Do you own a Marriott timeshare in Spain....?

[Iggyearl]

There is a new (today) article on www.insidetimeshare.com that discusses Marriott and the laws of timeshare in Spain. For some time, it has been illegal in Spain to sell points, floating weeks, perpetual contracts, and to accept monies from customers within a 14 day cooling off period. Many timeshare companies are being sued, and paying large damages for violating this law. The law was passed in 1999, but only recently has it come in to play in the litigation field.

Evidently, Marriott is trying to revisit their contracts and change them in a way to circumvent the current Spanish timeshare laws. This subject might be of interest to those who own Marriott in Spain.

 

[Steve Fatula]

That is being discussed here:

https://tugbbs.com/forums/index.php...hare-spain-timeshares-and-law-42-1998.273148/

 

[Iggyearl]

I agree, Steve. However, no one has mentioned that Marriott is going back to owners in an attempt to retroactively change their contracts. The German customer was alerting the publisher that Marriott is trying to get him to sign a document that is not in his best interests. That is not mentioned in the thread you refer to. I would submit that the insidetimeshare article is "new" news.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Sure, I was just letting you know, I see you commented there now. This is the usual anti timeshare article though, with the tired old mis-statements. The part about changing contracts is indeed a valid point though. The rest is (for me) trash. I can't imagine they can compel you to sign anything, but, if you don't understand, it is quite useful.

Sample statements:

"It goes back to lock them into never ending contracts and a points system that most find are unusable due to no availability." This is soooooo far off base. IMHO.

"Unless you live in the US, forget about investing in a Marriott timeshare. " Somewhat true for sure

"I am so frustrated with the investment that iI am considering selling the ownership."

"It is difficult to give feedback on the use of it when the places you want to go are never available unless you book 13 months in advance. That is ridiculous."

I note there are zero positives. For a site called insidetimeshare, confusing what their goal is.

 

[bazzap]

Sure, I was just letting you know, I see you commented there now. This is the usual anti timeshare article though, with the tired old mis-statements. The part about changing contracts is indeed a valid point though. The rest is (for me) trash. I can't imagine they can compel you to sign anything, but, if you don't understand, it is quite useful.

Sample statements:

"It goes back to lock them into never ending contracts and a points system that most find are unusable due to no availability." This is soooooo far off base. IMHO.

"Unless you live in the US, forget about investing in a Marriott timeshare. " Somewhat true for sure

"I am so frustrated with the investment that iI am considering selling the ownership."

"It is difficult to give feedback on the use of it when the places you want to go are never available unless you book 13 months in advance. That is ridiculous."

I note there are zero positives. For a site called insidetimeshare, confusing what their goal is.

I can only really think of one reason why “Unless you live in the US, forget about investing in a Marriott timeshare. " and that is the portfolio of MVC resorts never grew beyond a handful of locations.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I can only really think of one reason why “Unless you live in the US, forget about investing in a Marriott timeshare. " and that is the portfolio of MVC resorts never grew beyond a handful of locations.

Exactly, as you know, there are not many choices over there in Europe. The same would apply to Australia, all of one resort! And a long way away from any others. Hopefully, that will change for Europe over time since there are so many good places to visit.

 

[bazzap]

Exactly, as you know, there are not many choices over there in Europe. The same would apply to Australia, all of one resort! And a long way away from any others. Hopefully, that will change for Europe over time since there are so many good places to visit.

Yes, much as I would welcome them though I can’t imagine we will get any more ground up resorts here but “Pulse” style resorts might be a more realistic possibility?

 

[Steve Fatula]

Yes, much as I would welcome them though I can’t imagine we will get any more ground up resorts here but “Pulse” style resorts might be a more realistic possibility?

Yes, those would make sense over there, thinking of places like Rome! Are any of the ILG resorts in Europe?

 

[bazzap]

Yes, those would make sense over there, thinking of places like Rome! Are any of the ILG resorts in Europe?

Sadly, I believe no Sheraton, Westin or Hyatt Vacation Clubs in Europe.

 

[Iggyearl]

Sure, I was just letting you know, I see you commented there now. This is the usual anti timeshare article though, with the tired old mis-statements. The part about changing contracts is indeed a valid point though. The rest is (for me) trash. I can't imagine they can compel you to sign anything, but, if you don't understand, it is quite useful.

I note there are zero positives. For a site called insidetimeshare, confusing what their goal is.

Steve, the quotes you refer to are from Tripadvisor and only posted as notes from dissatisfied Marriott members. Those members can be found on many complaint sites, as well as Tripadvisor. The website you visited is a timeshare news site run by an Englishman to cover happenings in England and Europe. I have been reading that site for three years, and have followed it partly because of Irene Parker, who is a contributor. She is American, and has articles on Tuesday and Friday. She is a timeshare consumer rights advocate who is trying to stop salesman who lie and cheat consumers.

If you get into the nuts and bolts of the website, you will realize that it is not anti-timeshare. It is Pro-consumer. Most people don't know that the timeshare laws in Spain are sooo different than those in the U.S. Spain believes that points are "air." And floating weeks are not a guarantee of accommodations. Spain also believes that a consumer should have 2 weeks to think about their transaction. And perpetual contracts are not good for the consumer.

I started the thread to alert any Spanish timeshare owners that things are happening recently and that they may be approached to give up some rights in their Spanish contract. Marriott has already noted in their most recent 8-K that they have an exposure to financial losses in Spain.
https://marketexclusive.com/marriot...-nysevac-files-an-8-k-other-events-4/2018/07/

 

[Steve Fatula]

Steve, the quotes you refer to are from Tripadvisor and only posted as notes from dissatisfied Marriott members.

Exactly, which is what I said. They are from Tripadvisor (except for the first comment noted which is a copy and paste from the authors article and false), but included in the article, only negatives. Why not any notes from satisfied Marriott members? The notes make the article blatantly biased and misleading.

That being said, the portion about changing the terms is quite valid as mentioned. And I do not disagree that Marriott has exposure.

The site may indeed be pro consumer, but the article is not. Maybe every other article on the site is good, I don't know. By posting those comments into the article, it would normally be assumed to reflect some of the opinions of the author, and since 3 were posted and all negative, what is the reader to assume, especially when combined with the other negative quote from the author? Articles like this only serve to shrink the timeshare marketplace. This has been debated in other threads. Most people you meet on the street have a negative view of timeshares, this is why! When this is heard 10,000 times, it sinks in. I am tired of reading such articles, it is a pet peeve of mine.

If you do not see this, I agree to disagree. But thanks for bringing up the part about changing contracts, very useful point.