News regarding Unscrupulous Companies - updated October 2008
We continue to receive reports of companys telephoning members with offers to sell their week(s). It is possible that you might receive a call and before committing to any course of action you should takes steps to ensure you are dealing with a respectable and responsible company.
Just how you do this is not easy but it would do you no harm at all to contact your committee for advice. You can also search the Internet for references to the organisation involved. A good way of getting an early indication that all is not as it should be is to ask for their company details. If the caller will not readily supply this information. e.g. name of caller, telephone number they are calling from, name and address of organisation, where they are based, how long have they been in business etc., then it is a safe bet you are dealing with an unscrupulous company. Don't forget - Buyer Beware!!
Any legitimate caller from Diamond Resorts International (DRI), associated companies or RCI will be able to quote your membership number. Therefore should you get a call from a company asking to buy your week, transfer it to corporate or upgrade in any way always ask them to give you your membership number (NEVER give them any personal information, they should have this if they are legitimate). Ask them to send you any information about the offer in writing. If they say they cannot do that or it is a 'today only' offer: BEWARE! Should you receive anything in writing please send a copy to the committee and we will check it out with DRI's legal department on your behalf. Neither DRI nor RCI will give out your personal information or sell it to any third party therefore the information the caller holds on you has not come from them and as such should be viewed with caution.
Unwanted Callers - warning: beware Greystone Leisure Travel, Travelworld Worldwide, Dunstar, Desire Travel, for example - see www.timesharetalk.co.uk. A company that regularly advertises in the press is ETOO. Type it into Google and have a read, e.g. take a look at http://www.grumbletext.co.uk/vt.php?t=984. An example of the sort of offer made by companies is a caller who was offered £12,500 for his cottage provided he put up 900Euros. No respected company demands money up front. Never pay a so-called "confirmation fee" or a "guarantee fee" or even a deposit. Never, ever, give out your credit card details!
(The Organisation for Timeshare in Europe) and the Spanish police:
• Alabama Development LtdThis is good news, but we still need to remain vigilant.
• Alma Financial Investment SL
• Consultancy Group Europe SL
• Discovery Planet SL
• DGS Brokers
• Dunstar Leisure & Travel
• Greystone Leisure and Travel
• Holiday Network Solutions
• Isla Linda Canarias SL
• Justice Reveals Internacional Consultants SL
• Larimar Ltd
• Masol Comunicaciones SL
• Real Escape
• Thompson Investment Branco
If you have been ripped off by a company and have not reported it to OTE, then please do so immediately.
DRI offer the following advice:
If any member has experienced problems with external resale companies and would like advice or assistance in making a complaint then please contact Diamond Resorts International Customer Services on 0845 359 0010 (Mon-Thurs 09:00 – 17:30, Fri 09:00 – 17:00) or email custserv@diamondresorts.com. Alternatively, please contact the Office of Fair Trading by email at euroteam@oft.gsi.gov.uk