Cancellation of contract with the Holiday Club.......... Think again

I want to cancel my membership with the holiday club as I no longer make use of the service. So I contacted them to do just that. I was informed that there is an outstanding amount on my account that I need to settle before I can do so. Asked what this amount was and was informed it was an outstanding amount on my annual fees. I asked how this could be as my fee is payed by debit order. I was then informed that due to an error on their side my debit order was never adjusted. Ok honest mistake. The outstanding fee was settled I phoned back. The gentleman on the other side fixed the account helped me stopped the debit order and informed me that all I now need to do is send a mail that I would like to cancel my membership. And this is where the fun started

So a lady from the customer service sent me a mail asking that I put in writing why I want to cancel. Why is this required. I DON'T WANT TO BE A MEMBER ANYMORE. My reason is my reasons. But anyway I did as asked and she informed me that that she will duly take this up with her management team.

Cool Thanks so I though

Nope. Got a reply back

Due to company procedure for cancellation of membership the forthcoming fee for 2020 would have to be paid prior to our submitting the membership for cancellation.

What? So let me get this straight. As a member that has never missed a payment (besides the couple of rand that was owed not due to any error on my side) that is not using a service that I pay for and that I now no longer want to use (not that I have used it in about 4 years) Now have to pay another years annual fees and only once that is done can and will the submit my application for cancellation

In what world is a member / customer held responsible for a company's way of doing business. Let me explain. The holiday club pre-books accommodation at resorts to be able to have place available for their members. This is what I was told by the nice customer service lady. Now because they pre-booked, when a member or customer wants to end there membership, the member needs to pay the annual fee to make up for that "loss". In my opinion this is a risk that the holiday club takes to ensure that the rest of the members have places to book and use the points to go on Holiday with. And if you do not book a year in advance you do not get available accommodation, so that plan is also not really working.

The best of all is they offered me a smaller package (more affordable) or suggested that I transfer this to a family member or friend. In what world will I ever give something like this to any one close to me, and if i wanted a more "affordable" package that is what I would have asked for.

All I want is my membership cancelled and me to be able to use the points that I have already payed for. If they have allocated my 2020 point already then take them back. Will make it easier for me to use the points that I have accumulated and paid for already. But Nope they do not take points back. But why not. does that not mean that they now have more points available to sell to someone else? Why does the company that sell you these points not buy them back if you no longer want the points? Something to think about

And do not think that you will be able to sell these off quickly. There are a couple of brokers that will try and sell these points. Not that big of a seller and if they do managed to get the points sold it is usually far less that what its "worth". O and average turn around time 8 months