M1 Legal continued its run of successful timeshare claims in March 2022, with the Malaga-based firm reporting another record month for compensation awards for clients.
Justice for timeshare victims
Many people end up locked into a timeshare agreement they no longer want — often with ongoing annual fees. Laws introduced in 1999 were designed to protect consumers from being pressured into major financial commitments while on holiday in Spain. In practice, however, parts of the timeshare industry continued to sell contracts that did not comply with those protections.
It took 17 years before a resort was first compelled to pay compensation. In 2016, Tove Grimsbo won a landmark case against Anfi in Gran Canaria after being sold a contract with a term of more than 50 years. She was awarded €40,000 after taking the company to court.
That decision proved pivotal for consumers. It helped open the door for many more Spanish timeshare compensation claims, at a time when companies had often relied on delay tactics to prevent cases from progressing.
Since then, timeshare lawyers have secured win after win against Spanish timeshare companies, seeking redress for clients who were unlawfully sold certain timeshare contracts.
M1 Legal (M1) soon emerged as a leading firm in this area, and its lawyers have gone on to deliver significant results for clients in recent years.
M1 Legal: Supporting timeshare owners through claims
M1 Legal is made up of experienced lawyers focused on pursuing justice for timeshare victims. The firm works alongside European Consumer Claims (ECC), described as the largest timeshare claims firm operating in Europe.
Over the years, many timeshare owners have been mis-sold contracts, and there may be hundreds of thousands of affected consumers. Many people start by approaching ECC, which assesses which cases appear strongest. Claims are then referred to M1 Legal, which pursues the case on the client’s behalf.
Timeshare resorts have frequently attempted to slow proceedings through frustration and delay tactics. Since 2016, M1 says it has challenged and overcome these approaches — and that each successful case helps the overall process move more quickly.
M1 said it had already achieved a record number of wins in 2022 and expected the momentum to continue in the months ahead.
Fernando Sansegundo, head of M1 Legal, said: "We are less than 3 months into 2022 and we have already secured 105 separate victories for our clients," he confirms. "This represents a total compensation award amount of £1,680,082. It is the best start to a year we have had since our inception."
Director of M1 Legal
March 2022: a record month for timeshare claim wins
"Right now, nearing the end of March 2022 we have already broken all previous monthly records," continues Sansegundo. "There have been 39 court victories since the first day of this month. With 3 business days remaining, the total compensation award number so far is an incredible £573,190.
"That is 39 people who are not only free of their timeshare contracts and annual fee obligations, but were also awarded a financial windfall at the same time."
Several of the March wins were highlighted, including:
- Lynne and Ken D, who were awarded £42,987 in their claim against Club Gran Anfi.
- Mark Andrew S, who was awarded £21,526 from Diamond Resorts.
- Michael W, who was awarded £38,128 from Club La Costa.
The largest victory was for Angela and Derek W, who were awarded £59,175 in compensation after making a claim against Marriot Vacation Club.
For many clients, the starting point is simply to end the ongoing commitment and annual fees. Receiving substantial compensation on top of that comes as an added benefit.
"These are significant amounts of money," says Fernando. "It's enough to buy a luxury car, or even add an extension to a house. On average the compensation awards that our lawyers win for ECC/M1 clients is in excess of £20,000.
"Two clients who received their award money last week, an Ayrshire couple called Douglas and Linda, called me to tell me they are having the entire inside of their home remodelled. They were so happy speaking to me on the phone. It is calls like that which remind me how lucky I am to do this job."
When is the right time to claim?
“The real hard work in timeshare claims has been done," explains Fernando.
"The timeshare company lawyers are running out of ways to delay the claims process. Timeshare sales operations broke the law, and modern judges are making them pay. "People due compensation who apply now face a much shorter wait than people who started their claims back in 2016. If you bought timeshare in Spain, on or after the 5th January 1999, then you may be entitled to financial recompense too."
Would you like assistance from M1 Legal? Contact Timeshare Advice Centre today to discuss your case.
