Whilst governments around the World are making trillions available for their hard working citizens to claim following the Covid 19 outbreak, timeshare owners are getting zero clarity from their resorts of where they stand with regards to refunds on maintenance fees paid in advance for their 2020 occupancy.
Billions are collected annually in maintenance payments by timeshare resorts across the globe and yet none to date have offered their clients a refund or even an inkling of what their precedence will be.
Many travel companies, hotel chains and timeshare groups are having no choice but to close their doors. The way things are going, at present, nobody can know for sure if these restrictions will be lasting for weeks, months or even years. It is a very uncertain time for businesses and consequently for the people who are desperately fighting to keep their jobs secure.
Timeshare resorts such as Club La Costa World on the Costa del Sol, have been left with no choice but to shut their doors due to the lockdown and measures that are currently in place in Spain. Of course it is completely understandable that resorts of all kinds will have to temporarily, or even permanently, close due to the outbreak. But where does this leave timeshare consumers who won’t be able to use their occupancy this year?
The situation will vary for each group and country. For example, Marriott group in Phuket don’t appear to be very sympathetic about the current situation in Thailand. If someone was to visit the resort at this time, they would have to stay for a minimum of two weeks just to satisfy the 14-day quarantine requirement. Consumers who own timeshare through Marriott have been taking to the internet to share their stories on how they have struggled in trying to negotiate with the group to change their Easter booking dates to September; when there is availability. The group are refusing to adhere to their requests and are instead telling their owners that the only way to change the dates is to put the booking into Interval International exchange programme; which the consumer will of course have to pay further to use.
Marriott Vacation Club (AP) response to coronavirus
In an attempt to stay loyal to their customers, companies Worldwide are discounting their goods and promoting special offers. Many more are providing special deals to health care workers to thank them for their efforts during this pandemic. Everyone seems to be doing their bit, so surely asking to swap a week around for their loyal customers; who have paid tens of thousands over the years and pay hundreds more in maintenance fees each year, surely isn’t too much to ask.
It is however also true that Marriott have waved cancellation fees for many of their hotels globally. This gesture of course evidences goodwill on their part, but it also consolidates the fact that being a timeshare owner and paying large sums to a resort every single year for decades, does not offer any more or even the same benefits as a one-time hotel guest with a one-time charge.
https://news.marriott.com/news/2020/02/28/marriotts-updated-statement-on-novel-coronavirus-covid-19
To our knowledge, currently no timeshare resorts or management companies have reached out to their paying owners to offer them a refund of their 2020 fees, even though many clients will find it totally impossible to make use of their entitlements during this period.
If you have been affected by the content of this article and would like help and guidance on ways in which you can claim back your maintenance charges, we invite you to call or email our team.
If you have spent time dwelling on whether you want to exit from your timeshare, we continue to emphasise that now is the time to do so. Not necessarily a Marriott timeshare but any group or resort. Feel free to call or email us if you would like to discuss this or any other timeshare related matter.
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