We at the TCA have recently been contacted by a consumer with a harrowing story she wants to share.
She was eager to get rid of her MacDonald timeshare, as many are, due to inflating maintenance costs and was quite honest to say she was not as cash rich as she used to be and simply could not afford it, especially as she rarely used it.
She researched many companies who said they could sell it for her and decided upon a company called ‘Travel and Leisure Group’. they gained her trust as they were endorsed by TATOC and she had seen national press advertisements in the Daily Telegraph, Daily Express and Daily Mail.
It stated on their website, that they were one of the largest and respected Timeshare Resale Brokers and where members of TATOC and RDO.
She paid a “marketing” fee of £154, (upfront advertising fees are illegal but this loop hole still have not been plugged, allowing companies like this to continue profiting from the stagnant resale market).
This “marketing” fee covered 6 months worth of advertising.
After 6 months, the consumer, unsurprisingly to us, had received no interest or updates on any possible sales of her timeshare.
When she contacted Travel and Leisure to see what, if any, progress had been made to relief her of her unwanted ownership, she was told that they were no longer being advertised as the “paid marketing” fee had expired and was only now on their internal database, shoudl they receive a call from someone who was specifically looking to buy this or similar.
She was told that she was very lucky, there was a special offer being made for people like her, as the points should have already sold in that time, and she could purchase another 6 months “paid marketing” at 50% of the cost she originally paid!
Thankfully she did not line their pockets further, but she did still want to exit, so when she received a phone call from European Timeshare Owners Organisation (ETOO.), stating they had a buyer wanting her ownership, she unfortunately was only too happy but listen.
She was informed that it would take roughly eight weeks for the whole process. She was savvy enough to do her research once more before biting off their hand and said “I say them on TV, in national newspapers and their websites linked them to credible companies, so I trusted that the process would help me out of a financial hole”.
ETOO emailed all the paperwork over for signing and also requested an administration fee, which would be refunded upon the buyers money being received, so she believed that even these fees would be covered.
When six weeks passed, she began to feel nervous as she had received no further correspondence, yet they had been so eager in the beginning calling more than once a day. So, she called and was told that her ownership had been advertised and there had been some interest, when she queried the fact that she was told there was already a buyer who wanted her exact ownership, she was fobbed off.
After receiving advice from the TCA, the lady is luckily now extricating their ownership through a legal company and seeking compensation.
Don’t be fooled by any company that cold calls or that says they had a “buyer ready”.
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