Business Practices Committee Report 75

On 19 January 1 998 officials of the Committee held discussions with Sealey and Mr David Moulds, General Sales Manager of Alpha Club and based in Armação de Pera, Portugal. This meeting took place at the offices of MFS in Bedfordview. A further meeting between officials and Sealey was held on 8 April 1998 at the same venue.

Newport was closed down by the Minister because, inter alia, a majority of Newport Club members would at any stage lose money when the scheme came to an end. The Committee was of the opinion that this fact unreasonably prejudiced the existing and future Newport members. Spokesmen for MFS/Alpha contended that same argument could not be followed in the Alpha case. Alpha members allegedly had the opportunity to obtain holiday accommodation abroad at greatly reduced rates. Therefore they could not lose anything. Despite various correspondence and discussions, MFS/Alpha could not convince the Committee that the accommodation offered was indeed available or taken up.