Hong Kong (HKSAR) — The Government announced yesterday (July 15) the launch of a public consultation exercise on strengthening protection for consumers against unfair trade practices. Speaking at a press conference, the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mrs Rita Lau, said: “Our policy objective is to enhance protection of consumers’ legitimate interests, and at [...]

LAS VEGAS, NV Jul 08, 2010 (Las Vegas Review-Journal – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) — Wells Fargo Bank participated in “massive looting” at failed hard-money lender USA Capital, according to allegations in a civil trial that began Wednesday in bankruptcy court.
Bankruptcy Judge Linda Riegle is presiding in the adversary case and will decide whether [...]

Montpelier, VT (July 3, 2010) — Timeshare Relief, Inc., a Torrance, California, company, will offer over $91,000 in consumer refunds and pay $50,000 to the State of Vermont to settle claims that it violated Vermont law in three different ways in arranging for the repurchase of timeshares. Commenting on the settlement, the second of its [...]

HARRISBURG, PA (June 21, 2010) — Attorney General Tom Corbett has urged Pennsylvania residents who are having problems involving timeshares purchased from BlueGreen Corporation to file formal complaints by June 24th in order to have those complaints reviewed as part of a wide-reaching consumer protection settlement with the Florida-based company.
Corbett said the settlement addresses complaints [...]

LAS VEGAS, NV (June 18, 2010) — According to court documents filed this month, ILX Resorts’ January 2010 joint plan of reorganization with its largest creditor, Textron Financial Corporation, has been approved. That means Las Vegas-based Diamond Resorts Corporation, via ILX Acquisitions Inc., is officially the “Proposed Purchaser” of the assets of ILX Resorts. A hearing to set a date for the sale of those assets will take place on July 23, 2010…

BRUSSELS (16th June 2010) — Contrary to the statement made by Claims Directive, a company located in Arguineguín Gran Canaria that claims to represent timeshare owners’ interests, the timeshare industry both in Spain, the rest of Europe and USA as well as other international territories is extremely robust.
Some of the world’s biggest hotel brands operate [...]

-by TS Newshound

June 14, 2010– ARDA’s small army of lobbyists and attorneys won a pair of victories over the last year that might have gone unnoticed by the general public– and even timeshare sales reps– but both are very important and both have a direct impact not only on consumers and HOAs but also timeshare developers. Interestingly enough, both victories came in Florida, the timeshare capital of the world. And both occurred following years of effort by ARDA.

Legislation Provides Relief to Timeshare Owners and Developers Often Left ‘Footing the Bill’ for Delinquent Payments
Orlando, FL (June 11, 2010) – Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed into law last week legislation that gives much needed relief to timeshare owners associations (HOAs) and developers from the lengthy judicial processes for timeshare interest foreclosures. The “Trustee Foreclosure” [...]

-by TS Newshound
June 7, 2010– The June 5 edition of Woody’s Roadkill Cafe addressed the case of  WHITEHEAD ETAL VS VACATION CHARTERS LTD., a lawsuit filed in 2008 contending that Vacation Charters had misclassified its salespersons as independent contractors when in fact they should have had employee status. On June 4, 2010 in Pennsylvania, [...]

Florida-based timeshare company will pay refunds, cancel improper contracts and change business practices
HARRISBURG, PA (June 3, 2010) — The Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection has reached a settlement with Florida-based BlueGreen Corporation that addresses complaints about the company’s alleged use of deceptive “contests,” misleading sales presentations and improper contracts in the marketing and sale [...]