Time-share companies operating in Singapore
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Author:
n/a -
Send To:
Consumers Association of Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, The Straits Times Forum
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Sponsored By:
Timeshare Victims Support Group -
More Info at:
To: Mr Yeo Guat Kwang
President
Consumers Association of Singapore
170 Ghim Moh Road
Ulu Pandan Community Building #05-01
Singapore 279621
Cc: Mr Lim Neo Chian
Chief Executive
Singapore Tourism Board
Tourism Court 1, Orchard Spring Lane
Singapore 255729
Cc: Mr Kong Soon Wah
Forum Editor
The Straits Times
1000 Toa Payoh North News Centre
Singapore 318994
Fax: 6319-8289
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Dear Sirs,
Re. Time-share companies operating in Singapore
We are a group of 299 individuals who have been the victims of the unscrupulous time-share companies named below.
These companies would reel in prospective customers with promises of expensive prizes, conditional upon these customers attending short presentations at their offices. The presentations, initially promised to last about 45 minutes, often drag on for hours. Indeed, a few have been known to last well beyond midnight.
During these presentations, the following claims were often made to prospective buyers of the schemes:
a. the products sold had nothing to do with time-share, and were not associated with any time-share schemes;
b. buyers would be entitled to substantial discounts on airfares, and other travel products;
c. buyers would be entitled to first-class service from the companies;
d. the products would entitle buyers to 4- or 5-star accommodation;
e. the products would be excellent investments as they could easily be sold at a profit in the future.
Once the agreements were signed, however, we discovered many of the representations to be untruthful.
Because the accommodation sold was said to be "subject to availability", a number of us have found ourselves unable to book such accommodation. Some of the resorts advertised in the marketing material of these companies have also denied any affiliation with these companies.
Many of us also found that the same product was being sold at different prices, ranging from S$2,000 to S$15,000. Apparently, prices had been pegged according to what each buyer could bear.
Those of us who wanted to terminate the agreements, upon discovering these misrepresentations, were often pressured into continuing with the agreements by the companies involved.
The surprisingly large number of people who have reported the aforesaid suggests that these companies are not acting randomly or in a manner which is accidental. The systematic approach and similarities in the methods which these companies have adopted suggest that their actions have been undertaken with much calculation and purpose.
Because these companies often target tourists as well, we believe the existence and practices of these companies are detrimental not only to consumers in Singapore, but also to the tourist trade in this country. Allowing these companies to continue operating as they do, in the manner that they do, sends out the wrong message not only to consumers and businesses here, but to visitors to Singapore as well.
In addition to the Consumers' Association of Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board, we are writing in to the editor of the forum page in the Straits Times, because we wish to remind the general public to be wary of the practices we have described. We hope that in becoming more aware of these practices, others might avoid the experiences of the signatories to this letter.
Finally, we would like to make clear that our aim is not to discredit the whole of the time-share industry. We wish only to make known the unethical, and unfortunately highly common, methods of those companies listed below.
Name and address of company:
1.Emperor Resorts International Pte Ltd
402, Orchard Road, #06-01, Delphi Orchard
Singapore 238876
No. of complainants: 100
Managing Director: Mr. Danny Liew Heap Hwa
(other shareholders: Mr. Cheang Kam Hon, Mr. Lee Lik Hon and Mr. Chng Guay Yan)
2. Leisure Group Marketing
391B Orchard Road #16-01 Tower B Ngee Ann City
Singapore 238874
No. of complainants: 97
Managing Director: Mr. Stephen Tornros (Sweden)
3. Interval Resorts Network Pte Ltd
230, Orchard Road, #08-230 Faber House,
Singapore 238854
No. of complainants: 75
Managers: Mr. Roy Daniel (Singapore)
Mr. Simon Cook (UK)
4.Oriental Travel Pte Ltd
501 Orchard Road,
05-13/14 Wheelock Place,
Singapore 238880
No. of complainants: 20
Manager: Mr. Steve Gabriel
5.Universal Privilege Pte Ltd
360, Orchard Road, #04-03/03A
International Building Singapore 238869
No. of complainants: 7
Manager: Mr. Cheang Kam Hon
President
Consumers Association of Singapore
170 Ghim Moh Road
Ulu Pandan Community Building #05-01
Singapore 279621
Cc: Mr Lim Neo Chian
Chief Executive
Singapore Tourism Board
Tourism Court 1, Orchard Spring Lane
Singapore 255729
Cc: Mr Kong Soon Wah
Forum Editor
The Straits Times
1000 Toa Payoh North News Centre
Singapore 318994
Fax: 6319-8289
Date: 16 Feb 2004
Dear Sirs,
Re. Time-share companies operating in Singapore
We are a group of 299 individuals who have been the victims of the unscrupulous time-share companies named below.
These companies would reel in prospective customers with promises of expensive prizes, conditional upon these customers attending short presentations at their offices. The presentations, initially promised to last about 45 minutes, often drag on for hours. Indeed, a few have been known to last well beyond midnight.
During these presentations, the following claims were often made to prospective buyers of the schemes:
a. the products sold had nothing to do with time-share, and were not associated with any time-share schemes;
b. buyers would be entitled to substantial discounts on airfares, and other travel products;
c. buyers would be entitled to first-class service from the companies;
d. the products would entitle buyers to 4- or 5-star accommodation;
e. the products would be excellent investments as they could easily be sold at a profit in the future.
Once the agreements were signed, however, we discovered many of the representations to be untruthful.
Because the accommodation sold was said to be "subject to availability", a number of us have found ourselves unable to book such accommodation. Some of the resorts advertised in the marketing material of these companies have also denied any affiliation with these companies.
Many of us also found that the same product was being sold at different prices, ranging from S$2,000 to S$15,000. Apparently, prices had been pegged according to what each buyer could bear.
Those of us who wanted to terminate the agreements, upon discovering these misrepresentations, were often pressured into continuing with the agreements by the companies involved.
The surprisingly large number of people who have reported the aforesaid suggests that these companies are not acting randomly or in a manner which is accidental. The systematic approach and similarities in the methods which these companies have adopted suggest that their actions have been undertaken with much calculation and purpose.
Because these companies often target tourists as well, we believe the existence and practices of these companies are detrimental not only to consumers in Singapore, but also to the tourist trade in this country. Allowing these companies to continue operating as they do, in the manner that they do, sends out the wrong message not only to consumers and businesses here, but to visitors to Singapore as well.
In addition to the Consumers' Association of Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board, we are writing in to the editor of the forum page in the Straits Times, because we wish to remind the general public to be wary of the practices we have described. We hope that in becoming more aware of these practices, others might avoid the experiences of the signatories to this letter.
Finally, we would like to make clear that our aim is not to discredit the whole of the time-share industry. We wish only to make known the unethical, and unfortunately highly common, methods of those companies listed below.
Name and address of company:
1.Emperor Resorts International Pte Ltd
402, Orchard Road, #06-01, Delphi Orchard
Singapore 238876
No. of complainants: 100
Managing Director: Mr. Danny Liew Heap Hwa
(other shareholders: Mr. Cheang Kam Hon, Mr. Lee Lik Hon and Mr. Chng Guay Yan)
2. Leisure Group Marketing
391B Orchard Road #16-01 Tower B Ngee Ann City
Singapore 238874
No. of complainants: 97
Managing Director: Mr. Stephen Tornros (Sweden)
3. Interval Resorts Network Pte Ltd
230, Orchard Road, #08-230 Faber House,
Singapore 238854
No. of complainants: 75
Managers: Mr. Roy Daniel (Singapore)
Mr. Simon Cook (UK)
4.Oriental Travel Pte Ltd
501 Orchard Road,
05-13/14 Wheelock Place,
Singapore 238880
No. of complainants: 20
Manager: Mr. Steve Gabriel
5.Universal Privilege Pte Ltd
360, Orchard Road, #04-03/03A
International Building Singapore 238869
No. of complainants: 7
Manager: Mr. Cheang Kam Hon
879 Signatures
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Pauline Lue
- Comments
- We need to unite in our fight against these unscrupulous companies
- Postal Code
- 160108
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Chua Hui Min
- Comments
- IRN
- Postal Code
- Singapore 160056
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Kristin Teng
- Comments
- To hell with timeshare bloodsuckers!
- Postal Code
- 760700
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LAU MAUNG WAH
- Postal Code
- 090028
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Loy Jong Deck
- Comments
- Hopefuly this pentition will bring justice. Else so call time share companies are still going around the orchard road belt conning more people's hard earn money.
- Postal Code
- 560134
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Shaun
- Comments
- Yes, the public must be warned! I am for it!
- Postal Code
- 510717
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Albert Boon TAY
- Postal Code
- 823105
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Christina Chua
- Comments
- Yes, I am one of the victims too! I hope justice will be brought upon all the time-share companies. ERI (time-share company) told me I can cancel anytime just signed, in the end I realized when I wish to cancel, they said its not allowed as the contract said so. They are cheaters!
- Postal Code
- 510214
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Choo Chun Nam
- Postal Code
- 650506
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Cynthia
- Comments
- Hope those timeshare vendors get what they deserved
- Postal Code
- 557324
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Ricky Laksanadjaja
- Comments
- I am one of the tourists who became a victim of this scam. I hope this scammers can be hold accountable.
- Postal Code
- The Netherlands, 2724BN
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Seow Kher Boon
- Postal Code
- 470106
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seto chee choon
- Comments
- CASE & other authorities should stop these kind of trick tactics & sales.
- Postal Code
- 272009
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ng chiao ting
- Comments
- IRN has conned me into signing the membership. Price vary with people; very strange. So, a Coke drink can be sold at $10 and $1 in NTUC?
- Postal Code
- 272008
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ong choon sio
- Comments
- IRN & other timeshare companies are conning many people.
- Postal Code
- 270032
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tommy mulyadi djayaputra
- Postal Code
- 399849
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Midathada Sireesh Kumar
- Comments
- They are total cheaters who con innocent people of their hard-earned money.They need to be taught a lesson and their businesses wound up.
- Postal Code
- 120704
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Christina
- Postal Code
- 525230
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Wong Chen Siang
- Postal Code
- 650111
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Casey Kwan
- Postal Code
- 400015
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Mandy Chee
- Postal Code
- 534962
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Yosep Nurhandi
- Comments
- I'm a tourist. How could a respectful country like Singapore ruined by a fraud company like LGM
- Postal Code
- Jl. Setiabudi Timur II No. 7 - Jakarta 12910
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Max Lim
- Comments
- Its all about business ethics... Isn't Singapore one of the top few best countries to do business ? Is here also one of the best consumer protected countries too?
- Postal Code
- 2366
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Goh Mia Chuan
- Postal Code
- 550116
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Allen Chia Chuin Min
- Postal Code
- 554859
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Beram Kumar Sounderaj
- Comments
- first I was pressured into a timeshare ...then when booking the resort was close to impossible, I was offered a "payback scheme" for an additional S$12,000. Now they are saying, I am not entitled to a payback !!
- Postal Code
- 80300 (Johor Bahru, Malaysia)
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Davin Sim
- Postal Code
- 760867
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Edwin Soh
- Postal Code
- 546331
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Sreekanth Lalgudi
- Postal Code
- 680607
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Lim Kok Eng
- Postal Code
- 530535
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Harris Setiono
- Postal Code
- 510422
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Johnny Lim
- Postal Code
- 670180
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Ben
- Comments
- I hope there is more public awarness and people can be warned.
- Postal Code
- 822107
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Deon Ho
- Postal Code
- 520873
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Scott Ng Soo Kok
- Comments
- The government should take heed of the complaints. Failing which, the integrity of the nation will be at risk if we allow such scams to prevail.
- Postal Code
- 689672
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Lee Chao Cheong
- Comments
- I am also contactable @: zeark@pacific.net.sg
- Postal Code
- 650127
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Victor Cheong Jun Wah
- Postal Code
- 320001
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neo wei woon
- Comments
- i have engaged a lawyer
- Postal Code
- 510538
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Ben
- Postal Code
- S380048
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Louis Chan
- Comments
- I hope justice can be done. We, the victims desperately need the help of the relevant authorities to support us in this cause.
- Postal Code
- 751506
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Lim hong Kai
- Comments
- Where is the back out clause we are so tied to the membership that they just want to suck us dry without this clause it is to the disadvantage of the consumer and is very high handed way of doing marketing with their unfair tactics in making consumers make choices without letting consumers think twice very low low handed indeed. i urge the consumer protection boards and all form of government to put more effort in giving us the consumer the fairness we seek. especially CASE in mind which is very incapable of doing anything much except tell us how low the chances we have taking on these low handed company. now that we have the 299 victims what say CASE? Care to take up the challenge and work with us to reap fairness for our efforts? or just pass us off as efforts down the drain? do Something more CASE rather then getting all that funding and sitting pretty. If these 299 victims are not something i dont know what is! Clam down on these companies make them pay...
- Postal Code
- singapore
-
Lynn
- Postal Code
- 530236
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Koh Mei Shan
- Postal Code
- 268161
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Alvin Chan
- Postal Code
- 100001
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Raymond Phua
- Postal Code
- 520720
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May
- Postal Code
- 732687
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Yew Wai Ping
- Postal Code
- 109001
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elsie lim
- Comments
- It is unfortunate that despite Singapore's advanced development in many areas, consumer's right is definitely one of the laggards. How can companies like LGM be allowed to operate for more than 10 years here, using the same con tactics with a simple change of a name? I believe they were previously known as Holiday marketing selling timeshare. CASE should take up a more active role in protecting consumers, the FTA is still not sufficient, especially when the companies are bent on misrepresentation and deception.
- Postal Code
- 541184
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Ginia
- Postal Code
- 460050
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Fung Kok Hong
- Postal Code
- 680293
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879
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