Consumers can be faced with incomplete, misleading timeshare contracts which they have been pressured into signing - consumer watchdog DECO reminds people that under Portuguese law these contracts may be cancelled within 14 days without any charges being made.
The summer holiday period is the prime time for timeshare salespeople to lure people with offers and discounts and, enticed by often aggressive marketing campaigns and the offer of free weekends in tourist resorts, many consumers end up signing contracts that they have not read of fully considered.
"Many of these contracts are signed due to unfair trading practices, situations where the consumer is confronted with incomplete information and with misleading information and is pressured into signing the contract there and then," says Susana Dias Correia, coordinator of the Algarve section of DECO.
The consumer "should be wary of fantastic offers, free holidays and ostensibly 'easy to cancel' contracts,” says Correia who adds that the seller must deliver, for free, accurate, clear and adequate information about the tourist development and the rights and obligations under the contract.
The consumer should be informed of all contractual conditions, including the total price payable; a description of the services included in the price and of those services not included, a description of annual fees that the consumer will have to pay during the term of the contract, information on the existence of timeshare swap systems and their cost; and information on the cooling off period if the consumer wants to terminate the contract.
"Consumers always should demand all available documentation and a copy of the contract for careful reading and reflection. All the information provided verbally by the seller should correspond to what is written in the contract," says Correia.
If there are any problems, people are advised to complain to DECO, The Portugal Tourist Board and the Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE).
Timeshare opportunities listed in the Algarve include the Four Seasons Vilamoura, Clube Praia da Oura in Albufeira, Solar de Sao Joao in Albufeira, Alto Golf & Country Club in Portimao, Monte Carvoeiro Clube in Lagoa, Oura View Beach Club in Albufeira, Pestana Palm Gardens in Carvoeiro and the Portugal Hilton Vilamoura Vacation Club among others.
Like anything, if the consumer checks, researches and does not fall for 'today only' offers, timeshare can be a flexible solution for some classes of holidaymaker and should not be dismissed out of hand.
The days of Albufeira's main square being filled with commission-driven timeshare touts thankfully is over but potential buyers should be aware that professional sales pitches often are hard to resist.
