A COUPLE who say they have lost thousands of pounds through a holiday club are warning others to take care.

The couple, who have asked not to be named, say they paid £7,500 to Tenerife-based United Vacations, but now cannot get their money back and cannot contact the company.

They say the company promised to buy their share of a timeshare apartment on the island if they joined a holiday club.

The couple, from Darlington, visited the company's headquarters in Tenerife in October and signed papers to seal the deal.

But since they transferred the money to United Vacations' bank account, they have heard nothing and cannot contact the company.

"They approached us and offered to buy our timeshare in Palm Beach for £17,000 if we joined the holiday club," said the wife.

"The holiday club meant you got 50 per cent off deals and boat hire and car hire.

"We paid the money to join the club which we thought would be very nice. We thought we couldn't lose."

Now the couple fear they may never recoup their money and want others to be cautious about joining the scheme.

"We thought it was too good of a deal to turn down.

"Now we just feel so foolish. I'm so annoyed with this company," she said.

A spokeswoman for the Office of Fair Trading confirmed that several complaints had been received concerning United Vacations.

"We are currently considering those complaints," she said.

She urged people considering joining a holiday club in the New Year to be careful.

"With holiday clubs you quite often don't get the same rights as you get with a time share.

"We would always warn consumers to make sure they know what they are buying.

"Read the small print carefully and don't feel pressurised into signing something there and then," she said.

* United Vacations in Tenerife is in no way connected with the UK-based company of the same name.