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Time share companies

6
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 April 2011 - 11:02

Hi everyone:

I had a bad experiance with one of the timeshare reputed int'l organizations "Marriott Vacation Club" where i signed a contract with them to buy a week in their Paris vacation resort (Ille de France) & pay 36 monthly installements. I paid them 21 installements after which they revoked my contract because i only paid them 1 anuual maintenance fee out of 3 (Although i haven't used any) bearing in mind that the contract says that they can suspend my usage of the property if I didn't pay the maintenance. They wouldn't retrun the money they took from me (+AED100K) and they won't discuss any remedies. I tried to take the matter with they mother company but it was like hitting my head to the wall. I tried to talk to Dubai Economy Dept or Consumer Rights which didn't get me anywhere - they advised me that contracted agreement is not their speciality!! I heard that UAE ministry of Tourism is forming a committee to address such issues - but nothing so far!
I'm posting this to ask if anyone faced the same in UAE? & to ask for any advise on how to go forward in this?
Appreciate all the help you can spare!

12
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 April 2011 - 11:44
We own a week at the same resort as you and have in the past been behind on a payment. MVC send out reminders for payments overdue several times before resorting to revocation. Did you try contacting them as soon as you received the first reminder, as this helps, not just with them but any other institution. You will find though that in your contract and the letter (s) There's a provision that 'if you do not bring back your maintenance fee account into good standing immediately, we shall have no option but to terminate your Holiday Ownership Interest in accordance with the General Terms of your Holiday Ownership Purchase Agreement. As a result of this action, no refund would be due to you and your Marriott Rewards® account will remain locked.'
1861
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 17 April 2011 - 11:33
Timeshare things were all the rage in the UK about 20 years ago but went out of favour as people discovered they were an exceptionally expensive way of booking a holiday and not worth the sales pitch and on-going faff. It really does depend on what's in the fine print and these companies are very, very good at getting people to sign up without going through "minor details". If I were you, read all your contractual documents very, very carefully. If you were contractually obliged to pay the maintenance, and you didn't (the reason doesn't really matter), then you, I'm afraid, are in breach of contract and you *may* not be able to claim any of your money back. I know it's a harsh thing to say, but if you sign up for stuff and sign up to hand over lots of money, then you have to make sure it's worthwhile and that you have get-out clauses in place... if you didn't do either of those things, well... you're now learning it the hard way. You could also try to contact Consumer Rights people here on the basis that the contract wasn't fully explained to you at the start (ie missold). I don't think you can look to a refund of sorts, as you would in a normal holiday let set-up because the contract you entered into is far more complicated than that.
 
 

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