New Member

[cairn]

Just introducing myself.

Bought week 39 at Holiday Palace in Benalmadena one year ago.
Just back from 1st holiday week there (which was excellent) but fell for the "convert your week to points scam" where you think you're paying a £895 deposit and the balance after the 14 day cooling off period, but the the "deposit" is not actually covered by this as they have some other clever name for it and it is not refundable and has no cooling off period.

Have had my lawyer send my cancellation form within the 14 days for the balance, but I reckon I have lost the £895.

Anyone else had a similar experience? Did they refund the £895?

Have now found a UK firm which are offering to change the week into points for a fraction of the fee, and extra points are much cheaper and more available too - so I will be using them as soon as my cancellation is confirmed.

Wish I had found this forum sooner!

[colin]

Welcome!

It is a pity that you are one of the many who have fallen for a scam. No matter how the law is drafted, there are those out there who will find "wriggle room" to scam people.

Hopefully someone on here will be able to help you with advice on your situation.

Colin

[Sue B]

Welcome

We have had a number of people contact MORPS with the same situation. One person got back to the resort and started playing hell with them, after I had replied to his email. He was promised his money back but have not heard if this actually happened. It might be worth trying it.

firstly, you should not be expected to pay a deposit if it was a straightforward points conversion. You have a cooling off period (timeshare legislation). Have you bought into Additions/Diversified Gold or some such name? Were you told that you were dealing with RCI staff? Were you told that it was an additional benefit to the points scheme? Was it made clear what the deposit was for - a separate holiday club or the points conversion? Were you given two contracts to sign and was it made clear that these were quite separate? Were you given time to read the contracts?

Have you contacted your local trading standards office to give them details?

I am passing all examples of this bad practice on to RCI as they need to do something about it. It has already been raised at one Board Meeting. I think that the likes of TATOC and RDA (both bodies who are supposed to act as consumer watchdogs) need to be aware as well. it is misselling and there is new european legislation out that covers this.

Sue Beetlestone
MORPS