As reported previously, there has been an ongoing battle with MRL regarding their proposal to change the constitution and vary the underlying contractual rights enjoyed by timeshare consumers in their respective unincorporated clubs.
Yesterday was the AGM that the MRL Action Group has been waiting for.
As expected, within the crowd there were 2 camps;
Camp A) The owners who are fed up and who want to leave no matter the cost
Camp B) The owners who want to fight tooth and nail to get justice
Looking through the forums to see what went on, it seems that the opinions really are spilt. Those involved with the MRL Action Group are fuming and it seems they are right to be. The majority of consumers in attendance were Camp A so they had the benefit of strength in numbers. The few that attended from Camp B seem to have been ignored and failed to gain the information that they required or the audience to appeal to others.
One attendee from Camp B stated “Without doubt the intention of the overall majority attending was to GET OUT of the club. They were desperate to have a committee so that an SGM would be called as fast as possible so that they had an avenue to get out, whatever it cost they would pay”.
Another claimed that the AGM was flooded with lies and half-truths in respect to the actions of the MRL Action Group.
We believe that it is always good to hear the opinion of Switzerland. After some digging we found them!
It was their first AGM and they went into not knowing whether to join Camp A or Camp B.
He or she stated that they did not “like the style of the chairman and didn’t trust or believe what he said”.
They believe that Mcdonalds appear to have “cheated” people into the points scheme (that isn’t the half of it I might add).
They went on to state that; “There were some genuinely sad cases and I think MacDonalds would do well to be seen to be treating people with much more understanding and respect than they do. The Finance guy made a bit more sense than the Chairman but we got to the point that we didn’t trust a word that came out of the Chairman’s mouth – but these are just impressions from us as (almost) bystanders.
Switzerlands overall impression is;
“The large majority of members at the meeting just want to get on with having a vote and will abide by a majority decision. There is some strength of feeling that MacDonalds are not behaving in an honourable way but that doesn’t over-ride their desire to pay their 4 x maintenance fees and get out when and if they wish. They aren’t sympathetic to what they see as a minority of members holding this up.
And to lend some support to this view, one guy said that he had ‘got out’ at La Ermita, paid his fee and then been given vouchers to use for a further 2 holidays. Thus he had actually only ‘lost’ 2 years of maintenance costs which he considered well worth it”.
Our view;
The consumers own the resort. FACT. So why on earth do the consumers want to pay thousands of pounds for MRL to “let them” out of their resort THEY OWN.
It makes no sense. Understandably the MRLAG attendees are frustrated. The consumers need to get rid of those in charge and take a hold of what is there. If you want to leave then fine but don’t be fooled by the dictators above who are merely there to cause confusion and doubt.
Take what is yours. Join the people who do not want to lie down and take it. Stand up for what is right!!
One is for sure and that is that this AGM has added some serious fuel to the MRLAG’s already furiously burning fire.
The committee is in place. The 3 members have stepped forward. The MRLAG (I am sure) will now also engage with their next steps and hopefully we will see some action shortly.
Again, looking at people’s views from the AGM, it seems that MRL relied heavily on the absence of the Action Groups leaders for blame. As far as the TCA is understands, the MRL Action group is progressing full speed ahead.
The two sides are in a stalemate situation. Someone needs to take a serious step to get this matter resolved.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk