Recently the EU internal market committee announced approval of a new draft EU directive which would help distinguish between actual timeshare and similar products / bogus holiday clubs - below is the press release from the European Parliament.
The time-share holiday rights of some 1.5 million European families will soon be better protected. A draft EU directive, unanimously approved by the EU internal market committee on Monday, updates rules that are 14 years old so as to address consumer concerns and revitalise a business that is performing below potential.
Time share deals, which allow buyers to occupy holiday accommodation for specific periods in alternation with others, have won millions of takers worldwide since the 1970s. They are often sold as a cost-effective alternative to renting, hotels or a second residence. According to data from the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE), in 2001 there were 1.452 million holiday centres in 25 European countries, 1.4 million families using this kind of accommodation and 200,000 Europeans employed in this sector, with sales totalling €2.3 billion per year.
Since 1994, an EU directive has helped to harmonise time-share rules across the EU, but litigation between operators and holidaymakers is still frequent, notably about conditions and quality of service. Furthermore, new holiday products and services, similar to time share but not covered by the directive, have emerged. These include new types of holiday clubs giving holidaymakers reductions in the cost of their stays if they take out a subscription. Some of these new contracts clearly circumvent consumer protection rules.
More deals covered by consumer protection rules
The revised draft directive, which supplements the general rules introduced by the recent directive on unfair commercial practices, will cover both time-share packages and new products that so far have escaped any legislation. Consumers will be better protected by rules that clearly state their rights, and will find it easier to go to court. Honest operators will no longer have to face unfair competition from fraudsters.
Read The Full Story At http://www.ownersperspective.com/rules-on-timeshare-holidays-soon-to-be-clearer-for-european-consumers/
Filed under: Timeshare Owner News | Tagged: timeshare owners, timeshare owners news, timeshare laws, timeshare rules, timeshare holidays, timeshare scams, Organisation for Timeshare in Europe, OTE
