European Consumer Claims (ECC) expands into holiday park mis-selling claims
Claims firm pedigree
Based in Henley-on-Thames, European Consumer Claims also has offices in Florida and mainland Spain. The company has been supporting victims of questionable sales practices for eight years. Initially focused on timeshare consumers, ECC has secured tens of millions of pounds in compensation awards and is currently managing a claims portfolio of more than £200 million. ECC reports an excellent online reputation, with five-star ratings across major review platforms and strong coverage in widely read international media.
ECC clients provide video testimonials which the company says are independently verified by external auditors.
ECC works closely with leading UK consumer claims solicitors, including Pinder Reaux and M1 Law.
Why holiday parks?
Following the decline of timeshare in Europe, many former timeshare salespeople have moved into selling static caravan-style accommodation at holiday parks across the UK. With less regulation than house sales – and even timeshare – holiday park sales operations are being widely reported as rife with misleading sales tactics. Buyers can spend tens, and sometimes hundreds, of thousands of pounds after a high-pressure, timeshare-style sales presentation lasting only a few hours. Some are encouraged to take out loans – or even remortgage property – to fund the purchase, and some timeshare owners also own at holiday parks.
Customers report being verbally promised that rental income will cover repayments if they do not live in the caravan permanently. They then say that, once cleaning, visitor passes and linen fees are deducted, much of the rental income is absorbed by charges – prompting potential claim against holiday park fees and charges.
Others report that the park itself undercuts owners, making rental income difficult or impossible to achieve. This is central to many holiday park rental income promises claim enquiries.
Depreciation is also alleged to be misrepresented during the sales process. One couple told the BBC they were told caravans on their site generally held their value, but when they came to sell, they found it had dropped by £50,000 in the two years they owned it – an issue often raised in static caravan mis-sold compensation cases.
Media coverage of holiday park sales practices increasingly mirrors the scrutiny previously aimed at abusive timeshare operations. The Facebook group Holiday Park Action Group, which seeks justice for people who say they have lost money to these businesses, has 68,000 members and continues to grow.
ECC steps in
"This is a situation in which our company is uniquely positioned to help," says Greg Wilson, CEO of ECC. "There are clear breaches of consumer law. These sales agents are taking advantage of people and we aim to seek redress."
"Normally, if you were spending similarly significant sums of money on a house, you would have solicitors to guide you and a range of protective safeguards. Even timeshare sales now have a legal framework in the modern marketplace."
"There was a strongly supported petition to the Government in 2020 for improved rights for UK holiday park buyers. This was refused and victims were advised to rely on the Consumer Rights Act," continues Wilson. "The Consumer Rights Act is a useful piece of legislation, but enforcing a consumer rights act holiday park claim can require costly and time-consuming legal action."
"ECC specialises in simplifying the process of holding operators to account. There have already been successful cases against these businesses, including claims involving unfair fees and service charges, misrepresentation in sales presentations, unfair contract terms holiday park disputes, evictions and harassment, and health and safety breaches."
"We have seen what is happening across holiday parks, and we are ready to step in."
Get in touch
Have you had a poor experience connected to holiday park caravan or static home ownership – such as a holiday park sales misrepresentation claim, a holiday park caravan loan mis-sold issue, concerns about unfair charges, or a holiday park eviction harassment legal claim? Do you know someone else who has been treated unfairly?
ECC holiday park claims firm solicitors are ready to take on rogue operators in the holiday park industry.
