ʻO nā mea nona ka Timeshare o nā ʻāina amber UK e nalowale ana i ke kālā inā huakaʻi lākou ʻaʻole paha

Sandra’s husband and son have a plumbing business. Taking an extra 10 days off is not an option for them. It would also mean extra time off from work for Sandra, and off from school for her grandsons.

ʻAʻole hiki iā ʻoe ke kāpae i kāu kaʻana manawa

The Norman family are among the unlucky ones who booked in advance, hoping things would be back to normal by now. Regular holidaymakers can generally opt to avoid amber list countries and stay close to home during these uncertain times. But what if, like over 650,000 Brits, you own a timeshare? What if, like over 76 percent of those owners, your timeshare is in amber listed Spain or Greece?

“It’s a huge problem,” said Andrew Cooper, CEO of European Consumer Claims (ECC). “TImeshare owners have to pay for their accommodation whether they use it or not. They are stuck with the difficult choice of either writing off their annual fees (around the same as the cost of regular accommodation) or paying thousands extra for PCR tests, risking travel against government advice to an amber list country, and having a legally-mandated extra 10 days quarantine upon return.”

E kōkua i ke kōkua

For many timeshare owners this disappointment is nothing new. “Timeshare used to be a groundbreaking way to holiday,” says Andrew Cooper. “However, the rest of the travel business has caught up and overtaken it in terms of flexibility and value. Timeshare in 2021 is little more than an expensive restrictive commitment that most members wish they could get rid of.”

The good news for Spanish timeshare owners is that many of them can either escape or even claim compensation with professional help.

“For many years since 1999, timeshare companies in Spain have been ignoring laws enacted to protect consumers from high-pressure sales,” said Cooper, “and many of those affected are not only able to escape the contracts but also claim sizable amounts of compensation.”

“Even owners who are not eligible for compensation can often be helped out of their contracts and the accompanying burden of annual maintenance fees.”

Cooper added a note of caution. “Be careful who you retain for relinquishment or compensation claims,” he warned.  “Sadly, the majority of firms offering these services are fraudsters. They will take your money but then disappear.

“If you know other owners who have successfully retained a claims firm, then seek their guidance.  Otherwise there are several timeshare consumer associations who will advise you for free and a website called timesharetrust.co.uk which provides resources to help you do your own research.

“Or you can get in touch with us at ECC, for a free, confidential chat.”

E: (for client enquiries) EUROPE: [pale ʻia ka leka uila]  USA: [pale ʻia ka leka uila]

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