With some companies you just wonder if you finally have heard it all.
Zel Consultancy is cold calling Timeshare Consumers, mainly DWVC members with the following story:
Zel Consultancy claims to be working on behalf of the Spanish Government, saying the reclaim certificate obtained from DWVC/ILG wasn’t registered correctly, and they will send a consultant to the consumer’s home to give them the correct paper work, so they can claim in excess when the certificate matures. They also claim that ILG had invested the consumer’s money and that the Spanish Government wants to give it back and any unclaimed monies would be given to Spanish charities.
To take up this amazing service a fee of £289.00, has to be paid when the consultant visited, however they do need a visa or master-card number in advance. This is to be covered by the insurance on mis sold goods if they would not fulfill their part of the deal.
They seem to have the consumers’ reclaim certificate number which they claim proofs their legitimacy.
How about that for an amazing pitch?
The web Address of Zel Consultancy Group is http://www.zelconsultancy.co.uk/ registered in August 2011.
The strange part of this all is that on the website there is no mention at all of any similar services provided by this company as they are a purely marketing company.
The person who is cold calling consumers is Stephen Johnston and he gives out a telephone number: 0207 1836897, and as their address: 145 St John’s Street London EC1V 4PW, this is different to their web site address.
So we have to put a question mark here if the person calling is really from the company mentioned with the corresponding website, or is purely trying to make it look all official and well registered by using the name of an existing company who most probably doesn’t even know about the fact their name is abused!
Please watch out for this one and if you received a cold call from Zel Consultancy Group on number 02071836897 please let us know!
You can place a comment or write to us: customercare@mindtimeshare.com
Thank you very much for this information.The man who phoned me is an Alan Clark he sounded very convincing:everything else was as you said ,except for there not being a website!Why do Credit card companies put up with these fakes?
wir erhielten heute einen anruf einer spanischen kanzlei die uns sagte das dwvc insolvent ist und wir sollen unseren vertrag schicken zur prüfung ob wir geld zurückbekommen. wer weiß was ??
TO Elizabeth
I was also caught for £9600 by ILG andDWVC and I did get back every penny from my credit card company by claiming section 75 of the credit consumers act. At first they gave me half and I thought that was good but a friend told me to push for the full amount and after three attempts they paid me the full amount. If you have not tried this course have a go but dont be put of by a refusal keep at them. Also you can involve the Ombudsman. Wish you luck. JOHN
I have had three phone calls from Stephen Johnstone of ZEL Consultancy. He wants my credit card details. I told him I have absolutely no intention of giving them to him. He said in his last call that his manager has said I can pay the consultant by a cheque when he/she calls at my house. I wonder whether anyone will actually turn up at my house? Gordon
We have been contacted by a company calling themselves Consumer Matters email admin@consumer-matters.com They sent an email after the phone call stating that they can claim our cashback from DWVC which is now in its 59th month. The letter was headed COMPANY INFORMATION AND OFT RULING. They did not say if there was an up front charge for this, Janet Lewis said she did not know.
Is this a genuine company?
Hi Ann,
Thanks for your comment. There is a recent article on the blog about this company, have a look and you will see.
We don’t like the cold call though…any hint on where they obtained your details?
Kind regards
Customer Care
My DWVC cashback voucher reached its 59th month in 2008 and here I am still waiting for repayment scam from the first minute sorry we lost just under £10,000 it breaks my heart to admit it.The cold calls have been coming since just before Christmas all scams thieving baskets!!!!!!
Elizabeth
HI,JUST HAD A CALL FROM STEPHEN JOHNSON FROM ZEL CONSULTANCY TOLD HIM I HAD CHECKED HIS WEBSITE OUT AND HE TOLD ME THEY DON’T HAVE ONE, THEN WHY TELL MY WIFE TO CHECK THERE SITE OUT VERY STRANGE,TOLD S JOHNSON TO DO ONE,SO BE AWARE
Forgot to mention the con man says his main line of work was with Heir hunters, he sold it as a pitch from the programme which was on BBC1 x
Had call from Mark Bridgford of ZE Group (possibly ZEL Consultancy) telephone number 02071836897 of 145 St John Street Clerkenwell London EC1V4PW saying that he had got our name from the Courts (!!!!!!!) with regard to our Reclaim Certificate via ILG and stating in the month of May we would get 66% return of our Certificate funds but from the 1st June this percentage would reduce dramatically (strange how he rang on the 31st May) Particularly took note at your mention of ‘Heir hunters’ as this is what he purported to us was the main line of their work Said we had to send to Santander Bank a CHAPS payment to the account of their Head Consultant Mr S Brennan!!!!! Why not to the Company account and why such a paltry amount of £199 to be sent by CHAPS. Further £101 to be paid to a consultant when he/she visit us to discuss our case. When we questioned the ‘small fee’ of £300 he said that their main fee is paid by the Court and our amount is purely to cover petrol and out of pocket expenses of the visiting consultant. Needless to say we will not be paying unless anyone can tell us differently.
Had a cold call today referenced everything as above. he pried upon my disabled parents and took advantage sooooooooooooooo glad we googled it. my mum nearly forked out the money!!!!!
I have just had a cold call from a woman pertaining to be from a London base law firm of Bains-Cohen. She is going to call back to get my DWVC reclaim details to help me make a claim for the funds I have paid out. So I’ll collect as much info from her and post it on here to warn others.
Since I had my so called help from spanishlawyers I have done a lot of research on the internet and all these firms have the same idea. Money up front to get our money back but reading the info on the net a legal law firm wouldn’t do it this way so its all a scam of conning b—–ds.Checking it out they are all up to the same tricks. I have even had a call from Inspirations about to do the same but she got a flee in the ear too.
Hi we have just received a phone call from Mr Stephen Johnson claiming he works for zel and giving the same story and contact details as stated above thought I would let u know ! Yr website is brilliant keep up the good work
HI, JUST HAD A PHONE CALL FROM ZEL CONSULTANCY SAYING THEY WILL SEND A CONSULANT ROUND TO MY HOUSE TO HELP WITH MY RECLAIM FROM DWVC WITH A UP FRONT FEE OF £289.00 TO COVER CONSULTATION,I AM EXPECTING A CALL FROM STEVEN JOHNSTONE ON TUESDAY 24/4/2012
Get as much information as possible then tell him to take a great big hike preferably to HELL. They are all scum I have spent the day searching the internet on all these baskets.
Elizabeth
By any chance did the consultant turn up? I have a consultant coming in the next two weeks. I would be interested to hear what he said if he did come, but would also be interested to know if he called you to make another appointment?
STAY AWAY FROM THIS DODGEY LOT TOLD THEM TO DO ONE, JUST BE CAREFULL ONLY AFTER YOUR MONEY
yesterday I had a simaler cold call from a lady who said Viva would pay us £6’000 for our certificate of DWVC but we were expected to pay first 1,250 euros. I told her it is against the law to cold call and ask for money up front and she was a scam and put the phone down.Has anyone heard from Viva as well?