How to Stay Safe

Yourtimeshare recommends that consumers should be extremely cautious of resale companies that:

Make an unsolicited contact i.e. a cold call

Request any form of upfront payment:

Common reasons for an upfront fee are: deposits, administration fees, bonds of trust, surety against withdrawal, insurance cover, validity survey, land registry tax, certificate charge and VAT.

Ensure you always make a payment with your credit card as you would be fully protected under laws governing the use of Credit Cards (Consumer Credit Act 1974 section 75).

Ask for assurances that they will not take any upfront payment.

Never send them your Ownership or Reclaim Certificate.

These people have unlimited imaginations when it comes to stealing your money so don’t trust them – no matter how convincing and reassuring they may seem.

If you have been contacted by any company regarding Reclaim Certificates or CashBack schemes.

Please do not hesitate get contact us directly: yourtimeshare@hush.com

JRG Equity

Have you been cold called by JRG Equity Release? Because we have received already a lot of inquiries!

JRG Equity Release claims to be appointed by the Spanish Government to process the refund of money from the funds held by the Spanish Government for victims of the ILG / DWVC scam and the Reclaim certificates.

JRG does not request any money as they have already been paid by the Government.

They work from UK and Spain, and inform the timeshare consumer he can obtain a 68% of his reclaim and the other 32% will have to go to the Spanish government for fees and taxes.

In order to be part of this claim of 58.000 certificates (!!!) the consumer has to be quick, as the process is due to the end of April.

In order to be part of this tremendous claim, the consumer has to go to a local notary on his own expense and their identity by Drivers license, utility bills and also a copy of the Reclaim certificate.

Then JRG Equity release will send a courier around for picking up the Certificate and there you go!

Well not quiet…
They also require legal fees to be paid up front and those add up to around a £1000, oops…and these are not going to the tax man, oh no, these are to be paid by bank transfer into an account of a company called PROPIEDADES ANDALUCIA SUR SL

Now the story starts to wobble. And we investigated a bit further;

JRG Equity Release has a website http://www.jrgequityrelease.com which was registered on the 24th of January this year. Their address is a postbox in Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol, and their phone number is 0871 408 9549

Going through the information we found clear indications that this company is linked to other dubious companies, of which several were closed down by the police:

Sol Bookers SL. (closed by police in 2008) Greystone Leisure & Travel SL. (closed by police in 2008), Red Rock Marketing SL and Timeshare Disposal two companies mentioned on our blog.

That does not sound right!

Adding up the fact they claim to be working for the Spanish Government, which is highly unlikely with this modus operandi, ask for an upfront fee by bank transfer, and the mentioned connections…our advice is going to be straight forward and a big NO.

Have you been called by JRG Equity Release from 08714089549 ?

Please let us know! yourtimeshare@hush.com

Timeshare Investment Back, dubious company on a known Address!

A new company has been brought to our attention, Timeshare Investment Back who is cold calling timeshare consumers in the UK to make appointments for a meeting where they will be informed about Timeshare Disposal.

This company has a rather basic website http://www.timeshareinvestment-back.co.uk which was registered on the 12th of December 2011. So just starting off the business then!

On the website, there is no clear identification on who this company is, and neither is there any address or indication where they are located. The only contact details mentioned are a telephone number 08442430623 and email; admin@timeshareinvestment-back.co.uk

But with a bit of research, it seems that there is an address after all and surprise surprise look at this!

Calle Rio Darrio, portal 2, Mijas, Costa del Sol Spain

Where have we seen this address before? There you go…..ILG Headquarters!
Oh dear, if this is a coincidence, well not a very fortunate one, thinking about the “bad vibes” this address must bring to thousands of consumers who were defrauded by ILG.

So, Timeshare Investment Back, cold calls consumers, knowing obviously they are timeshare owners and not being very clear where they obtained their personal data, and invites them over in the UK to meet up to discuss about disposing of their timeshare.

The meeting is with a company called Keld Property Solutions Ltd, a company registered only recently in November on the UK Companies House and no names of directors or administrators as yet. They do have a website http://www.keldsolutions.co.uk which was registered also in November and by the same person who registered the Timeshare Investment Back website.

Yes we might be a bit quick with our alert, but please let’s face it…companies that cold call from Spain, websites with no identification, and dubious stories about timeshare disposal.

Haven’t we heard this before?

So please to those who are being called or those who have been called and made an appointment; we only ask to be cautious, and if attending this kind of meetings, go with an open mind but with a closed wallet. No credit cards, no money, no cheque book…did the agent on the phone not promise you were going to sell or dispose of your timeshare? Well then you don’t need any money or card on you to attend that meeting!

Please let us know if you have been called and / or attended the meeting from Timeshare Investment Back / Keld Property Solutions Ltd.

yourtimeshare@hush.com

Have you received a Membership fee bill from Pro Travel Solutions?

In the past weeks we have received numerous emails from consumers who were surprised by receiving a Membership fee bill for their DWVC membership, requested by a company called Pro Travel Solutions.

But who is Pro Travel Solutions?

Pro Travel Solutions is the former Timelinx Group. They have been slowly replacing its main holiday club membership Designer Way Vacation Club for the Marketing Agency Agreement Personal Travel Group – http://www.personaltravelgroup.com for which the inventory is provided by the travel agency Pro Travel Solutions Plc.

Incentive Leisure Group Ltd in Gibraltar ceased trading in January 2011. This company was Timelinx´ last marketer using such name which was operative, as the listed ones at UK Companies House had also been dissolved earlier – i.e. Incentive Leisure Group (Milton Keynes) Ltd. & Incentive Leisure Group (U.K.) Ltd.).

It seems now that in spite of ILG going into liquidation, Pro Travel Solutions is trying to continue their business and is doing mailings to DWVC members asking for the £75 membership fee.

Pro Travel Solutions states their address in the emails they send out as; Waterpark Business Centre, C/Rio Darro 2, Mijas Costa, Málaga, 29649, Spain. But this is very strange as these offices were abandoned last year when ILG went into liquidation and have been empty ever since.

Their contact number is 0871 971 1170

The email they send out includes the following information:

“We have lots of fabulous special offers on http://www.thetraveller-online.com or if you have any special requests, just give one of our travel consultants a call on 0871 971 1170 and they will search out the best offers.
Remember booking now for your summer holiday means you can take advantage of the Early Bird Discounts, email reservations@protravelsolutions.co.uk”

Do they really pretend as if nothing has happened and DWVC is going on and people are “happy members” of their Holiday Club?
Who are they trying to fool?

Have you received an invoice from Pro Travel Solutions?

Please let us know!

Incentive Leisure Group, DWVC, Timelinx, Reclaim Ltd (UPDATE)

To the best of my knowledge, Incentive Leisure Group Ltd Gibraltar – main marketer of Timelinx Group – http://www.timelinx.com/en/ – has ceased trading early this year. Even Incentive Leisure Group´s site includes more information about its alleged current legal status, and of its cashback scheme, Reclaim Ltd – http://www.leisuregroup.net/.

The following article published in the Daily Mirror last January would support the view that ILG is not active anymore in the UK soil. Some comments added to the article would show that ILG had sacked its entire staff, and closed down their offices in Costa del Sol, and the UK. We also have other sources who would confirm this information.

Incentive Leisure and Personal Travel go AWOL – January 19th, Daily Mirror

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/investigations/2011/01/incentive-leisure-and-personal.html

However recent information obtained in March which still needs verification would tell us that although the Timelinx Group has closed its UK operations; still its Personal Travel Group (PTG) scheme – http://www.personaltravelgroup.com – is still operating from Gibraltar.

As indicated Incentive Leisure Group Ltd in Gibraltar ceased trading last January. This company was Timelinx´s last marketer using such name which was operative, as the companies listed with the same name at the UK Companies House had been dissolved earlier – i.e. Incentive Leisure Group (Milton Keynes) Ltd. & Incentive Leisure Group (U.K.) Ltd.).

Moreover the Office of Fair Trading had announced last December that it was taking to Court to Incentive Leisure Group, Personal Travel Group, and Geo Demographic Market Research Ltd (previously known as the Direct Marketing Partnership Group Ltd), although this is a matter about which we do not have further information though – http://www.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2010/146-10

On 21 January 2011 the Gibraltar Chronicle published a Legal Notice – http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/consumer-enforcement/gibraltar-chronicle.pdf – stating that Incentive Leisure Group Limited, would be wound up by way of creditor’s voluntary liquidation.

The OFT has informed the liquidator about its action in the UK and its interest in the proposed liquidation. In the meantime, the OFT claims that it will continue its action against ILG, and other defendants in the UK, and monitoring the place in Gibraltar.

Another worrying sign that tell us that the Timelinx Group might not have completely stopped trading, it is that besides the information gathered that tell us that Personal Travel Group (PTG) might be still operating from Gibraltar, it is also that we have detected a warning on cold callers published on the website of the bogus holiday club membership, Designer Way Vacation Club (DWVC) – http://www.dwvc.com/en/ – marketed until recently by ILG itself.

We have also some evidences that tell us that the Incentive Leisure Group might have ceased trading in South Africa late last year, as a result of the death of Garry Leigh – Timelinx Group´s top guy and founder – closing down its two sales decks, located in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and transferring at the same time, the handling of the holiday bookings of the DWVC Members, to Pro Travel Solutions, in the UK.

This is the information we have currently about ILG, and other Timelinx companies, however it would require further investigation to be 100% certain about the current status of the Timelinx Group.

Please, if you have some new information about this group of companies, contact us.

yourtimeshare@hush.com

Has Incentive Leisure Group ceased trading?

To the best of my knowledge, ILG Ltd Gibraltar has ceased to trade. Even Incentive Leisure Group’s site includes more information about its alleged current legal status – http:/www.leisuregroup.net/.

This is the information provided by Incentive Leisure Group last January 25th, 2011:

INCENTIVE LEISURE GROUP LIMITED
(In Creditors Liquidation)

On 25 January 2011, at a meeting of the members of Incentive Leisure Group Limited, Keith Lawrence FCA was appointed Liquidator of the company. This was then confirmed by a meeting of the creditors held on the same day.

Any creditors with a claim against the Liquidation should send an email to liquid.ilg@keithlawrence.gi with details of their claim. However the Liquidators initial review of the information provided to him would seem to indicate that there will not be any funds available for distribution to creditors of the company.

Please note that the liquidation refers solely to the Gibraltar registered company, Incentive Leisure Group Limited.

We are aware that clients have been contacted by individuals purporting to represent companies using various other names e.g. Future Group Administration, Travel Group Administration, Fraser & Ward, Offshore Solutions, Pro-Call Corporate Services and Reclaim Investment Bank and asking for money to be sent to them. We would strongly advise that you do not send any money and contact Reclaim Limited.

_____

Regarding that, the Office of Fair Trading is taking to Court to a number of companies, including among them Incentive Leisure Group, this is a matter about which we do not have further information though – ww.oft.gov.uk/news-and-updates/press/2010/146-10 .

Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation

On 21 January 2011 the Gibraltar Chronicle published a Legal Notice (pdf 455kb) stating that Incentive Leisure Group Limited would be wound up by way of creditor’s voluntary liquidation.

The OFT has informed the liquidator about its action in the UK and its interest in the proposed liquidation.

In the meantime, the OFT will be continuing its action against ILG and other defendants in the UK and monitoring the position in Gibraltar.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/consumer-enforcement/consumer-enforcement-current/holiday-products/

If you have dealt with this company and hold a Reclaim certificate and are due money back.. Then please contact get in touch as we can help with pointing you in the right direction so that you can reclaim your money back.

A good company to contact for reclaiming your money & for enquiries regarding Reclaim Certificates, DWVC Packs and CashBack is:

“CIS Ltd” 02031371898

They do charge a fee, but its not upfront.. (Upfront fees are illegal)

A consultant is sent out to your house and will sort everything for you so that you definitely receive money back.. Although you will only get approx. 62% back. Better than nothing..

“I wish I would have found the yourtimeshare blog earlier..”

How many times have we seen this comment on the yourtimeshare blog? And even more times in the emails we receive from consumers that contact us directly.

We from the yourtimeshare team are working against the clock. Each day we receive emails with names of companies we hadn’t heard from before. Some of these companies are so “openly” fraudulent that we can publish directly, others we need to verify first the facts and ask for more information.

It is therefore that it might happen you get called by a company and this company isn’t mentioned on our blog yet. But this is also why we really want to insist that each call for us is important. Your information is valuable to us and to other consumers!

With thousands of visitors a month to our blog and with just registering with facebook & twitter, we certainly feel we can reach a lot of consumers as soon as we have a new alert.

But there are so many others out there, that haven’t heard of us yet…and sometimes as mentioned above, they only find the blog when it is too late.

We need your help with this! How? Well when you visit your resort, when you speak to other owners, your resort staff, the owners committee….please mention us, and ask them to keep us in mind or even mention us in their publications to the owners.

The more people know about us the better! Let’s stop these fraudsters from taking advantage of consumers! Enough is enough!

“They told me Alberto García is a fraud …”

Another well-known phrase we receive in comments and emails. A lot of the dodgy companies are obviously getting very frustrated with the fact that consumers do their research and even mention in the calls they found the yourtimeshare blog.

Let’s get it clear here…these companies are never going to say anything positive about us, as we clearly have an impact on their dubious income. If in the past without the information they could call consumers and get the credit cards out of people’s wallet without hesitation, now it takes a lot more calls to get to that point…and even then there are so many consumers claiming refunds and banks claiming explanations!

So no, we didn’t expect anybody from the “other side” to speak highly about us. But for those who don’t really know us yet, and are in a doubt…let us just point out the following:

We have provided professional advice before going on the internet to thousands of consumers.

We don’t ask for money, all advice and guidance has been provided absolutely free of charge.

We don’t cold call!

We will continue informing consumers, and we will continue our battle against fraudulent companies!

And please remember whatever they say about us, we are on your side!

For any further info please email us: yourtimeshare@hush.com

Timeshare3 a Timeshare Disposal helping timeshare owners with an easy way out.. NOT!!

Timeshare3 is a new Timeshare Disposal company that has started their cold call campaign, offering an “easy” way out of the timeshare.

The agent calling from Timeshare 3 sounds very plausible on the phone, but a general comment from consumers is that he is a bit evasive about the costs.

The same happens actually on their website http://www.timeshare3.com where there is a mention of charges between £200 – £300 and VAT between £2000 and £3000!

On the website which was registered on the 3rd of March 2012 there is also a mention of home visits for which there would be a petrol charge.

The website does not display any address or telephone number and neither is there a company registration number.

But once the consumer has shown interest, or at least listened to the phone pitch, the agent of Timeshare3 sends through the paperwork. Finally there are some clarifications!

The address seems to be 3rd Floor, 207 Regent Street, London, W1B 3HH and there is even a phone number: 0845 692235

On the papers finally the costs are outlined and a calculation of how they got to the amount requested:

The fee payable for this service is £1,450 plus the resort/club´s costs for legally removing your name from your ownership document/s. Resorts severance fees of £1,800 plus a fee of £650 T/S 1 week (I.e. the title deeds/membership certificates). The fee includes all litigation, administration and documentation expenses incurred within the legal process to enable this taking place. Total Amount Payable: £3,900

In order to add “urgency to the matter, the timeshare consumer is pointed out the following: “Please ensure you secure your position at your earliest convenience to avoid and prevent any future disappointment. Owners who have previously enquired or have been interested to exit from their ownership have first priority, which was the reason for my telephone call to you earlier today. The resale and relinquishment of timeshare ownerships are now no longer permitted due to new legal restrictions that resorts and clubs have put in place. “

Timeshare3 also has a blog attached to their website and there are comments of happy customers. http://www.timeshare3.com/blog.html One of these “customers” posted the following Comment:

Reply #3 on: Today at 09:46:57 » hi
i used to own a 2 bed apartment at Gran Anfi and i was able to get rid of my timeshare through a company called timeshare3. They had it on their books for about 4 months, which i didn’t think was too bad but they did eventually get rid of it for me. I’ve been scammed before by a company called incentive leisure and lost quite a bit of money so i went to the R.D.O and they recommended me to use this company .

We can assure you that this company is not recommended or in any way connected or affiliated to RDO!

So bottom line in this article is yet again a company that cold calls, without explanations about where they obtained the consumers personal data, requests a substantial upfront payment, does not comply with the regulations for websites and has no company details at all on the website, and last but not least; wants to make the consumer believe that they are recommended by RDO..

Have you had any dealings with Timeshare3 or were you called from 0845692235 ?

Please let us know! yourtimeshare@hush.com

Are you unable to contact your cashback or reclaim company?

This is what many consumers are reporting to me.

Reclaim Ltd, http://www.reclaim.gi is linked with the company Pro IV Solutions SA, at the headquarters’ Incentive Leisure Group in Spain (now called Personal Travel Group):

You should be aware that one of the main firms marketing this cashback, i.e. Incentive Leisure Group (Gibraltar) Ltd, along with the holiday club Designer Way Vacation Club, among others products associated with this cashback, has gone into liquidation just this January 2011, and last December 2010 the Office of Fair Trading had decided to take ILG (Gibraltar) Ltd to Court, along with other companies.

I strongly believe that your chances to get anything back from your cashback certificate are very slim.

If you are one of Reclaim’s victims, I strongly recommend you to report your information to “CIS Ltd” in the UK.

Their phone number is 02031371898 and are based in London.

Call them and they will call you back to arrange a consultant to come to your house and sort all your RECLAIM / CASHBACK worries out.

However, there is a fee to pay.. Surprise, Surprise..

This will only be taken once the consultant has made an appointment to visit you.

They help you stop you paying any more maintenance fees.
They re-register your reclaim certificate correctly.

Then all you have to do is send off your certificate and you receive your money back. It will only be a percentage of your certificate. Reports are anything from 42% to 72%.

So anybody that has a reclaim certificate, especially those who were scammed by “Incentive Leisure Group” who bought a “DWVC PACK” get in contact with this company as they will help you.

If anyone has dealt with this company or any others and has received reclaim or cashback monies then please get in contact.

yourtimeshare@hush.com