2022: record-breaking year for M1 Legal’s Spanish timeshare compensation claims

M1 Legal is on track to break its own records for timeshare compensation awards in 2022

Justice for timeshare owners

For years, timeshare companies across Europe have been accused of ignoring rules designed to provide consumer protection.

In Spain, key laws were introduced in 1999 to curb unfair practices, including high-pressure sales tactics. Yet many timeshare businesses assumed customers would struggle to navigate the Spanish legal system, and continued to operate as though the rules did not apply.

That began to change when claims firms such as European Consumer Claims (ECC) started working alongside specialist timeshare lawyers in Spain, including M1 Legal.

ECC reviews each case and refers the strongest claims to M1 Legal, who then pursue them through the Spanish courts to secure justice for timeshare victims.

2022: a year of major wins

Fernando Sansegundo, head of M1 Legal, said: "Every year we grow and achieve more victories than the year before. By August we had already reached 250 court victories on behalf of our clients, which is several percentage points up from the record set last year."

In the first seven months of the year, M1 Legal helped timeshare owners win £4.1 million in compensation. That figure is expected to rise to around £6.2 million by year-end, which would make 2022 a record year for the firm.

Resorts with the largest compensation awards

Several timeshare companies have faced substantial compensation awards. The resort with the highest total against it so far in 2022 is Club La Costa, with £2.1 million awarded.

Other resorts where M1 Legal has secured compensation for clients include:

• Anfi — £893,000
• Diamond Resorts Europe — £272,000
• Marriott Vacation Club — over £250,000

In addition, several smaller resorts accounted for combined awards of £578,000.

Standout individual compensation wins

Average timeshare compensation awards are around £20,000, although some cases result in much higher amounts.

So far in 2022, the largest single awards achieved by M1 Legal include:

• OnaGrup: £73,658 awarded to a couple from Manchester
• Club La Costa: £69,437 awarded to a couple from Wakefield
• Club La Costa: £52,536 awarded to an Essex couple

Telling clients the outcome is "one of the greatest pleasures in my job", Sansegundo says — and it’s easy to see why, as larger awards can be life-changing.

Many clients start out simply wanting to leave their timeshare memberships. So when they learn they have also been awarded significant compensation, it often comes as a huge surprise.

Could you be entitled to compensation?

Every case is different, but many timeshare owners can challenge their contracts with expert support — and in some situations may be able to claim compensation.

If you want to check whether you might have a compensation claim, or you simply want to exit your timeshare, contact our expert advisers at the Timeshare Advice Centre. They can assess your situation and provide independent guidance on the best next steps towards timeshare freedom.