A Christmas Message to Timeshare Members and Developers From 1914

Originally published December 29, 2016, updated December 23, 2022

If the Germans and the Allied Forces in World War I could find a way to put down their weapons and talk to each other, maybe the same could happen in timeshare. At present, the timeshare industry is highly litigious, restrictive and confrontational. This observation is based on multiple investigations, lawsuits, and even comments from appellate judges and governmental agencies, as we will confirm in our year-end review.

There are timeshare company representatives who will listen. I quote a General Manager in Colorado I contacted because the owner did not have a computer or an email address. The timeshare owner had asked for release simply because they said they were too old to continue with timeshare. The GM granted their request, responding, “We have to do what is morally right and fiscally responsible.” If we could all agree on this, there would be few problems in the timeshare industry.

Charles Thomas in his 2016 Christmas article mentioned MacDonald Resorts. Charles is still writing about MacDonald Resorts.

December 29, 2016: Another series of articles have been about MacDonald Resorts and the ongoing battle of Mrs B, now known as Mrs Price. It is a case that has riled us at Inside Timeshare, who are fighting on her behalf. The story revolves around MacDonald Resorts’ refusal to accept that she no longer owns a timeshare at Dona Lola in Spain, continuing to harass this 87-year-old via a debt-collecting agency Network Credit Services. This harassment has included threats of court action to recover a debt that is not owed, this case has been referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Inside Timeshare will continue to highlight this case until MacDonald Resorts abandon the chase for money. It must also be noted that the RDO, which is the industry trade body has also washed its hands of this company.

7 December 2022 – Accountants take over MacDonald Resorts

https://afterinsidetimeshare.com/macdonald-resorts-ltd-further-signs-of-trouble/

The Christmas Truce of 1914

https://www.history.com/news/christmas-truce-1914-world-war-i-soldier-accounts

During World War I, on and around Christmas Day 1914, the sounds of rifles firing and shells exploding faded in a number of places along the Western Front in favor of holiday celebrations in the trenches and gestures of goodwill between enemies.

On December 7, 1914, Pope Benedict XV suggested a temporary hiatus from the war for the celebration of Christmas. The warring countries refused to create any official cease-fire, but on Christmas, the soldiers in the trenches declared their own unofficial truce.

Starting on Christmas Eve, many German and British troops sang Christmas carols to each other across the lines, and at specific points, the Allied soldiers even heard brass bands joining the Germans in their joyous singing.

At the first light of dawn on Christmas Day, some German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the Allied lines across no-man’s-land, calling out “Merry Christmas” in their enemies’ native tongues. At first, the Allied soldiers feared it was a trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings and sang carols and songs. There was even a documented case of soldiers from opposing sides playing a good-natured game of soccer.

The so-called Christmas Truce of 1914 came only five months after the outbreak of war in Europe and was one of the last examples of the outdated notion of chivalry between enemies in warfare. It was never repeated—future attempts at holiday ceasefires were quashed by officers’ threats of disciplinary action—but it served as heartening proof, however brief, that beneath the brutal clash of weapons, the soldiers’ essential humanity endured.

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/christmas-truce-of-1914

Our December 22, 2017 Christmas Wish was restated on December 24, 2018, and on December 23, 2022

We wish to thank all our readers and supporters as we journey down the path towards a resolution of conflict – whether with our timeshare or our world. The relationships that have blossomed and grown as a result of the formation of our band of timeshare brothers and sisters are precious to us. The times that we have had the opportunity to meet face-to-face solidifies and takes our relationship to a new level. We look forward to more of those experiences in the New Year. We have also gotten to know many in the industry who share our concerns.

Here’s hoping 2018 (19) (23) will bring communication, resolution and relief. I also want to wish the best to those who may not like us very much, but know in their heart we only wish for better accountability, transparency and respect.

Thank you to Charles Thomas, Facebook admins, and volunteers supporting timeshare members, and working behind the scenes.

Our mission:

We seek to provide timeshare members with a way to proactively address membership concerns; advocate for timeshare reform; obtain greater disclosure from the company; advocate for a viable secondary market, and educate prospective buyers.

How timeshare social media has grown: Social media in 2022

https://afterinsidetimeshare.com/?s=social+media

Thank you Irene for penning our first Christmas post as AIT & TARDA, the story of the Christmas Truce of 1914 is one I was brought up with, it was held up as an example of the common man taking control of his own life, even just for a moment, at a time when as history has shown he was expendable. Differences were put aside, and soldiers became ordinary men again, it was a sure sign of their true desire, to return home to their families and get back to their normal lives. But the opportunity by the “Leaders” to bring peace to the warring nations was missed, greed and pride took over and we all know the result.

It is that same greed which surrounds timeshare, the developer’s “empires” are at stake, just like those “empires” of 1914, they know what they are doing is wrong, yet they ignore it. Millions of lives are not being needlessly slaughtered, but lives are being damaged in other ways through this same greed. Those stories have been published on our pages, they have been dubbed “Nightmare on Timeshare Street”, because that is what they are, and it is time for the developers to put those nightmares to rest.

To the developers we say, look at the opportunity missed by the leaders of 1914, don’t make the same mistake and continue as before. You are all going to be with your families during this period, if not you will think about them, and you will miss them, the spirit that moved those soldiers in 1914 to do what was right is the same one you have at this time of year. Peace, Love and Family.

You have the opportunity to change an industry that is fast destroying itself, it is time to listen to your customers or as you prefer to call them “Members”, and then act on what you are told. Their stories are all the same, so it will not be difficult to change your culture of greed and irresponsibility. It will happen to you, just as it has happened to the “Big Boys” in Europe.

On that note, all who are involved with AIT & TARDA, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a better New Year. We will be publishing a few articles over the next couple of weeks, it’s time for a break.

Baby Dog has met my Mum and loves her to bits, although he was off his food and a bit poorly, personally I think he was just after sympathy. Merry Christmas.