Friday, May 11, 2007

HOW TO CANCEL A TIMESHARE CONTRACT

South African law says that you have 5 (five) WORKING days (not including week ends) to cancel any timeshare or timeshare type agreement.

YOU MUST!:

1). Always cancel in writing! Fax a copy to the marketing company, the developer and TISA and remember to keep the fax receipt.
and.....
2). Phone to make sure that they have received it (take the name of the person you speak to and record the time and date of your call).
and.....
3). Post a copy to the marketing company, the developer and TISA (make sre you send it by registered mail so that you have proof of postage).
and .......
4). Return any literature, sales pack or promotional items that you were given but remember to keep the copy of the contract that you signed. If you keep anything baring the contract they will find a way to deduct it from your deposit or any capital that you have paid.

I know that this seems to be extreme, but these people will stop at nothing to prevent you from getting our of your commitment to them.

You need not give any reason for your cancellation as it is your right to do so by law. The company has to refund any monies that you have paid (in terms of a deposit or capital amount) in full and are NOT allowed to deduct any administration costs. In your cancellation letter request the refund of any monies paid within 14 (fourteen) days and warn that any time after this will incur interest (your right too).

Do not be bullied or persuaded - if you have changed your mind it is your right and you are allowed to do so with the full protection of South African law.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your sound advice. I tried to cancel a contract that we were forced into signing and no-one would help us get out of it - including the timeshare operator. Your guidance has saved me from being trapped into something that we never wanted in the first place. God bless you!

Anonymous said...

I agree with Mary, many thanks.

Anonymous said...

i dont know who you are but a big thank you for assisting me

Anonymous said...

i dont know who you are but a big thank you for assisting me

Anonymous said...

Hi Crusader

Found your blog during my desperate search for advice on cancellation of our Flexi-club contract.

We signed the contact in January '07 but had been unaware of the 5-day cooling-off period and therefore didn't make use of the grace period. Having read so many negative comments on Flexi-club we want to cancel our contract a.s.a.p.

With your advice in mind, can we still cancel according to the advice given on your blog regardless of it being more than 5 days since our signing? Flexiclub says "no". We cannot be forced to continue with this contract, can we? Should we just cancel and cut our losses?
Some comments recommend not following the route of legal advice and rather use TISA? Please help if you can.

Crusader said...

Always try TISA first! Failing that try the publicity route - contact local consumer bodies, newspapers and radio stations. Bad publicity hurts these people where they feel it most - in their attendance and ultimately in the amount of people who sign up. They will rather cancel and refund you if you are going to be a thorn in their side! Make it a weekly occurence to contact local publications. Try HELLOPETER website (link under USEFUL LINKS) or CONSUMERWATCH (link under USEFUL LINKS). Never give up or be bullied - EVER!!!

Anonymous said...

Much, much help thank you so much. You have saved me and my family from suffering with such a heavy financial burden. These people are so clever, they made me feel so guilty that I couldnt afford to take my family on regular holidays. In a flash I was blinded to reason as their clever talk overtook any reason that my wife and I had - ... insanity prevailed and we signed! Thanks to your wonderful blog - we found our way out. Thank you once again - we will tell our friends about your blog and promote you where we can.