Former Marriott timeshare owner receives €78,000 payout as more members pursue compensation for illegal contracts
Happy owners
Myra Bromfield, 55, and her husband John bought their first two weeks of Marriott timeshare in around 1998 at Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort.
“It was still being built back then,” smiles Myra. “We bought two Bronze weeks, which were cheaper at the time and would allow us to holiday in winter. There was only a portacabin and a show flat, but we could see the potential.”
Over time, Myra and John – who ran a construction equipment procurement company based in Gibraltar – expanded their Marriott ownership. At their peak, they held Marriott timeshare in Paris, Mallorca, Spain and the USA.
“We did have some good holidays,” admits Myra. “There were never any issues with the quality of the resorts.”
Disillusionment
Now living back in Wales, Myra says the ownership eventually lost its appeal. “The costs kept increasing. By the end we were paying over £7,000 a year, which is just too much.”
“There were also things we were told by various salespeople that turned out not to be true. For example, one of them said Marriott would always buy our memberships back if we no longer needed them. When we tried to do this, we were told there had never been such a policy.”
“It was extremely frustrating with so much money involved.”
Eventually, the Bromfields decided enough was enough. “We heard through the timeshare grapevine that Marriott had been issuing illegal contracts,” says Myra. “We got in touch with ECC and they told us we could claim compensation from Marriott. The process wasn’t quick, but ECC never gave up.”
“Our patience – and ECC’s determination – was rewarded with a payout of €78,000. The money was paid a couple of weeks ago.”
For now, Myra plans to keep the money in the bank. “My motivation was never really about the money, although of course it’s welcome. We wanted to end the ongoing commitment of expensive annual fees, and for Marriott to take responsibility for the illegal contracts and the untrue sales promises.”
Expert comment
“Many Marriott owners share Myra’s view,” explains Greg Wilson, CEO of European Consumer Claims (ECC), the company that secured Myra’s compensation payout.
“Marriott owners are often people for whom the principle matters more than the financial side,” continues Wilson. “The frustrating part is that, despite annual reports listing sufficient funding being set aside to cover court awards for this very reason, Marriott have still dragged their heels.”
“If you’d like to find out more, you’re welcome to get in touch with our team for a no-obligation consultation, in complete confidence.”
