Tenerife, one of the most popular Canary Islands is a lovely place to visit and guarantee for sunshine the whole year round. But unfortunately Tenerife is also starting to be a melting pot of different dubious companies that can turn the happy holidays into an unforgettable nightmare!
A person very well known by the police and authorities because of his dubious past has recently expanded his “dubious” businesses from Gran Canaria to Tenerife to trap more “happy holiday makers” into the web of his different questionable adventures.
This person is Eugene Kaiser, a German national based in Gran Canaria, former Anfi Group Sales Director, arrested twice by the Spanish Police in the past, and who has tried to destroy since 2003 his former employer Anfi Group, although more recently he has found the formula to profit from this timeshare company.
Since early 2000´s he has been running a number of dubious holiday club memberships: Columbus Imperial Club, Design Vacation Exchange and Voyager since 2007.
Voyager is the current dubious discount holiday club membership sold, not only in Gran Canaria, but also in Tenerife, and Norway.
The way to catch the clients for a presentation has been done through OPC’s handing out scratch cards on the streets and always falsely claiming to be promoting the island as a holiday destination on behalf of the island tourism public body.
Since 2009 Eugene Kaiser has been running a supposed Class Action scheme ReclaimGC – www.reclaimgc.com – as a “honey trap” to sell the costly holiday club membership Voyager – www.voyager-travel.net . To promote the Class Action, Kaiser has even created an online platform Claims Directive – www.claimsdirective.com .
About this Class Action Scheme ReclaimGC we put already a warning on our blog no so long ago: http://wp.me/p1kmoi-3q and an update on this article (http://t.co/7CsXQBX) with the worrying news that ReclaimGC is actually working together with Mason, Goodwin & Lisco (http://wp.me/p1kmoi-1K) a dubious legal consultancy.
Although initially ReclaimGC was launched from Gran Canaria to target Anfi Members, later on it has expanded to any timeshare owner who purchased in Spain, particularly since it opened an office in Tenerife. It has been working with lists of timeshare owners of other resorts obtained unlawfully, not only Anfi Members.
Gran Canaria Resorts (GC Resorts) – http://gcresorts.com and www.gc-resorts.com – is the latest scheme set up by Eugen Kaiser this year, acting as a traditional company that invites people to go holidays.
Gran Canaria Resorts is cold calling initially timeshare owners and pretending to be employees from good reputation timeshare companies, promising holiday accommodations at top resorts worldwide, at a discount price, and also contacting consumers that bought a bogus holiday club in general with similar offers. Once visiting their landing page on internet, they actually claim not being connected with these timeshare companies. At all!
The timeshare owners that are cold called and think they are talking to a timeshare companies employees, are being offered promotions like unlimited availability in gold crown resorts with 2 free extra holidays.
However, timeshare owners who have accepted their offer so far, have had a nasty surprise, when finally they receive an email from Gran Canaria resorts, in which they are informed that they can only book accommodation, at poor quality Canary Islands, and Thailand resorts!
In the Terms & Conditions of the contractual agreement between Gran Canaria Resorts and its clients, it is mentioned the obligation to attend a meeting at the resort where their clients will be staying. So this makes the circle complete, as the timeshare owner will most probably be presented with Voyager ( www.voyager-travel.net) and the ReclaimGC scheme..
So what is the conclusion out of all this? We have many timeshare consumers who have already reported the dubious dealings of the above mentioned companies; we have the testimonials of so many more about how their holidays turned into a nightmare as they lost so much money …and what about the image this creates of Tenerifeand Gran Canaria?
What is the role of the authorities here? Do they care people will most probably not come back to Tenerife any longer due to this experience? Are they looking into these companies when they receive so many complaints and reports from both police and consumer offices?
Have you signed up for ReclaimGC, Voyager, Gran Canaria Resorts?
Let us know! We can help you!
Mindtimeshare 
Hello,
I have sent an email to customercare@mindtimeshare.com but not received a reply so thought I would try the blog.
Does anyone know if the Realistix web browser, Realistix solutions sell at the Flamingo hotel in Tenerife is genuine or not?
I was in Tenerife with my wife and we won a scratch card prize, of possibly money or an ipad or a holiday. We had to go to an office which was part of the Flamingo hotel and have a 60 minute presentation. (This took over 4 hours) The presentation was all about how their holidays were a lot cheaper for 4 and 5 star apartments than anywhere else at about £159 per week worldwide. We told them we were with xxxx and they went through how much we were paying our resort each year plus the up front costs and that we could get the same type of time share 4/5 star accommodation by joining their club. They would trade in our timeshare points, convert them back to weeks and add them to their own stock to be used for holidays for people like us if we joined.
They also offered us 2 weeks holiday worldwide including flights, for 2 people, a cruise and week in Florida, 2 more weeks in Europe, a week at the Flamingo hotel as inducements. The membership was £19,900 but trading in the £12,600 we had paid for our Timeshare points left £7300 to pay. We said no to this and were ready to leave, which we probably should but they came back and offered to reduce the price to £5500, then down to £5005, which they explained was about the same as the value of the holidays they were going to give us. I thought this was possibly true because some of the holidays included flights, so we agreed.
Finally the forms arrived for signature and I should have walked away again because it seemed we were buying a software package. This was explained that it was the case and the holidays were accessed via the software. So I didn’t.
I notice that the software can be returned if the seal has not been broken, but while signing and accepting the CD we were told to check the CD for damage and so had to break the seal there and then, and sign to say it was there and undamaged. This makes the option of returning it with the seal unbroken impossible.
Anyway, when I checked the holiday vouchers they are for vouchers that we will receive once final payment is made and are from a company called Golden Travel.
Also there was in the documents a letter from us relinquishing our points to them once final payment is made. This seems like a letter from us to them rather than a contract with them.
I am now wondering if they will honour any of their promises.
Will they take our points so that we do not have to pay the annual fees any longer?
Will the holiday vouchers be useable and as described, with return flights from the UK, Newcastle.
Thanks
Roland
Hi Roland,
Thanks for the message and yes we have received the email and are looking into this. We will reply to you in detail shortly!
Kind regards
Customer Care
Thank you so much. I have paid £1000 deposit, and am dubious about paying the remaining £4000. I look forward to your advise.
Thanks
Roland
Hi,
I have been with Petchey since Oct 2009 and in 2012 after paying out money for points 200,000pts. Also with RCI, in April 2012 we got pulled in by Silverpoint. They stated that the only way out was with them, so we went with them. Now in July 2012 we were in Gran Canaria and yet again got caught, this time with Voyager and Lifestyle holidays also reclaimgc. We went to there nottary office to put in a Claim for recompence . We have been asked to send all documentation to do with Petchey/ Silverpoint. We have forked out a lot of money since 2009 and I feel absolutly gutted that I could have been caught out like this. It is a shame that the Islands concerned have not cleaned up their act, after all it is we the tourists that keep their Islands going.. get in touch as i
getting a call on Monday regarding Finance. Are those companies genuine.
Thank you
George
Cant believe what I am reading. I am actually embarassed to say that we have gone even further with this company and have attended court in Maspalonas against Anfi. We have since heard that we lost the case but they are going to appeal. We have actually signed up for six years with voyager travel or lifestyle vacations and spent a fortune. Have we been duped. What happens next – wil we have to pay all of Anfi court costs. OMG
Hi Jean,
Thanks for your comment.
We will need to see your paperwork, but we will send you an email explaining this.
Kind regards
Customer Care
They have now opened a new website called “resorts4all.com” and trying to attract new customers through Groupon in UK and Ireland. I’ve bought one of their Groupon vouchers – one week at Atlantic Sands Resort on GC for 229 Euro, thinking I got a good deal. Today a representative (Michael Warren) called me and explained that there had been a mistake and they have sold to many vouchers and I need to pay an additional 200 Euros. As a compensation, they would give me an “upgrade” to a better villa and an extra week at one of their resorts. As this sounded kind of fishy to me I started an internet research and this way I found out that this must be the same guys who have done the scams with gc-resorts described here. I’m not so sure what they are up to with the Groupon customers, but I decided to complain to Groupon and ask for my money back. Don’t want to be involved with those guys anymore…
We have been called tonight by GC resorts pressuring us to pay £370 for Accomodation so that we can let them help us get our timeshare money back. I take it this is a scam and there is no way that they will help us with our investment at golden sands in Malta. We would appreciate any advice from others with experience of this company. They were on the phone for an hour trying to convince us, we said no and then they called back 15 minutes later to talk to us again. Didn’t want to give us time to think about what we are doing and check them out. Should we avoid any dealings with them at all costs?
Hi we have signed up with a deposit to Voyager have we made a bad decision?
We did exactly the same,in october,signed under immense pressure,the same as you,thinking it was only 1 contract and not the 2 as it appears,aand voyager have cancelled our contract.We only paid 50 euros deposit as we were unsure about the legality of this company,and lifestyle holidays have told us we must pay the balance even though we cancelled the contract within 7 days.I have contacted the oft and made a complaint against them,and they wont be getting a penny out of us.They are a bunch of c****s and the spanish authorities should be made aware of them, as we will NEVER visit Gran Canaria again,due to their behaviour.
we all regret these things but i would not let it stop me going somewhere i enjoyed. However, i would be a lot wiser and never touch a scratch card/shake a hand etc ever again whilst in GC or any of the other islands.
We did send a cancellation letter by recorded delivery.
We contacted our credit card company, who said the payment had gone through and we could do nothing about it. We have since contacted the Card company again, asking for the card to be reissued.
This company also goes under the name of Life Style Holidays. It appear (daft i know) that we signed 2 contracts not 1 as we thought. Voyager Travel who say they have not had any money from us as the 1st year is free – have cancelled (in writting) their contract. However, Life Style say we owe them the money and will pursue us for the balance.
The ‘Lawyer’ at the company in a email states he knows the Law and we have no get out – although i see that the Law changed in February 2011, he says this does not apply to them.
~~Do we just have to put this down to experience and loose our £1,000?
Dear Ang,
Thanks for your message.
Please let us have a look at it first.
Don’t just give up! A thousand pounds is a lot of money for a lesson to be learned.
Kind regards
Customer Care
Whats the best way to let you see our paperwork? We can send photo copies but where to? or we can fax if you have a fax number
Hi we are in a similar position after signing up for the same package in August 2011. After returning home I started to do some research on this company which sent alarm bells ringing. Despite sending numerous emails to request a refund, the company kept dragging their heels until today when I received email from their legal department advising me that we were liable to pay a further 500 euros. Below is an extract of the subsequent email that I sent on the 25/11/11.
“In response to your informative attachment – please repay the deposit asap. We will not be bullied by some so called lawyer who ever you may be!!! I am bemused that you associate yourselves with GC-resorts who claim to represent the best interests of the customer in relation to the shady operations of holiday clubs/timeshare sales company’s. Furthermore if you have read our previous emails you will be aware that our primary interest was in the reclaim product which is supposed to be about challenging selling misrepresentation – hypocrisy comes to mind!!! I would be delighted to engage in dialogue with you over the telephone re this matter as I find the manner you have chosen inform to threaten us, as cowardly. We are honest, reasonable & hard working people and would like this matter to be settled amicably. I look forward to hearing from you”.
We signed up with Voyager Travel whilst on holiday in Gran Canaria in october this year. We were told more than once that we had 14 days to change our mind once back in the UK. We have tried to cancel the contract, we put it in writing and sent recorded delivery, they have replied that there is no 14 day ‘cooling off’ period in their country and we still owe the balance. We paid £1,000 by credit card. Please advise
Dear Ang,
Please try to cancel with your bank directly. Also send Voyager Travel a cancellation letter by recorded delivery.
We will send you more advice and infromation by email.
Kind regards
Customer Care
I received a telephone call today 30/09/11 from GC resorts told acting as a branch associated with RCI, offering me a reward holiday (on the basis that we have been members of RCI for 5 yrs, always pay our time share maintenance fees on time and that a number of owners are loosing their ownership because they cannot afford their maintenance fees & RCI wants to keep customers like us!). The offer was a Gold Crown week, 2 bedroom property with either disabled access or ground floor any where in the world with an open ended end date. The guy was totally hard sell wanting an answer there and then stating no utilities fees would be charged and it was a flat rate of £199 to secure the week as only 25 weeks were available and he finished work at 7pm. I told him that I wanted to discuss this offer with my husband and basically check out the company as he wanted my credit card details over the phone to secure the booking there and then!
Ian H. says. I also have recieved a cold call from GC Resorts on 16th Sept. about a trip to Tenerife to see Spanish solicitors, re. the mis-selling of apartments by Resort Properties.
This seems very much like a scam but it would be of interest to know how Roger Orton gets on with his trip at the end of the month.Or if anyone else has information on this.
Hi Ian,
I could advance you the result.
The trip to Tenerife is just to offer you another bogus holiday product, a bogus discount holiday club.
Customer care
Oh No, not again,
looks like we have fallen into the trap as well, we were called on the phone, offered a week in Paradise suites Tenerife for £295, ended up in Chayofa Counrty Club (which was proberbly a nice place 20 years ago), We were taken to Paradise suites on Monday and talked into a deposit payment for a notary who we were introduced to. It looks so convincing and I still don’t know whether this is another scam reading these and other comments I can only assume that it is. We have not paid the balance of £9000 yet and the more I read the less likely that it will be paid.
We are home now without our original certificates, with a Spanish notary court proceeding (that we were shown a copy of in English but never given that copy, not sure what it says), £880 lighter and red from embarrasment not the sun!
These are clever people, most if not all of the 12 couples felt overjoyed that they may be relieved of their timeshares and get some money, if not all their money returned.
The barbecue was nice and relaxed with everyone saying how pleased they are. Reality is hitting home and I will contact the other couples to see what they think now.
(Expensive BBQ!)
Don’t be too hard on yourself; this company is morally bankrupt exploiting holiday makers for their own ends. GC resorts promote the idea that they are concerned with championing the rights of unhappy timeshare owners. However from my experience there is no evidence to suggest that the reclaim scheme is nothing more than a facade & a means of selling their holiday club product.
It is a total s*** in my opinion as is all time shares, just pay for a holiday your choice when you where you wont to go. I just feel they toke the piss out of people who have already been ripped of , so i’m gulabel and dident learn please take advice from others at home. DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE
we have also had a call from GC Resorts re spanish solicitors to reclaim the money spent would like any advice or info before going any furher, thanks
I am visiting Tenerife as a GC resorts customer and going to the Paradise Suites on 30/09/11 to 07/10/11 . They promised to introduce me to spanish solicitors who would get the large amount of money I paid to Resort Properties in 2009 and 2010, Kayte Hughes Of GC (formerly of Viva Sol), rung me today reminding me to take all my papers.
Following the previous revelations by yourselves in regards to GC Resorts I go with some intrepidation, any advice would be appreciated. I have already booked flights and also thro GC a taxi from airport and the cost of a barbecue where I will meet others in the same position as myself and the reps.
Hi Roger
We have recently been contacted Nov 2011 by GC Resorts with the same offer. Any update on your trip?
Dennis from Stourbridge, West Midlands
Here the end of the story… got a call today by the colleague of GC Resorts, who doesn’t know who he works for… The agents either seem honest in their job, and don’t know what is happening after their ‘sale’, or they have no thoughts!
That’s just amazing how these guys are still out on the street… but BE CAREFULL!!!! They ARE!!
Thanks for the update and the advice!
Regards
Customer Care
I have recently been contacted by GC Resorts, I was not told that they were calling from RCI and in fact they stated they had nothing to do with RCI but that they were offering discounted weeks to timeshare owners. The great the amount of weeks you took the more discount was offered and these weeks could be taken at anytime during the next five years. Unfortunately I fell for this, I have not as yet taken a holiday but on seeing your website am now feeling very worried that I have bought into a scam. Can you advise me if it is possible for me to get my money back?
We have been contacted by GC Resorts yesterday, promoting 2 bonus weeks at 225Euro each, and a 3d free of charge, to be taken by end of 2014. The agent was claiming he had got our data from RCI. As my wife had taken the initial call, and wanted to talk to me before any decision, the agent offered to call back at 20:00, which he did.
I told him to call back on my mobile, in order to have the calling number as well: 0044 203 455 5302. When he did, I told him RCI NEVER gives out personal data of members, although he was insisting on “how would I then be calling you now?”. Of course, it was his last day before his holiday, to put pressure. I told him to ask one of his mates to call me again today, but then, we would not be able to receive the third week free. Waiting for the call; will let you know later today.
Christian and Elena, RCI members for many years.
Many thanks for your comment.
Let us know what happens today. You are totally right, RCI does not give your personal details to third parties.
Kind regards
Customer Care
Don’t deal with this company! They cold call stating they have accessed your details from RCI. They will sell you as many fly buy weeks that you are willing to purchase. Once purchased over the phone by credit card etc you will discover that you must attend a sales presentation aimed primarily at emptying your pockets.
marina leisure is also marketing for voyager