Welcome to the start of another week with AIT, and especially all our friends across the Great Lake, today is Labor (labour) Day which pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. In Europe International Workers Day is celebrated on 1st May, it has largely replaced the old May Day celebrations marking the beginning of summer.
Our Friday article Vacation Village and the ORAL REPRESENTATION CLAUSE has once again stirred the emotions of many readers, not just from this resort but right across the board. It is clear from the responses we have received and those posted on social media that this is a problem right across the industry.
It is a practice that by definition is crooked, hence the term AIT prefers “to get the sale by hook or by crook”. So we decided to check the meaning and origin of the phrase and the word.
Wikipedia defines it as:
“By hook or by crook” is an English phrase meaning “by any means necessary”, suggesting that any means possible should be taken to accomplish a goal. The phrase was first recorded in the Middle English Controversial Tracts of John Wyclif in 1380.
Collins dictionary definition:
If someone says they will do something by hook or by crook, they are determined to do it, even if they have to make a great effort or use dishonest means.
They intend to get their way, by hook or by crook
The Merriam Webster online dictionary defines Crook as:
crook noun
Definition of crook (Entry 2 of 3)
an implement having a bent or hooked form: such as
- POTHOOK
- a shepherd’s staff
- CROSIER sense 1
a part of something that is hook-shaped, curved, or bent
the crook of an umbrella handle
BEND, CURVE
a person who engages in fraudulent or criminal practices
crook adjective
Definition of crook (Entry 3 of 3)
Australia and New Zealand: not right:
- UNSATISFACTORY
- DISHONEST, CROOKED
- IRRITABLE, ANGRY —used especially in the phrase go crook
- ILL, UNWELL
A very clear definition of the word and the saying, which seems to cover all the sales agents that lie to get a sale, it also points to their employers who condone the practice thereby giving their “CONSENT”.
That makes them Crooks by any definition of the word.
While browsing around the internet on the term “Hook or by Crook” we came across these timeshare-related stories that did actually make it into the UK news. Surprising really considering it has nothing to do with the royals, politicians, celebrities, sex and scandal which is what they thrive on.
The first link is to a story we published back in May Money Laundering Convictions in Resale Scam. Our article focused on how the “Big Fish” get away by using others to do their dirty work. It also showed how “greed” played a huge part in this man’s downfall.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fugitive-timeshare-money-launderer-admits-26598932
In this link we see the demise of another “Exit & Claims” scam, it is one which we followed in our old publication.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/courts-shut-down-timeshare-scams-14066927
The following links show the international nature of timeshare fraud which also has some very dubious links.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/police-suspect-top-crime-bosses-16163145
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/brit-accused-helping-run-60million-13333655
Considering all that we know about timeshare and the “criminal” goings-on, it is unbelievable that convictions are few and far between, some of the reasons were covered in Daily Mail: Fraud a Growing Industry in UK.
It explored the reason behind the growth in fraud, the number of agencies involved and their inadequacies. But the one overriding factor is the “CROOKS” always seem one step ahead, leaving the “fraud investigators” with nothing but “dissolved” and non-existent companies. While the consumer, “Victims”, are left out of pocket and in many cases face severe financial problems.
We hope you all had a good weekend, Baby Dog had a good run around and is now feeling it.
