A retired couple parted with £5,000 to join an exclusive holiday club in Tenerife
Marjorie and John Shayler were holidaying in Tenerife last year when they were approached by a smiling, suited gentleman offering exclusive membership to a luxury holiday club.
His company offered discounts on airfare and accommodation and, as frequent travellers, the retired couple were talked into parting with £5,392 from their Halifax credit card, which they agreed to match with a similar sum at a later date.
It was only when they returned to Britain and began to research the company – which cannot be named for legal reasons – that they began to suspect it was a scam. Various websites contained tales of woe from previous investors who parted with their cash, but got nothing in return. The company also said that it was covered by ABTA, the tour operator regulator. It is not.
Marjorie, 68, from Solihull in the West Midlands, immediately asked to cancel the transaction, but was told the payment had already gone through and it could not refund the money.
The tour company soon began to ask for the second payment required by the contract, but Marjorie - who ran a guesthouse with her husband before retiring - was adamant that she was not going to pay.
She said: 'You could say that I was foolish to part with the money in the first place, but it was all so well presented. It was a mistake, but I tried to rectify it straight away and was certainly not going to give them more money once I found out what they were like.
'To me, this is a case of fraud. I don't believe I should have to pay for this because I paid for it on my credit card and should be covered under the Consumer Credit Act.
'The bank just seem to be saying to me, "You parted with your money, tough luck."'
Over the past year, however, Halifax have persistently told Marjorie that it is not liable because the contract concerned a timeshare, which is incorrect, and that she is not covered under the Consumer Credit Act because she pulled out of the contract and therefore rendered it void.
It insists that it would repay any monies to a customer if they were genuinely defrauded, but that the onus of proof is on the customer to show that they have been defrauded.
In response to our enquiries, a spokesperson said: 'We take allegations of fraud very seriously. Where a customer can prove that they have been the victim of fraud they will never be out of pocket.'
Its statement comes at a time when the police, banks and customers are increasingly at odds over who needs to prove a transaction is fraudulent, even though it is spelled out in the banking industry's code of practice.
Source: Thisismoney.co.uk
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A retired couple parted with £5000 to join an exclusive holiday club
I do feel sorry for this couple, but still find it hard to believe that people are still so gullible after all the bad publicity in the media over the years.
I believe we still have the touts on street corners too, which were supposed to have been banished months ago!
If only they were illegal in Tenerife, it would make it better for us all. Even if it were, who would enforce it?
I wonder where were the couple staying when they were approached?
Normally the touts/crooks on the street are not nicely suited!
Sounds like an inhouse job, which is worse!
Anyone with this information?
Regards, Liamog
It is so easy to prey on OAPS. As a couple you would think it would never happen to them. Some are lonely some are looking for the sunshine and some think they still have their wits about them. I have seen this happen, people over 60 with a good income are wined and dined by these suited touts ( this is illegal )then taken to properties (which are time share ) and given the usual you can afford it, have you got a credit card,oh its ok you can back out no problem. Some of these sales are a follow up to telephone calls. Please remember if it sounds a bargain it is not. Do your home work do not use your credit card, or sign a bank loan agreement.
Chedder
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Over the last few months, I´ve noticed a new office just a few doors from my bank in Fañabe - just down the road from the Market - well dressed men hovering about outside ... a club with a concierge service.
I know we all think - why would they sign? ... but I have to admit when I see the word, Sale or Rebajas, I am hooked thinking of getting a bargain - and so my wardrobe has many clothes that were 50% off, but not really essential
When last in the States, I was invited to a time share presentation and thought, excellent - $100 for a short period in my life - what an experience! Now I consider myself fairly savvy, but the presentation was so slick and the sales technique so "hard sell" that I nearly signed (it was all totally legit - Hilton)- but I certainly didn`t need or want it, and had absolutely no intent before the presentation
Over the last few months, I´ve noticed a new office just a few doors from my bank in Fañabe - just down the road from the Market - well dressed men hovering about outside ... a club with a concierge service.
I know we all think - why would they sign? ... but I have to admit when I see the word, Sale or Rebajas, I am hooked thinking of getting a bargain - and so my wardrobe has many clothes that were 50% off, but not really essential
When last in the States, I was invited to a time share presentation and thought, excellent - $100 for a short period in my life - what an experience! Now I consider myself fairly savvy, but the presentation was so slick and the sales technique so "hard sell" that I nearly signed (it was all totally legit - Hilton)- but I certainly didn`t need or want it, and had absolutely no intent before the presentation
Good for you, but some others just cannot resisit what appears to be such a good deal.We have all been there at some time and as the saying goes, been there , done that and thrown away the T shirt.Howevere the banks attitude to me stinks.
it is a shame for these poor pensioners but why does it happen time and time again will no one take note of these scoundrels ,,there is no such thing as a bargain
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liked said before how many programmes have we all seen on this holiday clubs time share scams ect,to be honest how can someone go abroad and trust someone on the street whether or not they wear a suit you will not get something in this world for nothing its old people like the above mentioned that teach us this in life they should know better, i dont want to sound nasty when i say this as i love old people but we have heard the same stories over and over agian.the people that work the streets are scum and the sooner the police or who ever is in charge take note and get rid of them the better and safer tenerife will become. i hope you do get your money back.
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Are they able to put a denuncia on these people....does anyone know? maybe if more people did that then the police would take some action against them.
Over the last few months, I´ve noticed a new office just a few doors from my bank in Fañabe - just down the road from the Market - well dressed men hovering about outside ... a club with a concierge service.
I know we all think - why would they sign? ... but I have to admit when I see the word, Sale or Rebajas, I am hooked thinking of getting a bargain - and so my wardrobe has many clothes that were 50% off, but not really essential
When last in the States, I was invited to a time share presentation and thought, excellent - $100 for a short period in my life - what an experience! Now I consider myself fairly savvy, but the presentation was so slick and the sales technique so "hard sell" that I nearly signed (it was all totally legit - Hilton)- but I certainly didn`t need or want it, and had absolutely no intent before the presentation
Exactly. Its all very well us ex-pats, who have seen the old scratchcard routine a hundred times over to say "how can people be so gullible" A couple of years ago one of the most intelligent people I know visited Tenerife. He is a pilot with medical training and learns foreign languages for fun. He actually was coerced into attending a holday club presentation, and, although he didnt sign, he told me it seemed like a really good idea in principle!! I couldnt believe it. These people must really know what theyre doing.
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