Industry experts are clearing up confusion after a timeshare lobby group issued a press release suggesting a Spanish Supreme Court decision marks a “new era of clarity and opportunity for the timeshare community”.
The press release, published on the RDO website, refers to a Spanish court ruling and implies that one element of Spanish law will transform the legal landscape and help relaunch timeshare across Europe.
Although this area of Spanish law has historically mattered – particularly following a 2015 Supreme Court ruling that led to thousands of judgments against timeshare operators – the RDO does not highlight that timeshare businesses can still face claims under laws covering misrepresentation, Unfair Commercial Practices, Unfair Contract Terms and fraud.
Millions of pounds in compensation have already been paid to timeshare owners in the UK and Spain after findings that many products were mis-sold. These claims have not stopped and continue to be actively pursued.
What is the RDO?
The RDO is a lobbying organisation used by certain European timeshare companies to promote the industry and improve its public image.
Its board and advisory councils include executives from timeshare companies – including Marriotts and Club La Costa – that have faced sustained legal pressure for many years.
RDO members – including Seasons Holidays PLC and Onagrup, represented by Ona Cala Pi Maintenance SL – are involved in claims and allegations of mis-selling.
Given the make-up of the RDO’s membership, leadership and funding, its impartiality as a source of guidance for unhappy or distressed timeshare owners is open to question.
It is generally better to seek advice from legal professionals who are independent of the timeshare industry.
RDO claims
The RDO article raised concerns among people currently bringing claims against timeshare companies for mis-selling and illegal contracts.
The announcement welcomed a Spanish Supreme Court decision handed down on 30 October 2025 which said (among other points) that timeshare contracts of over 50 years, or floating time (not points), are no longer automatically null and void.
The ruling followed an intense lobbying campaign, strongly backed by large timeshare companies that believed they were losing money by having to comply with existing consumer laws.
Unsurprisingly, the RDO framed the decision as “emphasising transparency and clear contract terms”, and then suggested the ruling “safeguards the interests of timeshare owners”.
On a straightforward reading, the opposite appears more likely: the interests of well-funded timeshare businesses have been placed ahead of consumer protection.
That said, the ruling is not as wide-ranging or as damaging as the RDO’s reporting suggests.
The facts
- Claims against timeshare companies for mis-selling and other unlawful conduct will still be pursued.
- Claims already in progress will continue.
- If extra resources or funding are needed to pursue alternative legal routes, our commitment to our clients remains unchanged.
- This ruling will not cost any client of ECC, despite any additional work it may require.
- Some future claims will need careful review in light of the new ruling, which may involve additional legal work and expense.
Expert comment
“The timeshare industry has a long history of underhand behaviour,” says Greg Wilson, CEO of European Consumer Claims (ECC), the company responsible for over £28 million in court ordered compensation awards to timeshare victims.
“In the 1980s and 90s, timeshare horror stories appeared in the papers every day. Criminals laundered huge sums of money through major operations in the Canaries, Balearics and Costa del Sol. People were bullied into visiting timeshare complexes by aggressive street touts, then lied to and pressured into signing up for expensive memberships that, in many cases, they later regretted.
“Spain reacted slowly, but the scale of the fraud and pressure selling increased to the point that the tourist industry (around one eighth of Spain’s entire GDP – Ed) itself was under threat, as people began choosing destinations without intense timeshare pressure.
“A series of laws introduced from 1999 onwards brought common-sense safeguards such as ‘no deposit to be paid on the day’, no ‘generational’ contracts tying people in for 50 years or more, and no floating time or points.
“Timeshare sales in Europe almost ground to a halt.
“However, money talks. As we reported in July last year, the RDO was carrying out large-scale lobbying, funded by major businesses including Marriott Vacation Club, to overturn this protective legislation.
“For timeshare companies, this minor victory may look like a good return on their lobbying spend through the RDO. For the ‘little guy’ who was pressured or mis-sold by these powerful, deep-pocketed organisations, it’s just one more blow to take.
“You can rely on ECC to stand with you and fight for your rights. While there may be new regulations, there are always viable routes to claim for clients who are victims of consumer abuse.”
Anyone with questions about how this ruling could affect their claim can get in touch with our team for a more in-depth update.
