October 16, 2020

By John Collick, Republican Congressional Nomination VA (3), 2020

 

It’s not unusual for a politician to be attracted to a cause in which they have prior knowledge and experience. What led to my stance on timeshare reform is based partly on my military history. Disabled Combat Veterans and active duty service members have expressed concerns about timeshare. I’ve heard from over 200 timeshare members. Many are veterans and active duty service members. An active duty service member can lose their security clearance over a timeshare foreclosure.

The consequence can be a discharge from the military, and even the loss of a career. A timeshare presentation can last for hours. This is not fair to soldiers or veterans suffering symptoms of PTSD and/or TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). An active duty service member can be deployed on a moment’s notice. As timeshares have little to no secondary market, buying one is more of a risk for active duty service members.

 

I have been endorsed by:

 

1. Combat Veterans for Congress

2. Veterans to Washington

3. National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition

4. Former Florida Congressman Allen West

a. Currently serves as Texas Republican Chairman

5. Retired Virginia State Senator Richard “Dick” Black

 

I am grateful to have earned a chance to represent the people of Virginia’s 3rdCongressional District, and grateful to TARDA for their support. Fundraising is never easy, and particularly so in the midst of a pandemic. Still, we managed to achieve a good portion of our fundraising goal.

There is an over-generalized belief that all Republicans are pro-industry and all Democrats are pro-consumer. Whenever an issue critical to your cause surfaces and is supported by a Congressional candidate, think about setting aside your political leanings on partisan issues. 

 

I may be running on the Republican ticket seeking office for Virginia State Representative, but I am independent at heart. I am beholding to no one. I am not a rubber stamp for the Republican Party, and I have received no money from the GOP. 

 

Timeshare is a bi-partisan issue

 

The advice I give to military personnel is to not purchase a timeshare on the same day as the presentation. Do your research. Check internet sites pro and con on the timeshare you are considering. Millions use and enjoy their timeshare, but there are floods of complaints from those reporting misrepresentations. Check the Better Business Bureau. Take time to review the contract and state disclosure documents. Any and all oral representations must be in writing.  

 

Changes to timeshare I support and propose include:

 

1. Allowing the timeshare buyer a 24 hour “cooling off” period offered before signing a timeshare contract. The buyer could waive the offer.

2. The oral representation clause should be disclosed, at or prior to the sales meeting, not buried in fine print. 

3. If the signing of a timeshare contract is recorded by the timeshare company, the buyer shall be offered the opportunity to record the sales presentation. The recording of the signing session shall not be stopped and started while a sales agent explains what the buyer questions. 

4. Presentation of the Public Offering Statement shall be presented on the audio recording of the closing, as opposed to being provided by the sales agent, so that it is not buried in a stack of documents.

5. Timeshares members should not have to pay more for accommodations in maintenance fee equivalent dollars than those booking the same property at the same time online.

 

A Preliminary Research Report

 

The reason why timeshare members must sometimes pay more in maintenance fee equivalent dollars, compared to the general public booking the same property online, is due to inventory control. It’s called Revenue per Check-in (RPC). When a timeshare resort is known to have a high timeshare sales-closure rate, the general public is steered toward those sites. Sites that are not as profitable are easier to book because they have more inventories. It’s not uncommon for people to spend $50,000, even $100,000 or more for timeshare points, signing a contract in perpetuity agreeing to support the resort via annual maintenance fees. Allowing the general public to book for less is unfair. 

 

Driving the revenue wheel is tours given to existing members and to new buyers. Existing members are considered an easier sell, so they can typically find availability at high-dollar sales center resorts. Existing members can have a more difficult time booking resorts with no sales centers, because the goal is to get the member into a tour hoping for an upgrade. No tour, no revenue. The ever-ending goal is to increase revenue-per-guest. Seniors, and a good portion of them veterans, are pushed to high-dollar volume locations.  

 

All those calls you receive about receiving a vacation credit? It’s to get new buyers into the hopper. Promotional “specials” are directing prospective buyers to high-dollar sales centers as well. Sites without high sales volume have more rental inventory availability. Money is made off the rental rate to non-members, and if they can get non-members to take a tour, even better.   

 

Thank you again for your support, 

 

John Collick Jr. 

First Sergeant, USMC (Retired)