Last year, a Which? survey revealed that there had been a 33% increase in timeshare scams in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of people who enjoy a timeshare and have loved their holidays abroad; they have. However, should they decide it’s time to get out of their timeshare agreement, they could be in for a surprise.
Sadly, timeshare disputes are common. It’s in these situations where a timeshare solicitor can help rather than trying to resolve the situation yourself.
Timeshare solicitors are experienced with the ins and outs of timeshare contracts. They know and understand the timeshare industry, as well as the scams and disputes often associated with them, putting them in the ideal situation to help you.
What to do about a timeshare dispute?
When timeshare owners make the decision to exit a timeshare agreement, they can often discover a series of legal loopholes that mean they are left in a position of owning an asset they don’t want and can’t afford. Timeshare disputes are just as notorious as timeshare scams.
The laws and regulations surrounding timeshares are highly complex. Then when you add the intricacies of contract law, leaving a timeshare can become almost impossible for owners. Often the only solution is to seek the help of a timeshare solicitor to be released from the agreement.
Common timeshare disputes
One of the main reasons why timeshare disputes arise is due to a raft of different terms being used in timeshare contracts which creates confusion. But there is a whole list of other reasons why disputes may arise:
- You believe you were deceived or coerced into signing a timeshare contract.
- You were told false promises in relation to an increased value of the timeshare within a specific period of time.
- You were told that you could cancel the contract whenever you chose and this isn’t the case at all.
- You were told it was a short-term offer or ‘once in a lifetime’ offer and only remained valid if you signed up for the timeshare that day.
- You were told the timeshare was an investment, that the value would increase and you would receive a substantial financial profit.
- You tried to leave the timeshare and cancel the agreement but were told that you couldn’t do that, or that you had to sign up for a new timeshare agreement first.
- You were not advised of the ‘cooling off’ period, or they informed you that this period didn’t apply to timeshares.
- You were led to believe that maintenance fees were either not payable or were much lower than they turned out to be, and you were not told about any annual increases in fees or any additional expenses.
- You paid for the timeshare, or the deposit, using a loan, credit card or other finance methods.
- You were advised it wasn’t a timeshare when in reality, it was.
How to choose a timeshare solicitor?
When choosing a solicitor to handle your timeshare dispute, make sure they are knowledgeable and experienced in the legal complexities of timeshares – many of the timeshare agreements are for properties or resorts in overseas countries. If you are in any doubt about whether you need professional legal help, contact us to discuss your case in more detail.
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