IP/07/775

Brussels, 7 June 2007

Consumers: EU steps up protection for holiday makers for Timeshare holidays and holiday discount clubs

Consumers across the EU will benefit from tougher holiday protection - when they buy and resell timeshare holidays, timeshare-like holidays on cruise boats, canal boats or caravans and popular "discount holiday clubs" - under new rules proposed by the European Commission today. The aim is to further boost consumer confidence in the Timeshare industry (worth over €10.5 billion and responsible for more than 40,000 jobs across the EU) and to eliminate the rogue traders which can bring legitimate operators into disrepute and cause consumers problems. The 1994 EU Timeshare Directive gives consumers basic rights to clear information, a ban on deposits and right to withdraw and change their mind. The new proposals published today aim to tackle loopholes in the current rules. Most importantly they will extend the scope of the 1994 EU Timeshare Directive to cover new products which have emerged on the market – like discount holiday clubs, and "timeshare-like" holidays on cruise boats, canal boats and caravans - and extend protection to important areas like timeshare resale and exchange clubs. The new rules should ensure that consumers are equally well protected across the EU and will create a level playing field in the market for timeshare and certain other holiday-related products.

"The existing Directive has worked well within its own limits," said Consumer Commissioner Mrs Meglena Kuneva. "However, these holiday products remain a high-pressure sales environment and many new products have come onto the market that are not covered by existing laws. Consumers are being denied their rights, and the practices of rogue traders bring legitimate business operators into disrepute. With these new rules we want to create a level playing field for business, providing clear and simple rules for the reputable part of the industry and give consumers real peace of mind when they sign up for their dream holiday deal."

What is timeshare?

Timeshare is the right to spend a period of time (i.e. one or more weeks) in a holiday property for a specified period of the year for three years or longer. Timeshare holidays are very popular in many EU countries. For example, the UK, Sweden, Germany, Italy and Spain, have some of the highest number of consumers buying timeshare holidays. Spain, Portugal, Germany Italy and France have substantial domestic timeshare industries. Countries like the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland show a growing market for consumers buying timeshare holidays.

The 1994 current Directive protects consumers' interests by:

• Giving buyers the right to information in a prospectus before signing a contract.
• Seeking to prevent 'pressure selling' by allowing for a cooling-off period (right of withdrawal) of at least 10 days.
• The operators are prohibited from taking deposits from buyers during the cooling-off period.

Why has the Commission revised the current law?

Since the adoption of the Directive in 1994, there have been major developments in the marketplace. New products and contracts have been developed that fall outside the scope of the legislation. Therefore, consumers who buy them do not get the same rights or levels of protection. For instance, the new products may allow the consumer to use different kinds of property (e.g. cruise boats, caravans or canal boats), or the contracts may last for less than three years. A further problem is that the resale and exchange of timeshare schemes are not covered by the existing rules.

What will the new proposal cover?

The new proposal will replace the old Directive with a modern, simplified and coherent framework covering timeshare and long-term holiday products, as well as exchange and resale. The proposal will extend the scope of current rules to cover:

• Shorter term contracts – contracts of less than three years will now be covered.
• Moveable property – the rules will cover contracts for timeshare on property such as canal boats, caravans or cruise ships.
• Long-term holiday products – these include holiday discount clubs, where consumers pay for instance 3,000 euro to get a password to a website, where they are promised "huge discounts" which are often misleading, on holiday accommodation, flights and rental cars.
• Resale of timeshare products – many timeshare owners are approached by commercial agents who ask for a fee in return for selling their timeshare.
• Exchange of timeshare products – some timeshare owners pay an additional fee to join an exchange club, where they can swap their week in e.g. the Canaries for a week in the Alps. Additional information requirements should ensure they get a realistic picture of the offer and they do not end up being disappointed.

The lack of regulation of long-term holiday products, resale and exchange schemes means that they are not covered by rules on cooling-off periods, deposits and consumer information. Consequently, consumers who sign up under pressure have little scope to change their mind. The new proposal will enhance consumer rights in the market for timeshare and long-term holiday products, and create a level playing field for the sellers of these products.

For information: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/timeshare/index_en.htm