Call for timeshare gripes

THE National Consumer Commission has called on Gautengbased customers who have information regarding poor treatment in dealing with the vacation ownership timeshare industry to come forward.

The commission started its public hearings into the matter at the Sierra Burgers Park Hotel in Pretoria yesterday.

The investigation comes after the commission received thousands of complaints from customers through the Department of Trade and Industry about the industry over a period of two decades.

Complaints centred particularly on the points system; bond contracts not governed by the Consumer Protection Act; unreasonable property levies; and the unavailability of accommodation, among other issues.

Commissioner Ebrahim Mohamed said at the start of the public hearings: “Public hearings are an opportunity for consumers to participate and reveal their challenges to the inquiry panel, so that the government can help the industry serve the South African people and its economy better.

This inquiry is a fact-finding mission aimed at unearthing challenges so that the missteps of the vacation ownership industry can be corrected.”

Mohamed said the sessions were the first of several to be held by the commission over the next few months to gather, collate, study, analyse and research all the information necessary. This would enable the panel to produce a report that would include recommendations to correct challenges for the benefit of consumers. –