canaltime narrowboats

[plym61]

does anyone know anything about canaltime. i have a timeshare with them on canal narrowboatsbut they are very difficult toget in touch withand any queries have to be directed to the member reservations company who will then pass on any queries people have. it is also difficult to find out anything about the company and fouund out today thatmy ownership has been moved to a different marinaand will be managed by a different company as well. also half of the original canaltime marinas are no longer being usedand boats have been moved to other places. i would not be too bothered but no one is communicating these changes or anything else to members so if anyone can help many thanks

[Fred 2]

Which company - exact name - is your timeshare with?

[plym61]

hi and thanks for the replies.we originally had a timeshare with canaltime at nottingham marina but they said that due to marina costs they moved all the memberships yo the sawley marina and when i asked about having a new certificate stating this i was told that they were not going to issue any and the trustees were aware and it would not be a problem. we did manage to part exchange this timeshare for one in tenerife which we are very happy with.

we also still have a timeshare with canaltime which was at the alvecote marina but when i checked the member s website to get info on 2009 maintainence fees i saw the newsletter.

it said that a new management company had been appointed they are abc boat management ltd andthat they were moving out of alvecote due to poor facilities which i find strange as it has in recent years had improvements made to it including new buildings.they also say that to reduce ongoing costs they are going to consolidate the 3 existing clubs into 1 and call it canalboat club.

my concerns are that the canaltime company whoever they are do not communicate with the owners/members on anything and then make decisions of their own back.there is no direct contact address for them and if you have a problem you have to write to a company called abacus reservations who will send it on- abacus are responsible for collecting the maintainence fees and making a reservation to use the canalboats or banking your week with rci.

i find the whole setup very strange but do not know what to do and i do not even know if they will be issuing a new membership certificate to show my ownership at the new location because if they do not how can i sell something at a location which does not exist.

sorry it is long winded but as a close for now the number of marinas that canaltime used to be at was 5 but this is now down to 2 with another 2 if you include the new company called abc
so how many people are affected by this

[Fred 2]

Do you have the actual FULL company names for 1) your original certificate 2) the company which they say has taken over the timeshares 3) abacus 4) ABC? It may be possible to make a bit of sense of this with the names as it will be possible to trace them.

[plym61]

hi fred2
hope this is useful
1) the name of the company on the original certificate is Canaltime Developments Limited
2)the name of the new management company is ABC Boat Management Ltd(ABC)
3)the full name of the abacus is Abacus Reservations Limited and they are at a PO Box address in Budleigh Salterton
4) abc details are above and the only other details related to them are www.alvechurchmarina.com and www.worcestermarina.com
hope this is what you need
thanks again

[Fred 2]

Canaltime Developments Limited has been struck off the register on its own application and no longer exists. The application was made on 28th August 2007. For this to have been done lawfully the company must not have traded for three months before this, have no contracts running and must have informed all creditors that they intended to make the application.

I do not believe that this company should have gone out of existence before providing you with a certificate in the name of the new company.

ABC Boat Management Limited’s Registered Office – the “official” address where correspondence may be sent, regardless of where they trade, is SCARFIELD WHARF, ALVECHURCH, WORCESTERSHIRE, B48 7SQ

Abacus Reservations Limited has a Registered Office at 28 ALEXANDRA TERRACE, EXMOUTH, DEVON, EX8 1BD which is the office of Thompson Jenner, Accountants.

Queries sent to either of these addresses (by Recorded) should receive a reply. A company cannot deny that it has received a document if there is a postal receipt for delivery at its Registered Office. If you do not get a satisfactory response within say ten days then I would contact Trading Standards in your area, give details of the problem and ask them to write further on your behalf.

I presume that the Trustee company is Hutchinsons. If so, you could also write to them and ask for the current status of your timeshare. Details from
www.hutchtrust.co.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=5

[plym61]

Thanks Fred2 you have been really helpful and i will be contacting the trustees as a start and will let you know what they say

[brett]

we have just had a timeshare swap to alvecote marina,the staff have only just been told that the marina will shut for good on the 7th nov 2008, all the staff will be made redundant,all the boats will be transferred to the only other two marina,s.the staff where the last to know.

Alan.

27th sept 2008.

[plym61]

have been in touch with the trustees and they have told me that they will only issue new certificates for the new locations that the boats have been moved to if they are told to do so by the management company and they do not know if locations have been changed unless someone tells them.
will now try to contact the new management company and will keep you posted

[DG]

As a canaltime owner originally at Avlecote and only living 15 miles from Worcester - I watch this with interest. In fairness, I did recieve the newsletter by post the other day highlighting the changes made above.

What I would like to understand is - is what has happened, legal or is there some way I can use this to nullify my contract and finally be rid of this damn boat and this whole scam filled industry?