Are you planning to use your timeshare this year?

Timeshare owners misery at paying for vacations they no longer want

Holiday season

We all know the feeling. It starts straight after the Christmas festivities. The celebrations have wound down and all the excitement is over. Presents are unwrapped and put away. The food is eaten. The guests have left, and we are due back at work in what feels like a few hours.

Life would feel pretty empty without something new to look forward to. Luckily our accommodating, free market economy knows exactly what we need.

We need a holiday. And more importantly, we need a holiday to look forward to.

Roll on summer

It can seem like every single advert break on tv, from Boxing day until past Easter is wall to wall sunshine, beaches and exotic destinations. Human beings need something pleasurable to focus on. The anticipation can be as exciting as the event itself. In the same way as Fridays can sometimes feel more pleasant than Sundays, because of the promise of the weekend to come.

Enjoyable, holiday related conversations are had about: "Where shall we go?" "When shall we go?" "Shall we try something different?" Or "Why don't we go in a group with the Johnsons/your brother Jim and his wife?"

Maybe there are other priorities this year. Maybe we are getting married or spending our vacation time fixing up our house.

The point is, decisions are made, planned and budgeted for. It's all part of the fun.

Timeshare inflexibility

Timeshare owners don't get to make those plans and choices. They have to pay 'maintenance fee' costs every year at least equivalent to staying in regular hotels, whether they holiday or not.

The amount they are legally obliged to pay is decided by their resort, who can make significant increases at their own discretion. This year many resorts have unilaterally raised their fees by a staggering 30%.

The options are limited for timeshare owners. They can't just decide to go somewhere new without meticulous planning, many months of notice and a lot of luck. There are exchange systems, but their effectiveness as reported by timeshare owners is pretty dismal.

Generally speaking owners have to go to their home resorts, and even then they have to compete with non members who now also have access to the once-exclusive clubs.

"Holidays are limited, expensive and predictable for timeshare owners," says Andrew Cooper, CEO of European Consumer Claims, "and many people are fed up with that."

Route to freedom

Help is at hand, and it is easier than you might think. ECC can generally help you to escape an unwanted timeshare commitment, and in come cases even claim compensation against resorts who sold to you in an illegal or unfair manner.

For a free, no obligation consultation on your timeshare situation, get in touch with the team at ECC.