This week we have started to receive inquiries about a company called European Consumers Claims.
First it looked like people got the name wrong, then we thought it was a new company and then we realized that no, they are not that new at all.
The company European Consumers Claims is certainly not new, and it is just a matter of changing words as up till now they used to call themselves European Claims Centre or European Claims Chamber.
The fact that yet again they are changing their name seems to be a very strange development.
It doesn’t really seem to be logical that a company, who supposedly work hard to get their brand name out there and build up a good reputation, then changes their name to start all over again.
Unless the reputation is not that good and feedback online is negative.
You certainly don’t want your new and potential customers to read this…
European Claims Centre changed their name into European Consumers Claims with the Companies House last year April. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10243428/officers
It only has been recently though when they have started to use this name with the actual consumers.
The director mentioned is Mr. Andrew Charles Cooper, who was also director of many other companies mentioned on this blog such as Bridge View Consultants, Club Class Concierge, etc.
Years ago the company ECC was actually called ITRA (International Timeshare Refund Action). http://wp.me/p1kmoi-em
Recently the High court in the UK has wound up ITRA. (https://wp.me/p1kmoi-3nu)
ITRA hit the British press many times before the wound up and in the following article you can read how they were working: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/trapped-timeshare-owners-unwanted-weeks-13431301
On the picture in this article you can see Mr. Andy Cooper, who is the same person mentioned as director of European Consumers Claims at Companies House.
For as much as the company ECC wants to appear “independent” from all the above mentioned names, and the staff telling consumers they haven’t got anything to do with ITRA or Club Class Group, the records of company house registration do not lie.
If you are speaking to ECC about a possible claim against your resort, ask yourself why a company who claims to be reputable and successful doesn’t stop changing names.
For as knowledgeable the staff may sound at their meeting, keep in mind you are not talking to their lawyers
Even after sitting through a meeting of hours and hours, no lawyer has seen a glimpse of your paperwork when they start asking you for money.
If you are interested in a possible claim against your resort, remember that only a genuine Lawyer can assess your claim, and you don’t need to exit the timeshare before claiming.
Do your homework, get the facts right, get a professional assessment, and then you decide if you want to go ahead…and up till that moment, don’t pay a penny!
Mindtimeshare 
I have just had a phone call from Charlie Cavanagh Ward from ECC. I was immediately suspicious as I don’t have (and never have had) a timeshare. I didn’t divulge this of course. He was unable to give me the phone number of the head office and did not know where the list my name appeared on had come from. I said I would do my homework and call him back…
Have been contacted by ECC regarding timeshare that we handed back about eight years ago, because the resort was becoming dilapidated, but annual maintenance increasing! We lost a total of £12,000 but decided to cut our losses, we’d had eight years of good family holidays and now we just wanted rid. Enter ECC. We have got no further than talking on the phone, so far, though a meeting appointment has been arranged in Manchester! We will, of course, not be attending. Than you so much for this very informative blog – you have saved us so much hassle (and no doubt expense).
We have been approached by Sovereign who offer our timeshare refund. Can you advise if they are trustworthy. Many thanks.
please let me know if you get anywhere with this as we have just had someone round from Andrew lewis
I am concerned about what effect the change of name from European Claims Centre to European Consumer Claims will have on clients who have engaged the services under the former name.
Would I be right in thinking that a change of name should not affect any legal claims against the company? It is using the same CRN so is not a different entity.
Before I was aware of Mindtimeshare I engaged the services of European Claims Centre on the basis that their salesperson stated that I was entitled to a fixed sum by way of compensation etc. That was not a “maybe”.
A year later I am advised that my file is with M1 Legal which is deciding the best way forward.
If this comes to nothing, I wonder whether I could a claim Under S75 or a chargeback since I paid half of their fee by Credit Card.
Have you any information on this? Would I be likely to succeed?
Thanks Brian