Holiday Property Bond

terryw

kittie wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

plenty of first time users on this particular thread

I wonder why??

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Well spotted kittie. I noticed this as well very early on in this thread.

I am a little surprised that they have not returned in view of the latest news.

terryw

Seronera wrote: »

]


TerryW. just for your information, there are nearly 50,000 bondholders, and although not huge, HPB is still a sizeable operation. I respect the rules on here, but having seen previous uncomplementary comment by you about HPB I'd just politely request that you play with as straight a bat as you can, as peoples saving are potentially at risk and its in everybodies interests that the current situation has a resolution that all parties can get behind, so that bondholders confidence can be restored, and they can continue to enjoy their HPB holidays...and no I don't work for them in any capacity whatsoever.

Seronera

The paragraph above appears to have been added as an amendment by you since your original post. I have just seen it now.

Thank you for your polite request that I "play with a straight bat."

I have never come across this figure of speech before but I am a little surprised that you are asking me to do this. Might I respectfully request that you make the same request to all the single entry posters who have posted in this thread extolling the many benefits of this concern?

Seronera

As I don't know any of them I can't really comment on their status. You don't know any of them either but seem to feel free to question their status. That tells me more about you than them.

I only got involved in here as some of the accusations being levelled at HPB were innacurate in the extreme, wilfully misrepresentative and needed responding to. I would hazard a guess that quite a few of the newbie responders you seem to despise are bona fide bondholders who were equally outraged at some comments made and could not let them pass unchallenged. I really could not believe some of the stuff being written by critics of HPB who had not the faintest idea what they were talking about, but just wanted to jump on a bandwagon for reasons best known to themselves.

If you are a moderator on here, you need to look at yourself first. You have demonstrated repeatedly that you know very little about the HPB, yet assume the authority to comment on it from a position of ignorance. You seem to resent that a lot of people actually have had very good experiences of HPB, for over a quarter of a century in my case. The current problem (which affects me incidentally) has had a pretty full explanation given elsewhere, and whilst I'm far from happy with what has transpired, I have been persuaded that the risk to affected bondholders (roughly 12,000 early bondholders of the 50,000 total) is manageable and holiday entitlements unaffected in the forseeable future.

If you don't like HPB then I have no problem with that, just try and keep your prejudices in check on a public forum. As for 'keeping a straight bat' its probably only been in English usage for 150 years, but hey, who cares. It just means 'play fair' and you havn't been.

Seronera

Seronera

kittie wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

plenty of first time users on this particular thread

I wonder why??

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I think most posters have made their status perfectly clear. If you havn't got anything useful to say then try getting a life.

Seronera

terryw

Seronera wrote: »

As I don't know any of them I can't really comment on their status. You don't know any of them either but seem to feel free to question their status. That tells me more about you than them.

I only got involved in here as some of the accusations being levelled at HPB were innacurate in the extreme, wilfully misrepresentative and needed responding to. I would hazard a guess that quite a few of the newbie responders you seem to despise are bona fide bondholders who were equally outraged at some comments made and could not let them pass unchallenged. I really could not believe some of the stuff being written by critics of HPB who had not the faintest idea what they were talking about, but just wanted to jump on a bandwagon for reasons best known to themselves.

If you are a moderator on here, you need to look at yourself first. You have demonstrated repeatedly that you know very little about the HPB, yet assume the authority to comment on it from a position of ignorance. You seem to resent that a lot of people actually have had very good experiences of HPB, for over a quarter of a century in my case. The current problem (which affects me incidentally) has had a pretty full explanation given elsewhere, and whilst I'm far from happy with what has transpired, I have been persuaded that the risk to affected bondholders (roughly 12,000 early bondholders of the 50,000 total) is manageable and holiday entitlements unaffected in the forseeable future.

If you don't like HPB then I have no problem with that, just try and keep your prejudices in check on a public forum. As for 'keeping a straight bat' its probably only been in English usage for 150 years, but hey, who cares. It just means 'play fair' and you havn't been.

Seronera

Seronera,

I am not a moderator on here. Merely a poster to MSE like yourself. So far as I know, there are no moderators on MSE - only Board Guides.

Sincere thanks for the explanation about "keeping a straight bat". I really do like metaphors and idiom and this is another one to add to my vocabulary.

One of my quibs with this thread, is the large number of brand-new posters who appeared on the same day extolling the many benefits of this concern. It really does defy the rules of common-sense and logic that so many HPB members would turn up on the same day to an obscure thread (as it was then) on MSE merely to sing the praises. Other posters other than me have commented upon this. It is all very strange. Perhaps you will be kind enough to show me any other threads where dozens of newbies turn up to extol the virtues of a concern after the first posting. Or perhaps it is just that HPB members check the name in a search engine to see if there are any comments?

I am pleased for your sake, that you have been persuaded that the risk to affected bondholders is manageable.

budgetflyer

This thread is actually no 6 on Google.co.uk for the search term "holiday property bond" which probably the real reason for so many new posters. Nothing sinister imo

ChrisM_2

I would guess that lots of folk the ended up here the same way I did, having done a search on google for some more info on one of the HPB sites. We were thinking of booking for Alfaix which opened last year, and with only rather limited photos on the HPB site. I was already a member of MSE and had been for several years, but had not posted on a forum before, so would have shown up as a newbie probably, but at that time the thread was even higher up the list on Google. I would guess that's how so many new folk ended up on here. Those of us who love HPB are also likely to jump to its defence at any suggestion of criticism!

The friends who introduced us to HPB are almost certainly Gold bondholders, so I will be interested to hear their take on the present problems. I heard no criticism from anyone while we were on holiday, but the sunshine, Spanish wine and food and excellent location had probably put them in a very good mood!

Incidentally, we have just returned from an absolutely fabulous fortnight at Alfaix. It is superb, and lots of folks there were saying 'the best yet' and 'clever old HPB' to find such a brilliant spot. Yes, it's isolated, but the mountain views are splendid, you definitely need a car, but it's a much smaller site than La Gomera and Madeira and there's lots going on. We totally loved it. Can't wait to go again

HOL_2

thameswan wrote: »

Really interesting to read the negative reports from those who don't have a Bond! From someone who has had a Bond for over 20 years rest assured that this is a solid, respectable and high quality product which is in a different league to package holidays. As others have said 'you get what you pay for' and I have never had any reason to be critical of the company, the accommodation or the wonderful facilities. There is attention to detail with every element and I have had up to three holidays a year for 20 years so I should know!

Contrary to other reports here there is no maintenance charge - this differentiates it from time shares. You only pay a user charge when you actually rent a property. I invested early so don't even have a user charge - every holiday I have taken has been virtually free.

Clients are generally professionals so you know in advance the type of people you will be encountering. If you like packages and all that goes with them then stay away.... long may HPB continue to thrive with intellectual investors who know when they are on to a good thing!

Thanks. Do you know how many sites are suitable for a wheelchair user

ChrisM_2

As far as I am aware there are properties adapted for wheelchairs in 21 of HPB's 34 sites, but I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong. Some sites are obviously more suitable than others, and I'm sure HPB can answer the questions if contacted. The numbers of adapted apartments varies between 1 and 5 in the various locations, and though that would seem to indicate that they need to be booked pretty early, in fact when we went to Portugal last October there was one wheelchair adapted apartment still available to book points free only a few weeks before departure.

Ventnorfan

I am thinking of investing in HPB and will soon meet their rep having already visited 2 of their properties on their Open Days - Buckland Court and Langton House. We found these 2 properties very different. Buckland Court was very high quality but Langton House we thought very average standard. Having read through the forum there are obviously 2 camps bondholders and people who decided not to invest. What I would be interested in from Bondholders who have used their UK properties is which are like Buckland in terms of quality and which are more like Langton house?
From people who decided not to invest I would be interested to know why?
If we do decide to invest we acknowledge that this is not an investment from which to make money and the management charge is on the high side but what else should we be questioning?