Projet de loi relatif à la protection des consommateurs en matière de contrats d'utilisation de biens à temps partagé, de produits de vacances à long terme, de revente et d'échange.
General information ¶
- Submitted by
- CD&V Leterme Ⅱ
- Submission date
- May 16, 2011
- Official page
- Visit
- Status
- Adopted
- Requirement
- Simple
- Subjects
- EC Directive consumer protection contract real property time-sharing sale
Voting ¶
- Voted to adopt
- Groen CD&V Vooruit Ecolo LE PS | SP ∉ Open Vld N-VA MR VB
Contact form ¶
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Discussion ¶
June 23, 2011 | Plenary session (Chamber of representatives)
Full source
President André Flahaut ⚙
The rapporteur, Ms Lalieux, refers to her written report. Only the M. Henry wants to intervene.
Olivier Henry PS | SP ⚙
Until now, only time-sharing contracts that meet a very strict legal definition were covered by legislation. Arounding this legislation was very simple, so new long-term vacation formulas outside the scope of existing legislation have emerged: membership of vacation clubs, access to vacation catalogues practicing price reductions, vacation exchanges. In short, all these contracts were not subject to any particular legal protection.
From today, the law significantly expands the scope of consumer protection, including, among other protective measures, the sale and resale of time-sharing goods and long-term holiday products, as well as exchange contracts.
We can only welcome the adoption of such legislation. In fact, time-sharing is still and always closer to hell than heaven. How many scam stories do we hear every year despite the multiple warnings of consumer associations? How many tourists have not signed a contract directly at their holiday location after hours and hours of intense brainwashing?
The time-sharing and related products sector is characterized by a not negligible presence of scammers and companies with misleading and aggressive practices. It is therefore important that the implementation of this legislation is monitored and fraud severely punished if necessary.
Both of these aspects are provided for in the European Directive.
It was very important to strengthen consumer protection in this sector because, as we can see, warning the public and informing them of the risks taken by signing anything is unfortunately not very effective. Every year, there are the same unfortunate scams. The castles in Spain have a hard life! Therefore, it is not easy to protect the consumer from his own dreams, but this legislation can clearly help him.