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KwikChex Tag

RDO / Posts tagged "KwikChex"
9 Mar 2023

KwikChex continues to put pressure on rogue operators

KwikChex has published details of a complaint to the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) about the TCA (Timeshare Consumer Association). This complaint provided proof that the TCA site was purchased by ECC (European Consumer Claims) and that it was being used as a lead generator for ECC. The complaint also highlighted an article published by the TCA claiming that an ASA review showed that the TCA was not linked to the ECC. However, following a further ASA investigation, this misleading statement was removed. In a recent release on its website, KwikChex highlighted a number of concerns such as: The business that ECC purchased the...

Ex Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Reynolds to act as KwikChex Lead Investigations Consultant
15 Jun 2021

Ex Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Reynolds to act as KwikChex Lead Investigations Consultant

With a huge increase in scams during the pandemic crisis, and growing demand from consumers for free and practical assistance, KwikChex has entered into a partnership with Steve Reynolds Consultancy, to enhance their resources. Steve is a vastly experienced investigator, with over 40 years of law enforcement experience in Essex Police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission. His assistance in collating information and presenting ‘case files’ will be invaluable in the increasing number of instances where KwikChex is asked to provide support to law enforcement agencies, government departments and regulatory authorities taking actions against unlawful activities. Steve will also provide support to...

Initiatives to tackle cold-calling and data abuses and connected scams affecting timeshare owners
23 Jun 2020

Initiatives to tackle cold-calling and data abuses and connected scams affecting timeshare owners

Under a recently launched initiative, KwikChex and EUROC are urging timeshare owners to file reports on cold-callers and other unsolicited contacts such as by email and text. All reports will be investigated and evidence of data protection breaches and other unlawful behaviour will be collated and presented to the relevant authorities throughout Europe. The number of nuisance calls and connected scams has increased dramatically since the start of the Covid-19 crisis and those targeting timeshare owners are amongst the most prolific and serious in terms of financial losses. This initiative, which commenced in the UK and is now being rolled out across...

social distancing
21 Apr 2020

The new normal

On the 5th March, I met with Chris Emmins director and co-founder of KwikChex in Westminster, for a debrief after his meeting with BEIS,(the Government Department for Business Enterprise and Industrial Strategy), which has oversight of consumer issues including timeshare, and has a direct line into the FCA  (Financial Conduct Authority), which is responsible for licensing and controlling the claims management companies, since they were transferred from the Ministry of Justice. At that time in the UK, we were still at the “wash your hands frequently” stage of the COVID-19 crisis and social distancing was as yet not the norm. I do...

30 Mar 2020

Advice to timeshare owners during the coronavirus crisis

RDO’S enforcement department, operated on its behalf by KwikChex, has been receiving requests for information from owners as to what the policies will be of timeshare companies and resorts if owners are not able to take their timeshare holiday due to the coronavirus emergency. KwikChex has already seen individual, positive examples of how this is being handled and in the first instance is recommending that owners make contact with their timeshare developer or resort to check on a case by case basis.  We are confident that owners will appreciate that it may also be difficult to determine what the position might...

KwikChex awarded Trading Standards award
1 Jul 2019

KwikChex given Trading Standards Hero award

KwikChex, which manages the Timeshare Task Force on RDO’s behalf, has been awarded a Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Hero Award for its work in targeting fraudsters and protecting consumers through its close cooperation with Trading Standards and local law enforcement agencies. Much of KwikChex’s focus has been on businesses targeting timeshare owners and in addition to providing guidance and assistance to consumers through its online and telephone services, it has provided expert witness testimony in a number of court cases in the UK, all of which have been successful. KwikChex is a corporate affiliate member of the CTSI and has been...

Eze directors sentenced to prison
22 Mar 2019

Eze directors sentenced to prison

On March 21st, Eze Europe Ltd director Dominic O'Reilly was sentenced to 28 months in prison and his daughter Stephanie to 18 months in prison, suspended for two years. Both were also banned from becoming company directors for nine and six years respectively. Last November, Dominic O'Reilly and Stephanie O'Reilly had pleaded guilty to offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 relating to misrepresentation regarding the selling of "Leisure Credits" or 'Concierge Services", a so-called holiday and lifestyle product, as well as connected purported legal assistance to timeshare owners. In sentencing, Her Honour Judge Laurence Creed said that the O’Reillys...

Important advice re increasing risks related to timeshare claims businesses
15 Mar 2019

Important advice re increasing risks related to timeshare claims businesses

On 22 February 2019, purported timeshare claims specialist’ businesses Meredith Pritchard Consultants Ltd. and First Law Solutions Ltd. were wound up in the UK High Court following action by UK authorities. The Insolvency Service presented petitions to the court on the grounds that both companies traded with a lack of commercial probity by failing to provide contracted services in a timely manner or at all. This included accepting payments in respect of non-viable claims, charging excessive fees, and using misleading and aggressive sales techniques. Losses to consumers deceived by the businesses are believed to be in excess of half a million...

Another judgement made against International Timeshare Refund Action (ITRA)
8 Feb 2019

ITRA (International Timeshare Refund Action) wound up in the High Court

On 30th January 2019, KwikChex reports that International Timeshare Refund Action – more commonly known as ITRA, was wound up in the High Court of Justice England & Wales. This followed a petition made by a couple that had taken ITRA to court on grounds of unlawful conduct involving misrepresentations and failure to provide promised services concerning timeshare relinquishment and compensation. ITRA failed to refund monies as ordered by the court.  The original claim case against ITRA was one of several brought successfully against the business by consumers, with a number of courts repeatedly finding that ITRA had used deceptive methods and not provided...

Another judgement made against International Timeshare Refund Action (ITRA)
29 Jun 2018

Another judgement made against International Timeshare Refund Action (ITRA)

International Timeshare Refund Action (ITRA) have had a judgement made against them in a court action brought by a consumer. The action was supported by KwikChex, which manages the Timeshare Task Force on RDO’s behalf. On 4th June, ITRA, which failed to turn up in court and defend the claim, were ordered to refund a consumer all the monies he paid to them plus costs – a total of over £5700. For more information, go to https://timesharetaskforce.org/2018/06/28/another-judgement-issued-against-itra-in-court-and-this-time-they-dont-even-show-up/...