TATOC The Timeshare Association

Information for consumers approached by marketing companies offering bonus weeks.

A number of companies are making unsolicited calls to timeshare owners offering one or more extra-weeks or bonus-weeks of holiday accommodation at discounted prices.  They may know some details of your timeshare ownership and may suggest the offer is a reward for your long-term ownership of timeshare or membership of a recognised timeshare company such as RCI or II.  They may say, or strongly imply, they have been authorised by the company to contact you on this basis.  This is unlikely to be the case and, if they claim to have been referred to you by your timeshare or exchange company, ask them for your ownership/membership number and check it.

The companies may suggest they can offer a wide availability but in reality accommodation will only be available at resorts or travel clubs with which they have a contract to provide potential purchasers. If the approach is not directly from your timeshare company or directly from your timeshare exchange company there will be a hidden purpose behind the offer.  Usually this will be a requirement to attend a compulsory presentation of “around 90 minutes” which can turn out to be a hard-sell, and an unpleasant experience lasting several hours.

The sales techniques employed at these presentations can be very aggressive and may include an offer to take-over your existing timeshare which may not materialise.  They may involve a so-called “cash-back” scheme or “reclaim certificate”, or be presented as an 'investment' scheme resulting in a financial profit from the new purchase. We recommend extreme caution when offered any products of this nature.  The product may also be a non-timeshare product such as a Holiday Club or Discounted Travel Membership Club. 

The holiday industry is not a charity and there are no “free lunches” or even cheap lunches without strings attached.  A European Directive covering Timeshare and Holiday Clubs has been passed and it will soon be illegal for a company to cold call you and ask for any form of upfront payment within a mandatory 14 day withdrawal period.  Ask for information on possible destinations and any conditions that may be attached to the holidays.  Once you have given them your credit/debit card details it can be difficult, if not impossible, to get your money back.  If purchasing a new holiday product is not what you have in mind the offer should be treated with appropriate caution.  Despite a widespread conviction that “they could never sell anything to me” these sales pitches are frequently successful, or they would not be offering discounted accommodation to give them the opportunity.

 If you are approached by any such company and would like specific information about them you may contact the Timeshare Association as indicated below.  Your Timeshare Company or Owners Committee may also be a valuable source of information and assistance.

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