British Timeshare Operator Arrested by Hungarian Authorities

Accused of  Timeshare fraud, a British businessman faces charges in Hungary

A Hungarian timeshare operation run by Britons Michael Turner and Jason McGoldrick collapsed in 2005. Hungarian prosecutors used European Arrest Warrants to detain the pair, saying the company's creditors were the victims of fraud, but both men have denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Turner described how, when he was first extradited on November 2, 2009, he was led through a busy airport in handcuffs on a dog-style lead and imprisoned for four months at the notorious Budapest Penitentiary Institute, where he was kept in his cell for 23 hours a day. He was released, with no explanation, on February 26, 2010 - having only been interviewed once by police - and returned to Britain.

Now Mr Turner, who has already spent four months without charge in a Hungarian jail,  is claiming British judges should be given more power to test the evidence in cases before Britons are extradited under the European Arrest Warrant.

The 29-year-old businessman from Corfe Castle, Dorset, must return to Budapest next week to answer allegations over a failed timeshare company which collapsed in 2005.

read more: www.granthamjournal.co.uk

At ITRA, we have discovered a pattern of abuse, deception and even fraudulent issues that have been systematically perpetrated by many of the major timeshare industry players to the detriment of owners.

Our objective is to support the consumer in timeshare disputes.

Find out more at www.itra.net

ITRA – How to avoid being caught in a Timeshare Scam

5 minute video with lots of tips on how to avoid being caught in a Timeshare scam.

ITRA

Our objective is to support the consumer in timeshare disputes. We have discovered a pattern of abuse, deception and even fraudulent issues that have been systematically perpetrated by many of the major timeshare industry players to the detriment of owners.

ITRA

International Timeshare Refund Action

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To find out more about the International Timeshare Refund Action ITRA visit our website www.itra.net

ITRA - New laws introduced to protect consumers of timeshare and holiday clubs

New laws have been introduced to protect people from timeshare and holiday club scams - but Shropshire solicitors are urging people to continue to seek advice before they get involved.

International Timeshare Refund Action – ITRA

On February 23 2011 a new law came into action to protect consumers of timeshare and holiday clubs as the existing Timeshare directive only applied to certain products and had a number of loopholes. 

These loopholes were exploited by unscrupulous companies and individuals in the Timeshare industry; leaving consumers as the potential victims of numerous scams.

Linder Myers Solicitors, based in High Street, Shrewsbury, is in the process of raising a group action for all those who have been affected by issues with their timeshare or holiday club. The firm is assisting consumers in disputes with Club La Costa and the Petchey Group of Companies.

Solicitor Stephen Boyd today said: "Holiday Clubs fell outside of the protection afforded to customers by the Timeshare Act 1992 (later amended in 2003 and 2007). This means that if someone purchased a Holiday Club, they would not have the right to a cooling-off period that would have automatically applied if purchasing a traditional timeshare.

"There have been similar developments in relation to products described as "fractional ownership" or in products which are in reality timeshares, but which relate to boats, cruise ships, or aeroplanes. 

"In 2008 a new European Timeshare directive was adopted and it was a requirement that all European Member States should bring this into law by February 23, 2011. The purpose of the directive was to clearly give consumers greater protection."

Key features of the directive are that holiday clubs are covered in the cooling off period, shorter Timeshare contracts are allowed, all types of holiday accommodation are covered including caravans or cruise ships, Timeshare can be resold by the consumers and the introduction of exchange services.

"Another issue that has been addressed by the new Directive relates to the resale industry," added Stephen. "In recent years there have been a number of complaints received by Linder Myers regarding individuals who have contracted with companies offering to assist them with the resale of their Timeshare.

"Unfortunately in the past this has been another 'scam'. This will change under the new directive to help to eradicate this issue for consumers.

"The new regulations will be enforced by the Office of Fair Trading and Local Authority Trading Standards Officers in the UK. Failure to comply with the directive could allow for consumers to bring a civil claim against the trader.

Consumers now have the time to take away any contracts to do with Timeshares and holiday clubs before parting with any money. We strongly advise that you take legal advice before signing anything."

Source: Midlands Business News

To comment on the original article click here

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International Timeshare Refund Action – ITRA

Our objective is to support the consumer in timeshare disputes. We have discovered a pattern of abuse, deception and even fraudulent issues that have been systematically perpetrated by many of the major timeshare industry players to the detriment of owners.

To find out more about the International Timeshare Refund Action visit our website www.itra.net

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Timeshare Points Class Action Settlement

Owners Action report that a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of RCI Points members is moving towards a possible settlement.

The announcement was made in a US magazine: “A settlement agreement has been signed and a hearing is scheduled. At the hearing, the court will decide if it should give preliminary approval to the settlement agreement. If the settlement gets preliminary approval, notices will be sent out to all RCI Points members with the terms of the settlement and information about a “fairness hearing” at which Points members can express their support or opposition to the proposed settlement, or submit comments to the court in writing. Attorneys representing other Points members from California in a similar, more recently filed, lawsuit are trying to consolidate the two lawsuits and have the court disapprove the settlement agreement. Additional information about the terms of the settlement agreement will be in the Jan/Feb issue of TimeSharing Today”.

Owners Action are a firm of specialist consultants who deal with disputes within the timeshare industry.

Owners Action have been appointed as European marketing agents by International Timeshare Refund Action (ITRA) to generate and promote consumer awareness regarding a proposed Group Litigation against RCI Europe and others.

ITRA News | How to Sell Timeshare Without Losing Your Hair

Timeshares are costly to purchase the majority of the time. Nevertheless, as numerous individuals would already know, whenever you attempt to sell exactly the same timeshare, it’ll not even be of half the buying cost. This low return value for the timeshare causes a loss towards the buyer who purchased it for himself or his family members some time ago. Many people are so disappointed by this low return value that they plainly declare that purchasing a timeshare isn’t a great concept at all or when you have purchased it, you need to attempt to use it for the whole duration. This attitude towards timeshare isn’t right. NOTE: It’s always important to stay up to date on timeshare resale scams before you try to sell in the resale market.

Even though timeshares have a low resale value but they are able to get you a much better cost in the event you adhere to a couple of easy suggestions. Numerous individuals wish to know how they are able to sell their timeshares for a great cost. In the event you observe closely, you’ll notice that in the event you employ a actual estate agent to sell the timeshare for you, he will get you a really great deal. Nevertheless, as you need to spend commission, the value you get is nonetheless a great deal lower. Now you need to be thinking that if a actual estate agent can somehow get the timeshare to become sold for a great cost, why can’t you? And also the answer is easy: you are able to also get an excellent cost for the timeshare by following these easy however extremely productive suggestions:

1. A creative and well-designed advertisement is often the crucial to acquiring an excellent value for the timeshare. Often attach an impressive picture of the unit along with your advertisement. You ought to also list all of the capabilities of the timeshare that make it wonderful for any buyer.

2. Getting all of the legal documentations of the timeshare may also boost its value surprising. You may not have given it significantly believed but you may see that folks will trust you a lot more than timeshares which have incomplete documents.

3. Usually post your advertisements in related locations. Posting your advertisements all more than the web won’t get you any great clients. Only clients who’re genuinely thinking about purchasing timeshares will spend great cash for it.

4. The last but 1 from the most significant items is always to value your timeshare appropriately. Asking for an extremely high value will make folks shed interest and asking an extremely low value will make them suspicious.

By following these couple of straightforward recommendations, you’ll be able to certainly get an impressive value for the timeshare.

Listen closely because his is how to get out of a timeshare. Make sure to go here if you still have questions about how to successfully sell your timeshare.

Source: http://house-home-centired.co.za

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To find out more about the International Timeshare Refund Action visit our website www.itra.net.

Timeshare Company to Sponsor Cycle Team

Major European timeshare company The Anfi Group will have its brand represented in more than 250 cycle races worldwide over the next 12 months and feature prominently in the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia and the Tour of Spain.

The move is the result of a new sponsorship deal that will see the Anfi Group logo displayed on the jerseys and bikes of the Saxo Bank cycling team, which features Alberto Contador, triple champion of the Tour de France and one of the most popular media sports stars of the moment.

Contador will join his Danish teammates during the first stage of the collaboration between the Gran Canaria-based company and Saxo Bank next January, when the squad, led by Bjarne Riis, will stay in Anfi Group resorts on the island, all of which are affiliated to RCI.

Read the full article: www.rciventures.com

International Timeshare Refund Action (ITRA) is pursuing the coordination of a claim to the courts on behalf of timeshare owners who can justify due cause for refund compensation, distress and damages on the grounds that their timeshare purchase was not of merchandisable quality.

To find out more about the International Timeshare Refund Action visit our website www.itra.net

Timeshare Exchange Company Says Brits Value Their Holiday Ownership

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of timeshare holiday exchange services recently revealed that its UK members travel extensively, find holiday ownership satisfying, own an average of 1.9 weeks of shared ownership time or its equivalent, and report average household incomes of approximately GBP 70,050 per year. And, more than one-quarter report ownership of a second home -- apart from their holiday ownership.

These findings are from Interval International's 2011 UK Membership Profile, which was developed from a sample of UK-resident timeshare owners maintaining an active membership with Interval. The online study was undertaken to provide insights for use in the development of services and benefits to be offered to Interval members.

Interval's UK members spend approximately 28 nights away from home travelling solely for leisure purposes. Additionally, these study respondents indicate a penchant to travel across the European continent during the course of the next two years, boding well for future holiday ownership purchases. Further afield, they have a strong desire to visit the USA and Canada, the Caribbean, and Australia and New Zealand.

"As going on holiday remains a high priority for our members, developers can look forward to welcoming more timeshare owners to their resorts," said Darren Ettridge, Interval's senior vice president of resort sales and business development. "That and the fact that our UK membership base continues to be interested in owning more holiday time should encourage resort sales and marketing professionals to take heed of this potential purchasing group."

Respondents desiring to purchase additional timeshare holiday time remain most interested in the two-bedroom configuration, with more than half (57 percent) citing a preference for that unit type. Purchase price, the luxury of the unit, and the annual maintenance fee commitment represent the three most influential factors in the decision making process.

Other notable findings from the 2011 UK Membership Profile include:

-- Approximately 83 percent of Interval's UK members report satisfaction with their timeshare ownership.

-- Nearly eight out of 10 acquired their timeshare interests from resort project developers and management companies.

-- An estimated 61 percent of leisure travel nights are spent travelling across the UK and Ireland and the European continent.

-- The average length of a leisure holiday within Europe is estimated to be 7.5 nights.

-- Almost half of Interval's UK members would be interested in taking a cruise during the next two years.

-- UK members prefer relatively less-strenuous activities on holiday with sightseeing, swimming, shopping, spending time in a spa and watching plays and concerts rating highly.

SOURCE: Interval International

At International Timeshare Refund Action (ITRA) our objective is to support the consumer in timeshare disputes. We have discovered a pattern of abuse, deception and even fraudulent issues that have been systematically perpetrated by many of the major timeshare industry players to the detriment of owners.

To find out more about the International Timeshare Refund Action visit our website www.itra.net