With Anfi’s administration nearing its end, members who believe they were mis-sold are being urged to register any compensation claims as soon as possible.
Decades of mis-selling allegations
For many years, Anfi was officially the biggest-selling single-site timeshare operation in the world, holding RCI records for income generated in a day, a week, a month, a year and even all time. That success was driven by several factors: the resort’s quality and standout location played a part. However, experts believe Anfi’s intrusive marketing and on-the-day high-pressure sales approach — supported by American sales trainers such as Shari Levitin and Dan King — were also key to its rapid rise.
Set against claims that Anfi refused to comply with consumer protections introduced from 1999 onwards, the picture of a €120 million-a-year machine starts to make sense.
Under those protections, resorts were legally prohibited from taking money within the cooling-off period, selling floating time or points, or selling memberships lasting over 50 years. Anfi is alleged to have carried on for well over a decade with little regard for the first two rules, and to have skirted the third by issuing “49-year rolling renewal” contract terms.
Nothing lasts forever
ANFI’s leadership has changed many times since the resort’s inception in 1992, presumably with each new set of bosses hoping they would not be the ones in charge when the “music stopped” — and when the slow-moving but decisive Spanish legal system caught up.
Over the past six years, our company European Consumer Claims (ECC), alongside other firms, has been taking Anfi to court. The timeshare business now owes well in excess of £60 million in compensation awards to thousands of mis-sold claimants. Anfi companies have now filed for administration.
Like other former industry giants facing sustained legal pressure, Anfi has, until now, relied on the creaking inefficiency of the Spanish courts to avoid paying what claimants say they are owed.
Many consumers struggled to cope with delays, the language barrier (most victims were British), and the unfamiliar procedures involved in pursuing compensation. Company lawyers could appeal repeatedly, knowing the process could be drawn out until even determined claimants gave up.
Claims firms led by ECC helped to change that by pushing cases through and countering the strategic delays used by timeshare companies — leaving fewer places to hide.
No time to waste for Anfi claims
“Any Anfi owner considering a claim against the company needs to get in touch with ECC as soon as possible,” states Andrew Cooper, CEO of ECC. “This is a boat you do not want to miss.
“ANFI made a lot of money for a lot of years by cynically ignoring the law. If you are one of the people who signed up with them after 1999, then you would be well advised to contact our team right now to discuss your options.”
Administration drawing to a close
“Potential Anfi claimants who register too late may not be able to claim in the future,” warns Andrew Cooper.
“In 2021 an historic £48 million compensation agreement was reached in the Azure case for 1,400 claimants. We want people who have been taken advantage of by Anfi to similarly get their opportunity for justice.
“There is zero doubt amongst industry experts that Anfi will have to pay what they owe as the administration draws to a close.”
Get in touch with Timeshare Advice Centre today if you are an Anfi owner and want to discuss your compensation options.
Don’t wish you had done so later…
