PLEASE READ.!!! TIMESHARE & HOLIDAY CLUBS

[HW Jan.C]

It seems more and more people are posting about bad experiences with timeshare companies in general.
If anyone is approached, with "win a holiday comp" phonecalls saying " you have won a free holiday" Please remember,, YOU DONT GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING AND YES IT IS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE !!.
Please people research these companies on the internet, use the search engines, use this web site this is why we are here..
Do not part with any money no matter how good the deal sounds, look up the details first and READ THE SMALLPRINT.. ALL OF IT...
Please ask Fred2 for advice if you need to, before you decide its a deal not to be missed, he may have the knowledge to help you make your minds up.
PLEASE BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU ARE BUYING INTO.
BEFORE the event,, it will be too late after you have been brainwashed into thinking its the best thing since sliced bread.
PLEASE DONT PART WITH YOUR HARD EARNED CASH BEFORE KNOWING THE FULL FACTS.
Jan

[journeying]

We responded to a phone 'you have won a holiday deal' several years ago and went along with it. We had a fantastic week in Madeira in a really beautiful 5 star complex and paid an extra week ourselves. We did not join anything aftere that week- i don't even remember who they were!

We have joined DWVC 3 years ago and have had free weeks in Canary islands each year & a few goos summer deals to Bali & Thailand for 2 week stays. not a lot of choice & awful service but not a 'con'.

I am not encouraging anyone to go for thes edeals but you can stay wise and get the best out of it. just do your homework & ask lots of questions

[beepbeep]

To anybody who reads this:

LEARN TO SAY NO AT THE PRESENTATION. REHEARSE YOUR ANSWERS BEFORE YOU GO AND HAVE A PLAN TO GET OUT - EG:

We are part of a discount club at work

We are happy with our timeshare and do not want to sell it.

We are totally in debt and can't afford this.

etc etc

You must have a plan to walk away. Do not ask too many - if any - questions as this encourages them to continue.

[Steve2]

Journeying,

If you really are a satisfied DWVC customer then you have been very, very lucky.

Before anyone goes anywhere near DWVC, read the 'Another Mug - DWVC' thread and the Daily Mirror exposure of DWVC at http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/investigat ... -18700126/.

[Willself]

The Real Answer may be a combination of things..Go, listen to what is said..Say No.
on the day, Then take up the Offer of a subsidized Holiday,check out the Accommodations, and the system .Speak to members whilst on Holiday, good, bad and indifferent..Say No..again on site Come home and make a rational decision.
Certainly do All your homework, even look on the Re-Sale Market(best policy)
Or do all the above without any presentations, almost like a Mystery Shopper.
Several people offer Timeshare Rentals on E-Bay.or other Free Classified Sites.

[HW Jan.C]

I have found this website hepfull
www.timeshare.org.uk

with a list of scams, how to avoid them and what action to take if you have been trapped.
Hope this helps.
Jan

[standel]

We joined Club Select Holidays, part of the GTSL (Global Travel Service Limited) group who operate in Lanzarote 3 years ago.

I would urge anyone who has any problems to get in touch with us as we have had many many problems with them. We were assured cheap discounted holidays as part of our money we paid into their holiday fund, plus we were assured that any weeks holiday would be no more than �400.

As regards the Terms and Conditions of said company, they appear not to entertain what they state as we have found similar holidays much cheaper on the internet PLUS CSH also use the same websites that anyone can use to offer accomodation etc.

We are now in the process of taking action with ParrosVillas who run Club Las Adelfas in Lanzarote (they were the ones who conned us into mambership) and also thinking of taking our case up with ABTA.

If anyone in this forum wishes to get in touch and discuss - please feel free as what we have found out may interest you...

[tilbury79]

The only problem Jan is that by the time people look at these sites they have already parted with their hard earned cash, I know I didn't know that this site existed until I was ripped off.

[HW Jan.C]

I know there are alot of people out there who have been fleeced by these companies, but to be honest you read about it in the papers and hear it on news reports, in this day and age there is information on unscrupulous companies widely available. I am amazed sometimes when people say they were caught by scratchcard touts while on holiday and parted with thousands of pounds as a result and only THEN when they have paid out vast sums of money do they decide to research the company that they paid, not before hand, and when your on holiday the internet is available easily in most countries...... Never ceases to amaze me.
Jan

[aramis]

Jan, it may not 'cease to amaze you', but you are in the business, whereas most people are simply unaware of these scams. They are presented skilfully and professionally, and appear to be fair and reasonable. The people who fall for them aren't greedy, but simply naive and innocent, especially when the advertising and presentations occur in the UK where people reasonably assume the law will protect them!
The Office of Fair Trading, Members of Parliament, Association of British Travel Agents, Trading Standards offices, and other professional and government bodies are all aware of this website, and must surely access it routinely, yet do absolutely NOTHING whatsoever to protect the victims of these vile scams.
Please don't criticise the victims; instead blame the incompetent, overpaid, and lazy professionals who should be protecting us from these multi-million pound scams, but prefer to sit on their backsides doing nothing!