CASE Advisory on Timeshare Operators - 15 April 2009

CASE has received feedback that a number of timeshare-related companies are informing members of the public that they are working with CASE to either terminate timeshare memberships and/or recover money from such memberships. CASE has also seen consumers who informed that they were told their memberships can be liquidated or leased with attractive returns, in return for a fee. It has also come to CASE's knowledge that some companies said they are appointed by the Subordinate Courts to contact consumers because a particular timeshare or timeshare-related company is in the process of winding up or has wound up.

We would like to clarify that we do not work with timeshare or timeshare-related companies. We also understand that there is no market for the resale of timeshare memberships. Consumers should take time to verify companies' claims of being able to liquidate their timeshare memberships at good rates before jumping on the offer. Further, Subordinate Courts would not appoint a company to contact consumers when a company has wound up or in the process of winding up. Notices of Winding Up are published in the Notices Section of major newspapers and consumers who have a claim against the company or business named in the notice are required to file a claim with the liquidator appointed to handle the liquidation (the liquidator will be named in the Notice).

Should consumers require our assistance with their timeshare membership(s), they can speak to one of our Consumer Relations Officers directly. Consumers should also contact us directly if they are approached by any company claiming to be appointed by CASE to deal with timeshare-related matters. They can do so by either calling our hotline at 64631811 between 9 am and 5 pm from Mondays to Fridays and between 9 am and 12 pm on Saturdays or visiting us at our Ghim Moh office between 9 am and 4 pm from Mondays to Saturdays.

Seah Seng Choon

Executive Director

CASE