Leading consumer claims firm ECC targets rogue holiday park sales and mis-selling claims

European Consumer Claims (ECC) expands into holiday park mis-selling claims

Claims firm pedigree

Based in Henley-on-Thames, European Consumer Claims also has offices in Florida and mainland Spain. The company has been supporting victims of dubious sales practices for eight years. Best known for its work with timeshare consumers, ECC has secured tens of millions of pounds in compensation awards and is currently managing a claims portfolio of over £200 million. Its online reputation is strong, with five-star ratings across major review sites and coverage in widely read international media.

ECC clients share glowing video testimonials, independently verified by external auditors.

ECC works closely with the UK’s leading consumer claims solicitors, including Pinder Reaux and M1 Law.

Why holiday parks?

Following the demise of timeshare in Europe, many former timeshare salespeople have moved into selling static caravan-style accommodation at holiday parks around the UK. With less regulation than house sales—and even less than modern timeshare—the holiday park sector appears to be rife with misleading sales tactics. Buyers can spend tens, and sometimes hundreds, of thousands of pounds after a timeshare-style sales presentation lasting just a few hours. Some are encouraged to take loans or even mortgage property to fund the purchase. Many timeshare owners also own at holiday parks.

Some customers say they were verbally promised rental income would cover loan repayments if they did not live in the caravan permanently. They then report that, once cleaning, visitor passes and linen charges are deducted, much of the rental income is swallowed up.

Others report that the park itself undercuts them, making meaningful rental income hard or impossible to achieve.

Depreciation is also said to be misrepresented. One couple told the BBC they were assured caravans on their site generally held their value, but when they came to sell they found it had dropped in value by £50,000 over two years.

Media coverage of holiday park sales complaints increasingly mirrors the reporting once focused on abusive timeshare operations. A Facebook group called Holiday Park Action Group, campaigning for justice for people who say they have lost money to these businesses, has 68,000 members and continues to grow.

ECC to the rescue

"This is a situation in which our company is uniquely positioned to help," says Greg Wilson, CEO of ECC. "There are clear breaches of consumer law. These sales agents are taking advantage of people and we aim to seek redress."

"Normally, if you were spending similarly significant sums of money on a house, you would have lawyers to guide you and all kinds of protective safeguards. Even timeshare sales have a legal framework in place in the modern marketplace."

"There was a strongly supported petition to the government in 2020 for improved rights for UK holiday park buyers. This was refused and victims were advised to rely on the Consumer Rights Act," continues Wilson. "The CRA is a useful piece of legislation but often requires expensive and time-consuming legal action to enforce an individual’s rights."

"ECC specialises in simplifying the task of bringing operations who prey on consumers to justice. There have already been successful cases against these operations, based on unfair fees and service charges; misrepresentation and sales practices; unfair contract terms; evictions and harassment; and health & safety violations.

"We have seen what is happening with these holiday parks, and we are ready to step in."

Get in touch

Have you had a bad experience linked to holiday park caravan or static home ownership? Do you know someone else who feels they were misled or mistreated?

Get in touch.

Our solicitors are primed and ready to take on the bad actors in the holiday park industry.