The Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees), also known as TATOC, has today launched its Code of Conduct.
The Code of Conduct is a commitment by TATOC, our members, accredited and affiliated companies to the highest standards of business ethics, principles and practices. It is also an assurance of the highest standards in the provision of products and services; they will be correctly sold, well managed and well maintained with the consumer as the principle focus. Commitment to the Code creates a partnership between timeshare businesses and timeshare consumers that will help secure a strong and healthy future for everyone involved.
The Code has been developed to provide a formal structure for partnerships between TATOC and reputable companies operating in the timeshare arena. It incorporates detailed Codes of Practice for specific areas including timeshare re-sales. Commitment to the Code is essential for any company to be recognised by TATOC or considered for affiliation or accreditation or allowed to place advertising material in any TATOC publication such as Sharetime magazine.
“The reputation of the industry has suffered in the past with some less than transparent companies preying on owners,” explained Harry Taylor, TATOC’s executive chairman. “It is important that consumers can identify companies that are open and transparent and have products to suit their family needs and aspirations and it is our hope that these high-quality, consumer focused timeshare organisations recognise the commercial benefits of committing to the TATOC Code of Conduct.”
The Code is the first of its kind in Europe and breaks new ground in the development of relationships between industry suppliers and recognised consumer representatives.
“Image, trust and reputation are everything for consumers today. A business can now prove its credentials with a partnership with TATOC and by committing to the Code,” said Taylor.
The full Code of Conduct and the Codes of Practice currently published are available to view on the TATOC website here. Additional Codes of Practice will be added wherever a need is identified. TATOC is currently seeking official recognition of the Codes by the Office of Fair Trading and other government agencies.
The new European Directive (2008/122/EC) and UK Regulations (2010 No 2960) that came into force on 23 February 2011 provide for professional bodies and other associations to establish codes of conduct and behavior. Timeshare companies are required to include in their marketing material information about which of these recognised codes they have committed to, or to indicate where they have not signed up to operate to any code.
The TATOC Code is an opportunity for reputable companies to demonstrate the high quality of their business ethics and practices, and their consumer-focused products and services. It is an opportunity, for consumers to have good confidence in a company that has made a commitment to the TATOC Timeshare Code of Conduct.
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