TALLAHASSEE, Fla., March 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Like many
timeshare customers, Florida's
elected officials are currently being subjected to the same kind of
high-pressure, manipulative tactics for which the
timeshare resort industry is known. In advance of today's
hearing on Florida's proposed
legislation (FL HB 435/ SB 1430), the powerful $9.6 billion timeshare industry lobby is
pushing for the passage of this anti-consumer bill. The bill will
destroy the ability of consumers to get out of restrictive
contracts by eliminating their access to legal representation.
Among the bill's numerous anti-consumer provisions is a section
that will limit, if not eliminate, a timeshare owner's efforts to
exit their timeshare safely and permanently. As the timeshare
capital of the world, restrictive legislation in Florida has far reaching implications to
timeshare owners all over the country. The bill leaves
consumers at the mercy of timeshare companies with little or no
assistance when they are unable to use or afford a perpetual
timeshare.
More than 9 million households own timeshares which resort
developers frequently market with high-pressure, hard-sell, sales
techniques that often result in overpriced, impractical and
unwanted contracts. According to industry research, 47
percent of timeshare owners want out of their contracts because of
money-related issues.
In advance of the Florida
hearing, the timeshare industry's powerful trade association, The
American Resort Development Association (ARDA), issued a press
release from a non-profit to give the appearance that ARDA is
working for consumer rights when the opposite is true.
"This press release from the timeshare industry is a
sophisticated work of misrepresentation and distortion. It is
propaganda supporting a bill that will eliminate hope for consumers
trying to legally get out of restrictive timeshare contracts," said
Brandon Reed, a founding member of
the Coalition to Reform Timeshare (CRT). "Many timeshare developers
have gotten rich by using high pressure and deceptive sales tactics
to sell timeshares to middle class families. Many people think they
are getting access to a nice vacation but find they are saddled
with high annual maintenance fees and a contract that often can
outlast a person's life and must be passed on to their heirs."
"Timeshare developers are trying to muddy the waters to hide the
fact that they are the catalyst for HB 435, which protects their
financial interests at the expense of consumers," continued Reed.
"In fact, developers have employed an army of powerful lobbyists
and lawyers, bringing the full force of a multi-billion-dollar
industry against individual timeshare owners."
The head of this organization, ARDA's Ken McKelvey, is
quoted in the press release stating that, "we need to protect our
owners from becoming victims." Opponents of the Florida bill couldn't agree more. Consumers
can join the Coalition to Reform Timeshare to help ensure
Florida does not pass HB
435.
About Coalition to Reform Timeshare:
The Coalition to
Reform Timeshare is made up of individuals and organizations
dedicated to reforming the timeshare industry. We believe that
timeshare companies should be subject to a strict code of
ethics and transparency in their sales techniques.
We advocate for consumer rights to legally exit from timeshares
and educate consumers on state, local and federal legislation that
may positively or negatively affect timeshare owners. Our goal is
to change the industry by holding timeshare companies responsible
and advocating for honesty and consumer fairness.
For more information, please visit reformtimeshare.org.
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content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/timeshare-industry-muddies-waters-on-florida-bill-that-will-gut-consumer-protections-according-to-coalition-to-reform-timeshare-300811143.html
SOURCE Coalition to Reform Timeshare