My inlaws purchased one of these scammy timeshare holiday things 15 years ago and they're now in a position of poor health and will obviously never go on another holiday again.
I've been googling the company, Ultiqa Lifestyle and seen that even with court orders people haven't been able to get out of these "expires in 2080" contracts.
How is this even legal? Surely there is recourse for this? We just want them to get out of this annual $700 fee they're being charged.
…..cool?
Sounds like @CyberMurning is still trying to get out of the scam lol
Don’t know as haven’t seen the contract they signed. Perhaps see a lawyer?
What assets do your parents have? If they stop paying, is there anything worth coming after?
according to the link below, many SAY they have just stopped paying without any issue… but who knows
House? Money? lol
Yeah it's an absolute scam. How these grubs are able to operate is beyond me. Look at the CEO on Linkedin and he even looks like a slimy bastard.
Your parents signed a contract for $700pa for 95 years? What's the scam part?
It no longer suits them?
The part where you can't cancel the contract unless they let you, and you are also up for undetermined costs at their discretion to fix their resorts?
That's not a scam though. That's what your parents willingly agreed and signed up to.
You can't call something a scam because you no longer want to honour what you agreed 15 years ago.
It's most definitely scummy though and I'm glad most people have the foresight not to agree to such things.
I didn't ask to poke finger though but to genuine try to understand if they were not providing what was agreed to and therefore you may have some recourse to claim contract nullification. Seems not unfortunately.
Okay, so engage a lawyer? This is an internet forum.
Have you lodged a cancellation due to hardship application with ULTIQA?
Yes. Awaiting a reply, but 99% sure the answer will be no because why would they.
Just stop paying, not sure what they could possibly do over $700.
If you actually read the contracts, you're not up for "$700". They can come after you for a lot more.
Yep, how long will that take to play out and try to enforce?
Explain the scam part? Are they not providing the service? Or else how's it different to a gym membership that I can't use because I injured my arm?
You can cancel a gym membership.
Some are contract can't cancel
Last time I checked a gym contract didn't last 99 years.
not if you signed 95 year contract plan to save $5 a week
Either use it yourself or sell it on to the next sucker.
From what I’ve read these are almost impossible to get out off and if you stop paying they are ruthless with debt collectors and extra charges. Lawyer up but even that could be a waste of money those contracts are usually tight otherwise everyone would have recourse to get out.
Says what to do in the productreview link: "I agree my daughter is a lawyer, she said to stop paying, they will go broke chasing everyone as they could not afford all of the court fees. Because of their unpaid fines ect. Also being found guilty of misconduct they would not have a leg to stand on in civil court as their lawyers would not be allowed in."
Great strategy. Get debt collectors sent after you.
In their contracts you pay 14% interest on any unpaid debts and they can come after your estate.
So that family is in for a fun time when their parents die and realise they have a massive debt.
I would definitely not pay or take advice from that daughter lawyer. She has a severe lack of understanding on civil court and also debt collection processes and the business of buying and selling debt.
Also if her daughter is a lawyer, she would not be on product review leaving a 1 star review annoyed at the company, the daughter would of done what she could to get her mother out of the contract, but she can’t!
It suck and these companies are parasites, but at this point everyone knows or should time share is a scam and has been since the 90’s.
Pay all the outstanding fees, then put it on Marketplace, Timeshare Owners in Australia Facebook group and Gumtree for free and offer to pay any transfer fees. There is a good chance an existing member may take over the membership if you do all that.
transfer all assets out of tier name then close the accounts the company is debiting from. Then they cant touch your parents
Well they can but yeah that's one option we may seriously explore after speaking with a lawyer to protect their assets
If you do that, just make sure you give it at least a year so it looks genuine and try to have a good fake reason why you've done it that way.
Expires in 2080?? So this company expects them to live a long life hence this super long contract?
Considering the people who sign up for these contracts are generally in their 40's and 50's, no, they aren't expecting them to live that long.
They position them as being that long so you can pass them down to your kids and it becomes a family thing, but nobody wants to have these since they're just scams.
I'm also guessing that being that long, they can come after the family estate because it's a contract with the deceased. So yay to 60 years of fees being taken out of the estate (with a random % increase attached, because the contract says they can do that).
hmm i remember there is another holiday scheme - i think buying a share in hotels and we get free accommodation for few night every year.
they invite us to sit for a presentation and give coles voucher