pitchup.com and was awarded the “Best Use of Social Media” Silver Standard for My Winchester, a campaign on behalf of the Discover Winchester Consortium. Flagship Consulting is a member of RDO and has worked as a consultant to the organisation and industry for many years, advising them on marketing strategies and the integration of social media in communications, amongst others....
Progress slow on Europe-wide implementation of new Directive
Nearly two months after the formal deadline given for the implementation of the new EU Timeshare Directive, only eleven European countries have completed the process. Work is continuing to reach the same level of consumer protection across the rest of Europe. The Directive has already been implemented in Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the UK. Luxemburg and Slovakia are expected to have new legislation approved shortly whereas other countries including Spain are lagging behind in the process and have yet to confirm when the Directive will be implemented. The new Directive aims to provide protection...
Currency losses and ash cloud lead to weak annual results for Hapimag
Hapimag maintained a stable operating income and expanded its portfolio in 2010, but couldn’t avoid a negative group annual result of -7.8 million euros, caused by factors such as the weakness of the euro against the Swiss franc and reduced occupancy as a result of the volcanic ash cloud in April 2010. While the operating income was similar to that of 2009 at 171.7 million euros, operating expenses increased to 172.6 million euros, partly because of the unfavourable exchange rate. Uncertain future prospects in some European countries, and the flight disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud meant a reduction in...
Selling Timeshare
There will of course be situations where owners may need to dispose of their timeshare/points. However, as Timeshare is regarded as a long-term investment in holidays, as opposed to an investment in real estate, it would be unrealistic to rely on realising the original purchase price. Bear in mind that some resorts/unit sizes are far more popular than others and ; as sales depend on current supply and demand it is not always possible to guarantee a date for resale. Selling Privately If you are thinking about selling your timeshare or points, you should make a note of the following: Timeshare is not...
If You Feel You Have Been Defrauded
Contact/Attend your local police station to report the crime and to make a written statement on the official forms. This must also be typed to ensure all necessary parties can read the statement. Any documentary evidence should also be properly exhibited and attached to the statement. The statement should be translated into the language that has the jurisdiction of the crime. The statement should then be forwarded by the police to Interpol. Interpol will check the quality of the statement and that any documents attached are correctly mentioned in the statement and will then forward it to their colleagues in...
Resorting to Legal Action
Solicitors If you feel that your genuine grievances are being rejected both by the timeshare company and by your credit card issuing bank or finance company regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974, you could consider obtaining a fee quotation from a solicitor for handling the claim. Or you could refer the claim against your card issuing bank to the Banking Ombudsman (pamphlet available from 020-7404 9944). View list of Associate Members - Lawyers Your home insurance policy It is worth looking at your insurance policy to see if legal costs cover is included. A single call to your insurers should give you this...