Protecting consumers in respect of timeshare and long-term holiday contracts

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2008/122/EC on the protection of consumers in respect of certain aspects of timeshare, long-term holiday product, resale and exchange contracts

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

The directive strengthens consumer protection in case of contracts for the sale, resale* and exchange* of timeshare products* and long-term holiday products*. The sector has indeed evolved and new holiday products not covered by previous legislation have appeared on the market. This directive updates and clarifies the rules to protect the consumer and contributes to the proper functioning of the internal market.
It lays down rules on advertising, pre-contractual and contractual information, the right of withdrawal and a ban on advance payments during the withdrawal period.

KEY POINTS

Clear information

In good time, before the consumer is bound by any contract, the trader shall provide clear, accurate and sufficient information, free of charge, using a standard information form, in an official language of the consumer’s European Union (EU) Member State.

The information form (as set out in templates annexed to the directive) should notably include information about the product (in the case of a timeshare contract, long-term holiday product contract or an exchange contract) or the service (in the case of a resale contract), the consumer’s rights and all costs to bear. It must state that there is a right of withdrawal and the conditions under which it may be exercised. This information is an integral part of the contract.

Any advertising should state where the above information can be obtained. Moreover, a timeshare or a long-term holiday product shall not be marketed as an investment.

Furthermore, in case of a sales promotion or sales event:

the invitation should clearly state the commercial purpose of the event;
the information package should be available to the consumer at any time during the event.

Right of withdrawal

Before the contract is signed, the trader must explicitly draw attention to the consumer’s right of withdrawal, the withdrawal period and the ban on advance payments during that period. These clauses are subject to separate signatures. The contract shall include a separate standard withdrawal form, intended to make it easy to withdraw from the contract.

The consumer has the right to withdraw, without giving a reason, within 14 days from signature or receipt of the contract. This cooling-off period is extended by 3 months where the information package has not been given to the consumer, and by 1 year if the withdrawal form is not provided.

If a consumer withdraws, any other contract linked to the main contract is automatically terminated at no extra cost.

Payment

No advance payment, guarantee or acknowledgement of debt to the trader or to a third party is allowed before the end of the withdrawal period. For resale contracts, no fees should be paid to a trader in advance of the actual sale.

Payments under long-term holiday contracts are to be made in equal yearly instalments. From the second instalment onwards, the consumer may end the contract without penalty by giving notice within 14 days of receiving the request for payment.

Redress

Member States shall inform consumers of methods of redress (compensation) under national legislation and encourage out-of-court settlements.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 23 February 2009 and had to become law in the Member States by 23 February 2011.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

Timeshare directive (European Commission)
Package travel and timeshare: Policy information (European Commission)
Timeshare and other long-term holiday contracts in the EU (Your Europe).

KEY TERMS

Resale contract. A contract under which a trader is paid to assist a consumer to sell or buy a timeshare or a long-term holiday product.

Exchange contract. A contract under which a consumer joins an exchange system which allows them to temporarily swap the benefits deriving from a timeshare contract with another consumer.

Timeshare contract. A contract of a duration of more than 1 year under which a consumer purchases the right to use accommodation on more than one occasion, typically 1 or 2 weeks each year.

Long-term holiday product contract. A contract of a duration of more than 1 year which gives the consumer the right to discounts on accommodation or to related benefits, sometimes in combination with travel or other services.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Directive 2008/122/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 January 2009 on the protection of consumers in respect of certain aspects of timeshare, long-term holiday product, resale and exchange contracts (OJ L 33, 3.2.2009, pp. 10–30).

last update 03.02.2022