posted 21st September 2023
Have you been cold-called regarding historic outstanding maintenance fee debts? If so, it is a scam operated by a criminal organisation seeking to defraud you of your money.
Criminals, often cold calling from a mobile phone, are pretending to be calling from a company authorised by a government agency to recover outstanding maintenance fees and threatening potential victims with bailiffs turning up at their door within thirty days if they don't comply.
The scam is designed to scare victims into believing that they owe large amounts of money and, unless settled, will result in legal action and debt recovery.
The initial call is designed to scare you into believing you need to make a Zoom appointment with a representative who will review your case to see if they can help! The second stage of the scam results in you being asked to pay a hefty upfront fee that will take you off the timeshare register and cancel enforcement.
You will also be told that unless you have three documents to show that your timeshare has been cancelled, you still own your timeshare and are liable for fees.
Another common tactic is to tell you that another company has taken over the one you previously owned and is seeking to recover fees.
The Facts
Bailiffs can only visit you after they’ve sent you a letter to let you know they’ll be coming. This letter is called a notice of enforcement and should be received seven clear days before the visit. Allowing for weekends this means you should have a minimum of 9-10 days to either pay the debt in full or come to an arrangement to repay the debt in instalments. If you don’t do this, the bailiff will visit.
Whether it be a debt collector or bailiff, you will always receive official correspondence by post, not delivered by an aggressive cold caller trying to take an upfront fee!
If you have already lost money in a timeshare scam, get in touch. We provide a 100% no upfront fee service that could help you recover your money, and our advice and guidance are free of charge.
There are many articles on our website about timeshare scams; however, if you can't find the answers you are looking for, get in touch.
