The European Commission has outlined plans to clamp down on holiday club scams that have duped thousands of people out of their savings.The clubs persuade people to part with large fees up-front with the promise of cheap future holidays and the EC plans to extend the protection given to timeshare customers to people who join holiday clubs.

Up-front payments will be banned, better information will be required and the commission also proposes a 14-day cooling-off period.
Ian McCartney, consumer minister at the UK’s Department of Trade and Industry, advised people to be very wary of holiday clubs until the new regulations can be adopted.
“Don’t sign up during a presentation and don’t part with any money or credit card details until you have had time to think things over,” he said.
“If you are told this is a once in a lifetime, never-to-be-repeated offer, don’t believe it.”