In July 2014 we were approached by Stephen Boyd, current Director of TCA and lawyer, who kindly offered us help and professional advice. We decided to go ahead with the conversation as we felt that we were talking to a serious association with the same objectives as ours, which is protecting (Timeshare) Consumers.

Stephen Boyd was fully aware of our situation, and he referred us to David Cox as the man we could speak to and the one in the office who would liaise with him if needed.

Before entering in any further conversations or correspondence we did ask for total confidentiality and discretion and Stephen Boyd assured us (in writing) that this was the case as in any lawyer – client relationship.

So we continued the conversation with David as recommended by Stephen, and always with the mind set on trying to protect consumers.

But then certain articles on the TCA website created concerns with us as they were in a sense backing up certain companies with dubious reputation and who allegedly cheated many Timeshare owners.

Companies not only exposed on the Mindtimeshare blog but also in the European Press and known by the ECC offices who have informed in the press as well that they received numerous complaints about them.

The articles on Mindtimeshare are written with the backup of the documented testimonials we receive from the consumers. It was though quiet confusing to see that TCA was publishing articles with a total different guideline without being clear on what or who’s statements they base their articles.

What can be concluded about the latest events and publications on the TCA website?

First of all, we want to say that we have not mislead anybody and less TCA as it were them approaching us in the first place.

We do feel that there is a tremendous lack of coordination in the direction of TCA.

They don’t seem to have a clear line and are not defining at all what their objective is.

On one side they claim to be there for the consumers and with the consumers only, and on the other side they expose themselves by writing articles about companies that are very dubious to say the least.

So it is not only the lack of definition on what their goal post is in reality, it also seems at this stage a lack of respect toward the hundreds or thousands of victims of these companies.

If Timeshare consumers are confused about who to believe and who to trust, the articles posted in the past days by TCA certainly do not help at all and create even more confusion.

In a time frame of only days there are articles written in favour of certain companies and associations and then an article appears telling the total opposite. Who to believe if TCA does not even believe the content of their own articles?

We sincerely think that the pressure put on TCA by the different (dubious) companies in this industry has made them react in this way and they have started to “shoot in all directions” in order to defend themselves.

We better than most others are more than aware on how much pressure one can receive and the state of mind that this creates, not only with the people inside the company but also their family members and close ones.

For an association manned by people that have only been around in this industry for the past 6 months, all we can say that they should do their homework a bit more thoroughly before publishing, and be prepared for the pressure. That is what 7 years of being around here has taught us!

You cannot be liked by everybody… and you don’t want to be liked by everybody… but you have to define who you are and what your real goal post is. Get this straight first of all!