Timeshare owners accuse Macdonald Resorts of land grab

Around 200 owners said the company based in Scotland had attempted to grab real estate from timeshare clubs that they do not own

'It's becoming increasingly clear that the only way we are going to win back our rights is in court,' says Marianne Fusi of her timeshare problems (Jon Super)

It's hard to think of the word timeshare without presuming that it's quickly followed by the word problem. However, attempts to clean up the industry meant that it has ended up with far fewer negative headlines in recent years.

But that could be set to change, if a group of fed-up timeshare owners have their way. They are all long-term owners of properties with Macdonald Resorts and have accused the company of forcing through changes that have left them worse off.

"We are a group of around 200 owners, and growing, who are enraged at Macdonald Resorts' attempts to effectively land grab real estate from our timeshare clubs that they do not own and, in the process, are taking advantage of many elderly owners needing to exit 'in perpetuity' timeshare agreements," says Marianne Fusi, one of those affected by the changes.

"We support the idea of having an exit clause from these agreements, but the manner and strings that Macdonald has attached to achieve this apparent coup represents a massive abuse of power, with the victim being the ordinary consumer," the 55-year-old parish church secretary says.

Strong words. What's prompted the anger? Macdonald Resorts, based at Aviemore in the Highlands, this summer put new proposals to its timeshare members. The changes have been subjected to a vote and overwhelmingly approved by members. So what's the beef?

Disaffected members feel they've lost their holiday homes as they say there's no guarantee that they will be able to use the apartment they've always gone to, or even at the same time, under a new points system. Meanwhile, they claim that plans to charge four years' maintenance to anyone wishing to leave the scheme penalises vulnerable older people who can't afford to stump up what could be thousands of pounds.

Macdonald Resorts appears to believe that things are sorted, that the vote is final, and that members have to accept it. At least that was the impression its representative gave to The Independent.

The action group thinks differently. It has approached the consumer minister Jo Swinson but feels its only recourse now is to law. "It is becoming increasingly clear that the only way we are going to win back our rights is in court," says Ms Fusi. She hopes that other disgruntled owners – more than 10,000 of them, she believes – will join.

You can find out more information about the action group at macdonaldowners.org.uk, or go to timeshareconsumerassociation.org.uk for advice about timeshare problems.

Timeshare fan: Marianne Fusi

We've had many happy years at our holiday home in Spain," admits Marianne Fusi. The family bought three weeks during the school holidays in an apartment 14 years ago for around £22,000, and have been back almost every summer since. With weekly maintenance charges now at £450, it hasn't been cheap, but it has been worth it, she says. Now, though, the good times seem to be in the past and the changes to the timeshare constitution have left a bad taste. "We had hoped to pass the property on to our children for them to use with their families. That seems unlikely now."

s.read@independent.co.uk

twitter: @simonnread