Consumers locked into contracts ‘for life’, unable to sell timeshare points or give them away to escape spiralling levy costs, and others who alleged exploitation by unscrupulous salespeople, presented their cases to the National Consumer Commission (NCC) in Durban yesterday.

The Mercury reports the NCC is conducting a two-day public inquiry as part of a national inquiry in a bid to solve problems that have plagued the industry for decades. Deputy consumer commissioner Thezi Mabuza said the commission had received ‘several thousand’ complaints ranging from the cost of levies and fees to the unavailability of accommodation and problems with cancelling contracts.

Most consumers yesterday complained about being permanently locked into the agreements, which some salespeople had peddled as an investment to be ‘passed on’ to their children in their estate. Instead, consumers said they had ended up with a burden of escalating and unaffordable levies with dwindling holiday benefits.

Full report in The Mercury (subscription needed)