Questions about timeshares, free holidays, surveys, telephone calls

QUESTION: I was called on the telephone and told I had taken part in a survey which I know I did not. Should I put the phone down immediately?

ANSWER: It's up to you. But try to resist being rude. The person calling you is probably a student trying to earn some money to make ends meet, while being a small cog in a large marketing programme wheel.

If you are getting too many calls from marketing companies such as British Telecom, Double glazing, Holiday promotion schemes, there is a way out. Under Government legislation introduced on 1 May 1999 it is unlawful to make unsolicited direct marketing calls to individuals who have indicated that they do not want to receive such calls.

You can either do this by contacting companies directly and asking them not to phone you or you can register with a central service ( The Telephone Preference Service) to stop all such calls. The Telecommunication Data Protection and Privacy Regulation 1999 makes it a legal requirement for companies to check with a central agency and delete numbers and fax numbers. For faxes go to http://www.fps-online.org.uk. If they do not stop ringing you within 28 days of registration, the offending marketing company can be chased up by TPS or FPS and they will be liable to a maximum fine of £5,000 . Alternatively, call 0845 0700707.

QUESTION: I have been awarded a holiday. Why do I have to attend a presentation to get the documents?

ANSWER: Because they want some of your time to show you a product they feel they cannot show to you through any other medium.

QUESTION: I have taken part in a market research survey after being stopped in the street and have now received the offer of a prize if I attend a holiday exhibition. Is this timeshare?

ANSWER: It may well be - this is a common approach used by timeshare marketing companies.

QUESTION: I recently took part in a simple quiz over the telephone. Now I have been called back and told that I have won a prize at a holiday presentation. Is this timeshare?

ANSWER: It may well be - this is another method designed to persuade you to attend a timeshare presentation. They sometimes refer to it as private members holiday clubs.

QUESTION: I've won a holiday. What's the catch?

ANSWER: You might find yourself paying unexpected costs for flights or accommodation, which often work out as expensive as if you had booked the holiday in the normal way. So get everything in writing before you go.The free holiday may turn out to be in timeshare apartments (no bad thing in itself, in fact you may be surprised by the high standards). Once there it is possible you may encounter more of the company's sales pitch. Remember - the protection of the Timeshare Act does not stretch to agreements signed overseas. If you are not interested, just say so.

QUESTION: I want to collect my prize, but not to sign a timeshare agreement. How can I do this?

ANSWER: The information on the letter, which usually follows a phone call, may be important, so take a photo-copy of it. At the presentation, your original letter may disappear, and along with it any award you were promised for attending. Prize offers are usually conditional on attending a presentation, which can go on for hours. A minimum time may be stipulated. Try not to let them control you. Remember - there is no obligation to buy or sign anything, and you are always free to leave. lf you walk out, they will as likely as not give you the award anyway because they do not want bad publicity.

QUESTION: I am interested in timeshare, but I am worried about high pressure sales. What can I do?

ANSWER:
Ask yourself if the facts presented to you stack up.

Ask yourself if you can afford to buy and insist on full details in writing.

Shop around for credit; you may find credit cheaper elsewhere.

Even if a discount is offered, the longer you refuse the higher the discount might be.

Check and double check all the paperwork and seek professional advice. It goes without saying that you should never sign anything unless you have read and understood all the terms and conditions.(Did you read the terms of your software agreements on this computer?)

Check their web site. Are there any conflicts with what the independently employed sales agent told you?

Check the company is a member of a trade association like the Timeshare Council.

If you are genuinely interested in buying timeshare, shop around. There are plenty of companies, web sites, and packages to choose from. Especially, see our second hand sales

Remember that salesmen are there to earn themselves a commission, and if non is earned their basic pay is just that, if indeed they get even that.