For six long years, M1 Legal has been attempting to get justice for customers of one of Spain's oldest timeshare complexes, and now its work finally paying off.
Pueblo Evita, one of the oldest timeshare complexes in Spain, has been issuing illegal contracts for the last few decades, just like many other timeshare companies. Until now, it has been a challenge to find liable companies for members to sue.
But April 2022 has changed that because this month M1 Legal successfully sued:
● Maintenance company MB Benalmadena S.L.U.
● Pueblo Evita Marketing Company Ltd
Both companies were declared in default by Torremolinos Court number 3, and justice has been served to many timeshare victims as a result.
According to Fernando Sansegundo, M1 Legal's Spanish head, the victories are "hugely significant".
He says: "Our team has taken on and defeated every single illegally operating timeshare company in Spain. These judgements have opened the door for hundreds of Pueblo Evita victims to sue for compensation."
For M1 Legal, months in which they see half a million pounds in awards are "becoming a commonplace", according to Sansegundo. In April, this consisted of "twenty seven separate victories, representing a total value of £501,400 for the recipients."
This included £265,674 against Club La Costa, shared between 13 award winners.
Sansegundo says: "When you bear in mind that most of these people just wanted to be free of the annual fee commitments, to be awarded well over £20,000 as well was a result that made every claimant grateful"
Other wins included:
● £109,543 against Anfi - shared by six claimants
● £67,027 against Onagrup - shared by three claimants
● £36,519 against Marriott - shared by two claimants
● £19,682 against Perblau 2000 and Lion Resorts
Sansegundo also confirms that there were some important wins for individuals during the month.
"A Surrey couple called Lee and Dionne were awarded £45,300 against Club la Costa. This was because the contract was illegal in that it was for over 50 years, and also because of lack of correct information on the property. This usually means they were sold floating time, or points, both of which have been illegal to sell since 1999.
"Simon and Anne from Sheerness in Kent, a very nice couple, won £38,255. This was also against Club La Costa, and for exactly the same reasons.
"The third largest award went to a Slough couple called Paul and Helen. These former Anfi owners were awarded £36,827 because (again) of lack of correct information on the property.
Sansegundo says that these are "significant amounts of money." He continues: "People who were worried about owing money to their timeshare companies every year for decades, or in some cases forever, are now not only free but also receiving enough compensation to buy a luxury car or put a child through university."
Timeshare companies have long used delaying tactics to try and neutralise M1 Legal's efforts. However, that's all changing, improving the situation for claimants by speeding the process up.
"So far in 2022 (correct at time of writing) M1 Legal has achieved139 successful awards," says Sansegundo. "This is a total of £2,287,850. Thirty-four of those awards were against Anfi, adding up to £515,427.
"Sixty-three more awards were against Club La Costa and they total a staggering £1,136,793."
Timeshare owners who bought in Spain either on or after 5th January 1999 could also be due compensation. Sansegundo suggests that "now is the time to make your claim if you have an issue with your timeshare, or the way in which you were sold the membership.
"The exploratory work has been done. The major hurdles have been overcome. The courts are familiar with the offences committed by timeshare companies and how these affected owners. Compensation is being awarded in record amounts, and it won't last forever because these companies don't have unlimited resources."
"M1's success rate in court is currently running at 98.6%. And the very few we did lose were a long time ago, when we were just starting out in this field."
If you are a timeshare owner and you want to find out about your rights and options for getting out of your membership, start by getting in contact with Timeshare Advice Centre today.
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