ECC confident Doncaster couple’s €220k Marriott Marbella timeshare compensation win is the ‘tip of the iceberg’

Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI)

With a 2023 annual turnover of $4.72 billion, MVCI is the world’s second-largest timeshare company behind Wyndham Destinations. Marriott has over 90 resorts worldwide, with three in Spain.

The flagship of those three Spanish resorts is Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort. It opened in 1996 and quickly became a major revenue earner during the boom in Spanish timeshare sales.

Spanish timeshare laws

In 1999, Spain introduced much-needed legislation designed to protect holidaymakers from aggressive, high-pressure timeshare sales tactics. These tighter rules were welcomed by the wider tourist industry, which had been harmed by negative publicity linked to poorly regulated sales schemes.

Timeshare is an emotional sale. Resorts understood that if they fully complied with the new rules, they could no longer generate the vast revenues of the past. Many therefore ignored some or all of the legislation, seemingly relying on the complexity of the Spanish justice system to limit the impact of legal action.

This approach proved effective for 17 long years. Many people who challenged illegal contracts eventually gave up after years navigating an unfamiliar legal system, often without the language skills and faced with repeated delays and tactics from resort lawyers. Most threw in the towel long before seeing justice.

The dam bursts

Most people—but not Tove Grimsbo. This determined Norwegian Anfi victim won a €40,000 victory against her resort in 2017, opening the door for future claims against timeshare resorts.

Grimsbo had support from a timeshare claims company. Where individuals can be worn down by delays and legal manoeuvres, claims companies are far less likely to walk away.

The law is on the victim’s side. No matter how many months—or even years—resort lawyers try to hold back the tide, a claims company will generally succeed on behalf of their client, provided the case is pursued to the end.

Since Grimsbo’s first win, an avalanche of similar claims has been filed. In the eight years since, timeshare companies in Europe have largely been forced to close down new member sales and now owe hundreds of millions of pounds in compensation. Many resorts are currently in liquidation.

Record Marriott compensation award

International brand MVCI was no exception when it came to ignoring timeshare consumer protections. Leading claims firm European Consumer Claims (ECC) has 335 active cases against Marriott. Of these, 260 are at various stages of court proceedings, with a total value of £6,309,087. Of the 260 that have reached court so far, 130 have been won and 130 are ongoing. None have been lost.

Compared with many timeshare companies, Marriott has an admirable record of paying what it owes promptly.

In October 2024, a couple from Bessacarr, near Doncaster, were awarded a record sum.

Steven and Bella (names changed) were awarded €220,000 for an illegal contract linked to Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort, based (in this case) on the contract not specifying the apartment and the time they owned.

ECC CEO Greg Wilson believes many other MVCI owners may not even realise they could be entitled to compensation under Spanish timeshare law.

“This couple won a huge amount of money—nearly a quarter of a million euros,” says Wilson. “But it could well be just the tip of the iceberg.

“Marriott’s in Marbella have done a vast amount of business with Brits, and with other nationalities too. An appreciable percentage of those contracts are illegal and most owners have no idea.

“Because Marriott owners are often happy with the product, they’ve never been motivated to delve too deeply into their paperwork and wouldn’t necessarily know they were sold illegally.

“Steven and Bella are still able to stay in their beloved Marriott’s Marbella Beach Resort, but now their route is to do so via Booking.com or Expedia for more or less the same cost as they used to pay in annual maintenance to Marriott. And of course they have this significant financial award in their favour.”

What about you?

If you’re a Marriott owner—even if you’re happy with your timeshare—it’s worth checking whether your contract was compliant with Spanish law.

If you were sold illegally, being satisfied later doesn’t change how you were signed up to a serious long-term commitment.

Why not get in touch with our team for a fee-based, no-obligation consultation? Understanding your options can help you make the smartest decision for you and your family.