Holiday Ownership Services

1. What do I own when I buy timeshare/holiday ownership?

   Generally speaking, you will have purchased a right to use holiday accommodation every year (or every alternate year, in some cases) for a specified number of years.

2. Why is it better to buy timeshare/holiday ownership from a resort or club, which has appointed a Trustee?

   If the developer of the resort or club gets into financial difficulties, the holiday accommodation remains protected from his creditors.

3. How does the Trustee protect my interest?

   By ensuring that the occupancy rights in the holiday accommodation are vested in a company controlled by the Trustee. As such this company does not trade, thus negating any risk of financial failure affecting your holiday ownership.

4. Does the Trustee sell timeshare/holiday ownership?

   No - the Trustee has no financial interest in the actual sale of your timeshare/holiday ownership, nor does it have any responsibility for appointing or controlling the sales and marketing companies.

5. Why should I pay my money to the Trustee?

   The Trustee is independent and will ensure that the monies it receives remain protected until such time as it is satisfied that there are sufficient weeks / points in the system which are secured and ready for immediate use. At this point, the Trustee is able to provide you with your Holiday Certificate - which confirms the occupancy rights to which you are beneficially entitled.

6. What happens to my money once I have paid it to the Trustee?

   The money is paid into a client account controlled by the Trustee and is released to the parties entitled (usually the developer of the resort/club and the marketer) once your Holiday Certificate has been issued to you.

7. Who should I contact if I have a query regarding my finance agreement?

   You should contact the company to whom you make your monthly repayments.

8. Is there a cooling off period during which I can cancel my timeshare/holiday ownership agreement even though I have signed the purchase agreement?

   The laws regarding this vary from country to country. Please click HERE for a summary of the latest timeshare legislation in individual countries. However, be aware that not all timeshare/holiday ownership products are currently covered by legislation, although some operators do offer the same level of protection by way of self regulation. If you are in doubt, you should ask before you buy.

9. What is the procedure if I decide to cancel?

   You should put your request in writing and send it, by a recorded method of postage, to the company with whom you have signed the purchase agreement. Please refer to the documentation supplied to you at the time of purchase for further information.

10. If I cancel within the cooling off period, am I entitled to get my money back?

    If you have already paid an initial payment (this is permitted in some countries and not in others), you may be entitled to a full or partial refund. Click HERE for a summary of the latest timeshare legislation in individual countries.

11. How do I sell/transfer/relinquish my timeshare/holiday ownership?

    If you wish to sell or transfer your timeshare/holiday ownership to a third party, click HERE for instructions and a list of RDO member Resale Companies.

    If you no longer wish to keep your timeshare/holiday ownership, and simply want to relinquish your rights of ownership, you will in the first instance need to contact the customer services department at your resort/club. If accepted, you will then need to complete and sign the Transfer Form on the back of your certificate as "Transferor" (leaving the section for "Transferee" blank) and return it to Hutchinson & Co. Trust Company Ltd with a covering letter stating your wish to cancel your membership and relinquish your occupancy rights. You will need to send us the confirmation of acceptance of such cancellation from your resort/club. We will then update our records. If the certificate is in more than one name, each person must sign as "Transferor". If your certificate does not have a Transfer Form on the back, then you will need to request one from your resort or club. Please note that surrendering your certificate will cancel any associated future financial obligation, with the exception of any loan agreement tied to its purchase. Similarly, surrender means forfeit of any related funds paid to date.

12. When can I expect to receive my Holiday Certificate and what should I do if I don't receive it?

    You should receive your certificate within 8 weeks of making your final payment. If you don't receive your certificate, you should, in the first instance, contact the company from whom you purchased your timeshare/holiday ownership and if you still do not receive it, you should contact us, quoting your name, the name of the resort, the purchase agreement number and the date the agreement was signed. Click HERE for email link to our helpdesk.

13. Can I rent out my timeshare week(s) if I am unable, or do not wish to use it in any year?

    Yes, but you need to advise the resort of the name of the person who will be occupying.

14. When can I expect to receive my membership details from RCI or Interval International, and what should I do if I don't receive them?

    If you have been offered membership of one of the above, your application form will normally be submitted when your certificate has been issued. You should allow between 6 to 8 weeks for your membership to be processed. If you have not received your membership details by the end of this period, you should contact the relevant exchange company directly.

    www.rci.com - www.intervalworld.com

15. What should I do if I change my address?

    You should notify us in writing as soon as possible. Your occupancy rights can only remain totally protected if we have the most up-to-date address to which your annual management fee invoice should be sent. Invoices sent to the wrong address, resulting in non-payment, could cause suspension and ultimate cancellation of your rights. You may request a new certificate reflecting your new address. Please click HERE for details.

16. What should I do in the event of death/marriage/divorce?

    You should notify us in writing as soon as possible and enclose with your correspondence a copy of the appropriate certification. If you require a new certificate, please click HERE for a printable form.

17. What should I do if I lose my certificate?

    Your Holiday Certificate is an important legal document and should be kept safe at all times. If you should lose it, you should notify us in writing as soon as possible. If you require a duplicate certificate to be issued, you will need to complete an indemnity form. Please email us requesting an indemnity form, quoting your full name, address, name of resort/club at which you own.

    Email: helpdesk@hutchinson.co.uk

18. Who should I contact if I have any other queries about by timeshare/holiday ownership, the resort, reservations, special offers etc?

    Please refer to the contact details in the letter which accompanied your Holiday Certificate. Alternatively, you should contact the resort directly. Please click HERE to link to the resort list.

Hutchinson & Co. Trust Company Ltd does not purport to offer legal advice - these questions and answers are for guidance only