SINGAPORE: The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) said it expects timeshare disputes to be among the top complaints again this year.

Timeshares are a form of ownership or rights to the use of property, usually resort condominiums, for certain periods during the year.

CASE said it expects the number of complaints to reach 2,000 by year-end.

According to the association, most of the complaints received were related to resale companies.

These firms commonly prey on consumers desperate to end agreements with other timeshare providers.

They offer attractive deals to take over contracts, subject to "transfer and administration" fees which may amount to thousands of dollars.

The deals, however, often remain as unfulfilled promises.

CASE is lobbying for timeshare-related legislation to protect consumers.

"We think that it's important to have a timeshare legislation in place, basically to ensure transparency and ethical practices," said Seah Seng Choon, executive director of CASE.

"Currently, when members buy a timeshare membership, they will not know how many memberships have already been recruited for that particular resort, and very often than not, timeshare members complain to us that they are unable to book the resort ... after they (have) paid up their timeshare membership fee."