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Timeshare Consumers Association

(27 December) Marriott Vacation Club International warn members that their database containing personal and financial details of over 200,000 members (and employees) has been stolen from their Florida offices.

(19 December) The Office of Fair Trading obtain a High Court  injunction against Mr Gurdeep Singh for breaching his earlier undertaking in respect of OMI Club by continuing the same pyramid selling practices under VIP Club.

(6 December) Macdonald Hotels announces plans to develop the Cardrona Hotel, Peebles to include timeshare accommodation.

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(9 November) A Lanzarote court has awarded 13 French couples compensation totaling €215,010  for loss of their membership in the Lanzarote Beach Club.  The compensation is to be paid by the company currently operating the old timeshare resort.

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(24 October) Cendant Corp. announce that they are  splitting their business into four separate companies.  No names have yet been chosen for these companies but one of the company's  will be made up from the merging of RCI with Vacation Rental Group.

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(14 September) "Visit Florida" (the State tourist organisation) warns UK citizens to  avoid being misled by bogus companies.  Details.  See also

(5 September) Travelworks Ltd and its director Ms Nicola Hudson have given undertakings to the Office of Fair Trading that they will stop making misleading claims. This follows similar undertakings made by Atlantis Vacations Ltd and its director Ms Lisa Bradshaw earlier in the year.

(4 September) Lynch Hotels launch an RCI points based scheme for  a 5 year timeshare ownership at three of their hotels in Ireland.

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(15 August) The Herald newspaper reports that the attempt by Macdonald Resorts to wrest back control of Loch Rannoch resort (see 23 June) has failed.

(3 August) DTI wind up Network Vacations and Intasun Holidays UK in the public interest. Both companies were the subject of press criticism  in Scotland in 2003.

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(11 July) Sunterra announces substantial reductions in numbers of staff  in Europe designed to reduce costs by $3 million a year from 2006.

(11 July) Timeshare Consumers Association changes its legal structure from a Members Club to a Company  limited by Guarantee.

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(27 June) Walton Hall, near Stratford upon Avon, has been sold for £15.2M to Dawnay Shore Hotels and will be converted from a timeshare resort into a luxury hotel and conference centre.

(23 June)  The Herald newspaper reports that Macdonald Resorts are trying to wrest back control of the Loch Rannoch resort from the owners who took over control two years ago.

(11 June) Macdonald Hotels & Resorts issue County Court claims against owners who have not paid annual management fees. A new forum for Macdonald owners is at macd.ecclesweb.co.uk/

(10 June) Sunterra announce details of a "points trial  buy-back scheme" for selected members of Club Sunterra

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(25 May) Nigel Moore and Paul Charleston, who had defrauded 1,200 consumers out of £3M in various holiday internet scams, were debarred from being directors for 10 years. Their companies, which were compulsorily liquidated  in 2002, were Travel masters Ltd, Mediterranean Marketing Ltd, Callmasters UK Ltd, CCH International Ltd, Intersun Ltd and Leisuremasters Ltd.

(6 May) Lawyers representing groups of consumers in UK, France and other European countries presented documents to the Court in Madrid alleging fraud by eight named individuals in respect of the consumers membership of Lanzarote Beach Club, Lanzarote Beach Club 2 or International Vacation Club.

(6 May) John Palmer is declared bankrupt by the High Court in London.   Palmer, who is still in prison, is hoping for parole in late May.

(1 May) Which?  (Consumers Association)  publish an article advising consumers how to avoid the holiday club touts.

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(19 Apr) The directors of Intenta Marketing Ltd.(now in liquidation), Andrew Hennessy and Simon Hadley, have signed undertakings with the OFT not to mislead consumers whilst promoting membership of a holiday club.

(8 Apr) Following action by the OFT, One World Holiday Club (which sells membership of "Club Atlantis") have signed undertakings that they will stop making misleading statements and stop harassing purchasers. Full details

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(29 Mar) Designer Way Vacation Club SA (a company in the Timelinx Group),   and all its European based marketing agents, have agreed to provide a 7 day cooling off period to purchasers and have agreed not to make misleading statements about the benefits of  DWVC membership. Full details

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(14 Feb) Action Group Scotland Against Sunterra launch their campaign for compensation.

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(19 Jan) Charter International and Charterline are wound up by the Court - see 20 October 2004.

(8 Jan) International Herald Tribune comment on the worldwide timeshare industry.

(6 Jan)  E Kirk Shelton, former top executive of Cendant (owners of RCI) is convicted of a number of frauds, involving inflating revenue by $500M, by a US court.

(5 Jan) Seasons Holidays plc announce a new marketing campaign in the UK  involving the  distribution of  free "Seasons" branded playing cards.

(1 Jan)   TCA publish   "Timeshare Accommodation - getting good value for money"   report.  Details