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We have recently been contacted by a consumer who was asking us for some help. They have been fobbed off, ignored and made to feel like their concerns are worthless and unjustified.

Mr and Mrs Cunningham have owned their timeshare with Regency since 2004. To this day the complex their timeshare apartment is on is incomplete, some 13 years later. The couple were told that there would be a golf course and more villas yet nothing. They have been trying to contact Regency to discuss their concerns and unhappiness with their purchase; however, it all seems to fall on deaf ears. Mr Cunningham explained that the only contact that they receive is their annual management fees and planner and all his written correspondence goes unanswered!

The couple has been trying for a while to either sell or give away their two weeks’ timeshare. Their willingness to ‘give away’ their timeshare shows how unhappy they are with this contract that they have been unable to get out of.

The couple told us that they have paid to advertise their timeshare and have also had three consultations with ‘mis-sold’ agencies. They’ve had no luck with the advertising and the agencies are asking for £6000 plus to try and help them exit their contract. The agencies have made promises of a refund, however understandably the couple of reticent due to the issues and problems they have had over the years.

Mr Cunningham, then advised us that he was contacted by another company offering an exit service and the guy who was selling the service was the very same man who had sold him the timeshare in the first place! Unbelievable. Mr Cunningham was so desperate to get out of his contract he was considering working with Declan Gernon again. Mr Cunningham luckily didn’t make that choice because he was concerned about the sale’s person’s motives. Mr Gernon’s family was also involved in Regency.

Whilst we were working with Mr Cunningham he was also discussing his issues with the RDO and the last time we spoke he told us that they have helped him to exit out of his contract with no fees whatsoever, which is incredible news and does show that perseverance and talking to the correct people can deliver the results that are required.

The RDO told Mr Cunningham that ‘this whole exit and compensation claims procedure is in itself an industry that is full of black holes’

Mr Cunningham states that an example of this was him having meetings with ex-timeshare salespersons, his conclusion is that now that the timeshare industry is flat they’re in on this subculture of mis-selling, which is what they did in the first place!

We are of course absolutely thrilled that Mr Cunningham has found a resolution to this issue and wish him all the very best in the future.

The moral of this story, if you are trying to sell your timeshare on, beware of who you are talking to and pay attention to the companies who are trying to contact you, it’s highly likely that they are just trying to get £0000’s more from you and you could end in a tangled web. Make sure you ask for support from accredited agencies if you need it.

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